Designation Recognized By The FAA For CFI Renewal

Three flight instructors completed the Master Instructors course to receive the prestigious designation in the month of May. The title has been earned by fewer than 700 of the 91,000 CFIs currently active in the country. The last 19 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 and industry 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.

Receiving the designation in May were:

Ludwig Joseph "Lou" Wipotnik, Master CFI, Wheeling, IL
Lou Wipotnik, a 9-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Lou is an independent Chicago-area flight and ground instructor at Chicago Executive Airport (PWK).  The 1996 National CFI of the Year and the holder of an FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot award, he is also a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's DuPage FSDO area and serves in the Civil Air Patrol's Illinois Wing. E-mail: Jan.Lou@comcast.net  (Photo: MCFI Lou Wipotnik of Wheeling, IL)

Michael Bruce "Mike" Traud, Master CFI Gold River, CA
Michael B Traud, a 6-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Mike serves as the safety officer for the Sacramento County Sheriff's Air Squadron as well as as a designated pilot examiner (DPE) in the FAA's Sacramento FSDO area.  Additionally, he is an aviation consultant who owns MTAviation Services LLC at Sacramento Executive Airport (SAC).E-mail: Traud@hotmail.com (Photo: MCFI Mike Traud of Gold River, CA below left)

Richard Michael "Mike" COLIGNY, Master CFI Prescott, AZ
Mike Coligny, a 7-time Master and charter SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Mike is president / CEO of SIMAVIA USA in Prescott, AZ.  SIMAVIA USA is a flight simulation manufacturing company with clients worldwide.  He also serves on SAFE's government affairs committee, HAI's flight training committee, and is a FAASTeam lead representative in the Scottsdale FSDO area. E-mail:   MColigny@cableone.net (Photo: MCFI Mike Coligny of Prescott, AZ below right)  

FMI: www.MasterInstructors.org