Accreditation Reached Through Voluntary IAC/NAFI Program

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) and the International Aerobatic Club (IAC) told ANN this week of a significant accomplishment on the part of Carlos Almeida of Aerial Advantage Aviation in Nashua, NH.

Almeida recently earned his aerobatic instructor accreditation under a voluntary program developed jointly by NAFI and IAC. In addition to the Master CFI-Aerobatic (MCFI-A) designation available since 2001, two other designations were launched late in 2007: the Flight Instructor-Aerobatic (FI-A) and the Certificated Flight Instructor-Aerobatic (CFI-A). Almeida is the fourth aerobatic instructor to earn the CFI-A designation under this program.

Candidates earn one of the three NAFI/IAC Aerobatic Instructor designations through a voluntary-yet-rigorous process of continuing professional activity and peer review. The program parallels the continuing education regimen used by professionals in other fields to enhance their knowledge base.

The Aerobatic Instructor designation formally recognizes those aviation educators who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth, and service to the aviation community. An offshoot of the FAA-recognized NAFI Master Instructor program, aerobatic designations must be renewed biennially.

NAFI and IAC -- both parts of the Experimental Aircraft Association -- are dedicated to providing support and recognition for America's professional aerobatic instructors, while simultaneously encouraging all such instructors to rise up to and maintain a high level of professionalism. NAFI and IAC are also committed to providing a safe and effective learning environment for those seeking spin, emergency maneuver/upset, or traditional aerobatic training services.

FMI: www.iac.org/programs/designation.html