First To Earn Title For 2007
The
National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) takes pride in
announcing a significant aviation accomplishment on the part of
some very special aviation educators. Recently, they were all
accredited as Master Instructors by NAFI, their professional
aviation education association.
To help put this achievement in its proper perspective, there
are approximately 90,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 500
of them have earned Master accreditation thus far. As a measure of
the prestige conferred by this title, the last eleven FAA National
Flight Instructors of the Year were Master CFIs. In addition, the
FAA has approved the accreditation as an alternate means for CFIs
to renew their flight instructor certificates.
The Master Instructor designation is a national accreditation
recognized by the FAA that is earned by a candidate through a
rigorous process of continuing professional activity and peer
review. Much like a flight instructor's certificate, it must be
renewed biennially. This process parallels continuing education
regimens used by other professionals to enhance their knowledge
base while increasing their professionalism. Simply put, the Master
Instructor designation is a means by which to identify those
outstanding aviation educators, those "Teachers of Flight," who are
demonstrating an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional
growth, and service to the aviation community.
Aviation educators who earned the "Master" title during January
are:
RENEWALS
Orlando Raimundo Villaverde, Master
CFI
Miami, FL
E-mail: SkykingVillage@aol.com
Orlando Villaverde recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Orlando is a flight and ground instructor in both airplanes and
helicopters at Kendall-Tamiami Airport (TMB). He is also an adjunct
professor of aviation at the Miami Dade College School of Aviation
and serves as a FAASTeam rep for the Miami FSDO.
Robert Joseph "Bob" Spera, Master
CFI
Wise, VA
E-mail: Liberty@mounet.com
Robert Spera recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Bob
owns Liberty Flying Service and is the manager of Lonesome Pine
Airport (LNP). He also serves in the Virginia Wing of the Civil Air
Patrol as well as the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and is a FAASTeam
rep for the FAA's Charleston FSDO.
Charles Arthur "Charlie" Skelton, Master
CFI
Branford, CT
E-mail: RBOCAS@comcast.net
Charles A Skelton recently earned his Master CFI
accreditation for the 5th time. Charlie is the president of Yale
Aviation, a flying club located at Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN).
He is also the chief pilot for CAS Aviation and serves as a
FAASTeam rep (safety counselor) for the FAA's Windsor Locks
FSDO.
James Joseph "Jim" Pitman, Master
CFI
Phoenix, AZ
E-mail: JPitman@pilotmail.us
James J Pitman recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Jim
is the chief flight instructor at Westwind School of Aeronautics, a
Cessna Pilot Center at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT). He is
also a member of the Arizona Flight Training Workgroup and serves
as a FAASTeam rep for the Scottsdale FSDO.
Michael Jesse "Mike" Paulson, Master
CFI
Fargo, ND
E-mail: MPaulson@FargoJet.com
Michael Paulson recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Mike
is the manager of Flight Academy of Fargo, a Cessna Pilot Center
located at Hector International Airport (FAR). He is also a
lecturer at North Dakota State University and serves as a pilot
examiner as well as a FAASTeam rep (safety counselor) for the Fargo
FSDO.
Daniel Paul "Dan" Mahoney, Master
CFI
Key Colony Beach, FL
E-mail: DM2953@aol.com
Daniel Mahoney recently renewed his Master CFI
accreditation. Dan is an independent flight instructor at Florida
Keys Marathon Airport (MTH) as well as an Airbus A330 check airman
for US Airways. He also teaches aviation classes at Everglades
University and serves as a FAASTeam rep (safety counselor) for the
FAA's Miami FSDO.
Boni Oseisie Calderia, Master
CFI
Brookville, MD
E-mail: BoniCal@gmail.com
Boni Caldeira recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Boni
is an independent Cirrus standardized flight instructor in
Maryland. He specializes in Cirrus transition and recurrent
training.
INITIALS
Eric Michael Francis, Master
CFI
Loveland, OH
E-mail: EFrancis@cinci.rr.com
Eric Francis recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Eric,
the 2002 Joe Vorbeck Scholarship recipient, is a flight instructor
with Sporty's Academy at Clermont County Airport (I69). He
specializes in primary, advanced and multiengine training and is an
instructor with the local National Intercollegiate Flying
Association (NIFA) team.
Christopher Wayne "Chris" Budahn, Master
CFI
Austin, MN
E-mail: CWBudahn@charterinternet.com
Christopher Budahn recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.
Chris is a fixed and rotary wing flight instructor with Austin
Aeroflight (www.AustinAeroflight.com),
a full service FBO at Austin Municipal Airport (AUM). He also
serves as an air traffic control specialist with the Minnesota Army
National Guard.