'The Best Of The Best'

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) recently announced its Master Instructors for July 2007.

To help put this achievement in its proper perspective, there are approximately 91,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 600 of them have earned Master accreditation thus far. As a measure of the prestige conferred by this title, the last twelve 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.

Aviation educators who earned the "Master" title during July are:

RENEWALS

Michael Alan "Mike" Berlin, Master CFI (Renew: 6Jul07) 
West Hartford, CT
E-mail: WU1M@arrl.net
Michael A Berlin recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 5th time. Mike is a flight and ground instructor with Metro Flight Services at Hartford-Brainard Airport (HFD) where he provides primary through advanced flight training. He also serves with the Civil Air Patrol and is a FAASTeam representative for the FAA's Windsor Locks FSDO.

Jason Edward Blair, Master CFI (Renew: 1Jul07)
Allegan, MI
E-mail: JEBlair@DodgenAircraft.com
Jason E Blair recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Jason owns of Dodgen Aircraft (www.DodgenAircraft.com) and manages Allegan Municipal Airport (35D) as well as Hastings City Airport (9D9). He is also a Wings of Mercy volunteer pilot and serves as a designated pilot examiner for the FAA's Grand Rapids FSDO.

Ann Margaret "Meg" Godlewski, Master CFI (Renew: 10Jul07)
Lakewood, WA
E-mail: Meg@GeneralAviationNews.com
Meg Godlewski recently renewed her Master CFI designation while also earning Master Ground Instructor accreditation. Meg is an independent flight and ground instructor at Kent's Crest Airpark (S36) where she specializes in students returning to flying. She is also active in Women in Aviation as well as The 99s.

Matthew P R "Matt" McDaniel, Master CFI (Renew: 1Jul07)
Cudahy, WI
E-mail: Matt@ProgAviation.com
Matthew McDaniel recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Matt is the chief flight instructor and owner of Progressive Aviation Services (www.ProgAviation.com) based at Waukesha County Airport (UES). He specializes in high-performance, recurrent and transition training in customer-owned Cirrus aircraft.

Richard Charles "Rick" Poch, Master CFI (Renew: 30Jun07)
West Chester, PA
E-mail: PochRC@aol.com
Richard C Poch recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Rick is a flight instructor with TAS Flight School (www.IFlyAtTAS.com), a Cessna Pilot Center at West Chester's Brandywine Airport (OQN). A retired Air Force officer, Rick also serves as the AOPA Airport Support Network (ASN) volunteer at Brandywine Airport.

Paul Ronald Sanberg, Master CFI (Initial: 1Jul07)
Spring Hill, FL
E-mail: PSanberg@hsc.usf.edu
Paul Sanberg recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 5th time. Paul is an independent flight and ground instructor specializing in flight reviews, high performance and insurance checkouts at Pilot Country Airport (X05) in Brooksville. He also serves as a CAP mission pilot and a FAASTeam rep for the FAA's Tampa FSDO.

INITIALS

John Michael Dorcey, Master CFI (Initial: 16Jul07)
Middleton, WI
E-mail: WIPilot@charter.net
John M Dorcey recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. John is an aviation consultant with Wisconsin's Bureau of Aeronautics and works with the state's airport managers, flight instructors, pilots and mechanics. He has also holds an A&P certificate, has served as the DOT's chief pilot and is a director of the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame.

Sean Tracy Luley, Master CFI (Initial: Jul07)
Cincinnati, OH
E-mail: LuleyST@gmail.com
Sean Luley recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Sean is a flight and ground instructor with Sporty's Academy (www.Sportys.com) at Clermont County Airport (I69). He is also a member of the Alpha Eta Rho aviation fraternity and serves as head coach of the University Cincinnati's flight team.

Randy Steven McCallister, Master CFI (Initial: 16Jul07)
Pulaski, VA
E-mail: RMcCalli@verizon.net
Randy S McCallister recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Randy is a flight instructor specializing in primary and instrument training at Dublin's New River Valley Airport (PSK). He also serves as an EAA technical counselor and a FAASTeam representative for the Charleston, West Virginia, FSDO.

Jenifer Anne Pekar, Master CFI (Initial: 12Jul07)
Houston, TX
E-mail: Jenifer@SuccessAviation.com
Jenifer A Pekar recently earned her Master CFI accreditation. Jenifer is the chief flight instructor and owner of Success Aviation, a flight school at Houston Southwest Airport (AXH). She is also an instructor with the Bonanza Pilot Proficiency Program (BPPP) and serves as a FAASTeam representative with the FAA's Houston FSDO.

FMI: www.nafimasters.org