One New, Six Returning Instructors Earned The Designation Last Month

Seven instructors earned the designation "Master Instructor" from Master Instructors LLC, the international Master Instructor accrediting authority.

With approximately 93,000 CFIs in the United States, fewer than 700 of them have earned Master accreditation. The last 15 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. 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 October are:

• Master CFI Todd Michael Underwood, of Prescott, AZ. Todd is a 1st-time Master and SAFE member, having recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.  Todd is a flight instructor with North-Aire Aviation at Prescott's Love Field (PRC). He also serves as a volunteer Angel Flight pilot as well as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's Scottsdale FSDO area.  E-mail: Todd@Atjeu.com
• Kenneth Francis "Ken" Wittekiend Jr, of Burnet TX. Now a three-time Master and SAFE member, Ken recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Ken owns and operates ProMark Aviation Services at Burnet Municipal Airport (BMQ). He is also a flight instructor with the Bonanza Pilot Proficiency Program and is a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's San Antonio FSDO area.  E-mail: Ken@ProMarkAviation.net
• Master CFI Donna Martha Stevens of Chesterton  IN. Donna is now a 5-time Master and a SAFE member with the recent renewal of her Master CFI accreditation. Donna is the chief flight and ground instructor as well as owner of DonnAir Aviation at Valparaiso's Porter County Airport (VPZ). She also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA's South Bend FSDO area. E-mail: DonnAir_Aviation@hotmail.com
• Master CFI-Aerobatic John Clarke Mc Neace of Queen Creek  AZ. "Otter" McNeace, a 2-time Master and IAC member, recently renewed his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation. Clarke is the director of operations & training with Aviation Performance Solutions at Gateway Airport (IWA). A former naval aviator and combat veteran, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the Scottsdale FSDO area. E-mail: Clarke.McNeace@APSTraining.com
• Master CFI & Master GI Paul Edward Jurgens II of Williamsburg OH.  Paul, a 3-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Paul is the chief flight instructor for glider and multiengine land operations with Sporty's Academy at Batavia's Clermont County Airport (I69). He is also the vice president for publishing with Sporty's. E-mail: PJurgens@Sportys.com
• Master CFI Richard Milton "Rick" Henry III of Anchorage  AK. Now a 2-time Master and SAFE member, Rick recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Rick is an independent flight and ground instructor specializing in primary training at Anchorage's Merrill Field (PAMR).  He is also an MD-11 pilot and simulator proficency check airman with Federal Express.  Rick@RickHenry.com, Rick@ExperimentalAirplane.com
• Master CFI Darrel LeRoy Dilly of LaSalle CO. This is Darrel's fourth Master Instructor renewal. Darrel, who is also a SAFE member, is the chief flight instructor with Blue Sky Flyers Flying Club at Greeley-Weld County Airport (GXY).  A United Airlines B-777 instructor pilot, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the Denver FSDO area. E-mail: DLDilley@aol.com

FMI: www.MasterInstructors.org, www.SafePilots.org