September Master CFIs

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) has announced a significant aviation accomplishment on the part of the following aviation educators.  Recently, they were all designated Master Instructors by NAFI, their professional aviation organization.

To help put this achievement in its proper perspective, there are approximately 81,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than four hundred of them have earned the Master designation thus far. As a measure of the prestige conferred by this title, the last eight FAA National Flight Instructors of the Year were Master CFIs.  In addition, the FAA recently approved the designation 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 education 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 September are:

Renewals

Joseph Carlton "Joe" Berti Sr, Master CFI
Browns Mills (NJ)  
E-mail:   Berti47@comcast.net
Joseph Berti recently renewed his Master CFI designation.  Joe is an instructor with Helicopter Flight Services in Medford (N14) and chief pilot at Central Virginia Aviation in Petersburg (PTB).  He also flies with Midway Airlines and serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Philadelphia FSDO.

Carla Corrine Dedera, Master CFI         
Giddings (TX)
E-mail:   CDedera@lycos.com
Carla Dedera recently renewed her Master Instructor designation.  Carla owns BATs Aviation and Down-to-Earth Aerial Photography at Giddings-Lee County Airport (62H).  She also serves as an Angle Flight mission pilot and is an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Houston FSDO.

Thomas Nelson "Tom" Gilmore, Master CFI 
Stuart (FL)
E-mail:    ToPilot@aol.com
Thomas Gilmore recently renewed his Master Instructor designation.  Tom is the chief flight instructor and owner of Gilmore Aviation Services (www.GilmoreAviation.com) located at Witham Airport (SUA).  He specializes in personalized instrument flight and ground training.

James Leighton "Jim" Stover, Master CFI
Fredericksburg (VA)  
E-mail:   JLStover@juno.com
James Stover recently renewed his Master CFI designation.  Jim worked as a Quantico Flying Club instructor at Turner Field (NYG).  He also serves in the Civil Air Patrol as a mission pilot and director of emergency services for the CAP's Virginia Wing.

Initials

Khaled Michael Alossi, Master CFI          
Lee's Summit (MO)
E-mail:    Av8tar@hotmail.com
Khaled Alossi recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Khaled worked as an advanced and instrument instructor with Midwest Executive Aircraft at Missouri's Lee's Summit Municipal Airport (LXT).  He has also served as an Angel Flight mission pilot.

William Ralph "Bill" Gross, Master CFI     
Salina (KS)
E-mail:    BGross@ksu.edu
William Gross recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Bill is the chief flight instructor for Kansas State University's aviation program at Salina Municipal Airport (SLN).  He also serves as a pilot examiner and safety counselor for the Wichita FSDO.

Tina Lynn Heil, Master CFI    
Duluth (GA)    
E-mail:    Tina@Heil1.com
Tina Heil recently earned her Master Instructor designation.  Tina is the associate chief flight instructor for Georgia Tech's Yellow Jacket Flying Club at Fulton County Airport (FTY).  She also served as the club's president and is presently on its executive committee.

Clifford Monroe "Cliff" Izer, Master CFI           
Alpharette (GA)
E-mail:    CIzer@liftflighttraining.com
Cliff Izer recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Cliff is an aviation consultant and chief flight instructor for Lift Flight Training (www.LiftFlightTraining.com), a Part 141 flight school at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK).  He specializes in complex aircraft and GPS training.

Linda Hert Langrill, Master CFI       
Midland (MI)    
E-mail:    LLangrill@chartermi.net
Linda Langrill recently earned her Master Instructor designation.  Linda is an independent flight instructor at Midland's Jack Barstow Airport (3BS).  She is a Wings of Mercy pilot and is active in Women in Aviation, the Ninety-Nines and Young Eagles.

Burke Lee McClure, Master CFI
Highlands Ranch (CO)
E-mail:    ATPGuy@aol.com
Burke McClure recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Burke is the chief flight instructor and Part 141 check pilot for the Wings of Denver Flying Club at Centennial Airport (APA).  He also serves in the CAP's  Colorado Wing and is an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Denver FSDO. 

Camille Eileene "Cammie" Patch, Master CFI   
Boise (ID)    
E-mail:   Cammie@sunvalley.net
Camille Patch recently earned her Master Instructor designation.  Cammie (www.p-factorllc.com) is a flight instructor with the Ponderosa Aero Club at Boise Airport (BOI).  She also works with local Boy Scouts and mentors new CFIs.

Max Trescott, Master CFI          
Mountain View (CA)
E-mail:    MaxT@piloans.com
Max Trescott recently earned his Master Instructor designation.  Max is an independent flight and ground instructor who operates San Jose Flight Training (www.SJFlight.com) at Reid-Hillview Airport (RHV).  He specializes in primary and instrument training.

FMI: E-mail NAFIMasterInstrs@aol.com