November 2007 Master Instructors   

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) takes pride in announcing a significant aviation accomplishment on the part of these very special aviation educators.  Recently, they were all accredited as Master Instructors by NAFI, their professional aviation education association.

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. 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.   

Through their dedication to excellence, Master Instructors have earned their "black belts" in aviation education. They truly represent the crème de la crème of the aviation industry!  Additional information about the accreditation program is available at: http://www.NAFIMasters.org/  

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

RENEWALS

David Dudley BRADLEY, Master CFI           (Renew:   31Oct07)  
Boonville  MO 
E-mail:   DDBrad@hotmail.com 
David D Bradley recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  David is the owner and president of Tig Air Flight Training ( http://www.TigAir.com/ ) at Boonville's Jesse Viertel Airport (VER).  He also serves as the airport's manager and FBO as well as a designated pilot examiner (DPE) for the FAA's Kansas City FSDO.

Edgar Melville "Ed" FINK, Master CFI      (Renew:  1Nov07)  
Fort Myers FL
E-mail:   EdFink@embarqmail.com  
Edgar M Fink has earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 6th time.  Ed is an independent flight and ground instructor specializing in primary and instrument training at Page Field Airport (FMY) in Fort Myers.  He also serves with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Sundowners Search & Rescue and is a FAASTeam rep for the FAA's Tampa FSDO.

Helen Dalman "Pat" KNIGHT, Master CFI             (Renew:   28Nov07)
Naperville IL
E-mail:   PKnight@earthlink.net  
Pat Knight recently earned her Master CFI accreditation for the 6th time.  Pat is an independent DuPage-area flight instructor as well as a Citation pilot for Sterling Aviation in Milwaukee.  The FAA's 2006 Great Lakes Region CFI of the Year, she also serves as a designated pilot examiner for the DuPage FSDO.

Burke Lee MC CLURE, Master CFI             (Initial:  31Oct07)
Highlands Ranch CO Fort Collins CO
E-mail:   ATPGuy@msn.com 
Burke L McClure recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Burke is an independent flight instructor as well as a check pilot with Flights Inc (www.Flights-Inc.com), a Part 141 flight school and Cessna Pilot Center at Centennial Airport (APA).  He also serves in the CAP's Colorado Wing and is a FAASTeam representative for the FAA's Denver FSDO.

David James "Dave" MC VINNIE, Master CFI      (Renew:  1Nov07)  
Albuquerque NM
E-mail:    DJMcVinnie@aol.com / ABQDPE@aol.com
David J McVinnie has earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 6th time.  Dave is an independent flight instructor and designated pilot examiner (AlbuquerqueDPE.com) in the Albuquerque area.  He also serves on the national FITS Review committee and is a FAASTeam representative for the FAA's Albuquerque FSDO.

Edward William "Bill" OTWAY, Master CFI      (Renew:  1Nov07)  
San Antonio TX
E-mail:   BillOtway@hotmail.com
William Otway has earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 6th time.  Bill recently retired as chief CFI with Wright Flyers Aviation (www.WrightFlyers.com), a Part 141 Cessna Pilot Center at San Antonio International Airport (SAT).  He plans to continue providing ground training to ab initio students from China.

Sven SAMSON, Master CFI           (Renew:  31Oct07)  
Sanford FL
E-mail:    Sven.Samson@Netzero.net
Sven Samson recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.  Sven the chief flight instructor and director of operations at Avion Air Academy (www.AvionAirAcademy.com), a Part 141 flight school at Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB).  He also serves as a FAASTeam representative for the FAA's Orlando FSDO. 


INITIALS

Richard William "Rich" BARCLAY, Master CFI             (Initial:  14Nov07)
Elbert CO
E-mail:   FFRichDana@msn.com
Richard W Barclay recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.  Rich is a flight instructor with Flights Inc (www.Flights-Inc.com), a Part 141 flight school and Cessna Pilot Center at Centennial Airport (APA).  A certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic, he also transports patients in need of medical care as a volunteer Angel Flight West pilot.

Andres "Andy" CAPETILLO, Master CFI             (Initial:    14Nov07)
Cincinnati OH
E-mail:   11Capetillo@gmail.com
Andres Capetillo recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.  Andy is a flight and ground instructor with Sporty's Academy (www.Sportys.com), a Part 141 flight school at Clermont County Airport (I69).  He is also serves as treasurer of the Alpha Eta Rho chapter at the University of Cincinnati and has worked with the university's intercollegiate flight team.

Michael Duane HINCHCLIFF, Master CFI             (Initial:  14Nov07)
Conway AR
E-mail:   CFI@ConwayCorp.net
Michael D Hinchcliff recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.  Michael is an independent flight and ground instructor providing primary and instrument training at Conway's Dennis F Cantrell Airport (CWS).  He also serves as the local Boy Scout aviation merit badge counselor and is the Young Eagles coordinator for EAA's Chapter 165.

John Francis KEATING, Master CFI             (Initial:  14Nov07)
Chicago IL
E-mail:   JohnFKeating@yahoo.com
John F Keating recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.  John is a flight and ground instructor with American Flyers (www.AmericanFlyers.net) specializing in flight reviews and flight check preparation at DuPage Airport (DPA).  He will soon begin serving as a FAASTeam representative with the FAA's DuPage FSDO.

Gregory Brian "Greg" KOONTZ, Master CFI-Aerobatic           (Initial:  1Nov07)  
Ashville AL
E-mail:   Greg@GKAirshows.com
Gregory B Koontz recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation.  Greg is a flight instructor and airshow performer who operates Greg Koontz Airshows (http://www.GKAirshows.com/ ) at Ashville's Dugger's Field Airport (AL60).  He specializes in aerobatic, spin and tailwheel training while serving as a FAASTeam rep for the FAA's Birmingham FSDO.

Raymond Francis "Ray" SPENGLER Jr, Master CFI & Master GI          (Initial:  14Nov07)  
Sonoma CA
E-mail:   Ray@SkyparkFlying.com 
Raymond F Spengler recently earned his Master CFI and Master Ground Instructor accreditations.  Ray is the president of Skypark Aviation (www.SkyparkFlying.com), a Cessna Pilot Center at Sonoma Skypark Airport (0Q9).  He serves in the USCG Auxiliary and the Civil Air Patrol while also a FAASTeam rep for the FAA's Sacramento FSDO.