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News Release

SEPTEMBER 2013

Master Instructors LLC and its Board of Review take pride in announcing a significant aviation accomplishment on the part of these very special aviation educators.  Recently, they were all accredited as Masters by Master Instructors LLC, the international Master Instructor accrediting authority (US Copyright Office registration number TX0006987479).

To help put these achievements in their proper perspective, there are approximately 97,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 800 of them have earned Master accreditation thus far.  As a measure of the significance and prestige associated with this title, the last 18 National Flight Instructors of the Year or National FAASTeam Representatives of the Year were Master CFIs (see: http://www.GeneralAviationAwards.org/).  In addition, the FAA has approved the accreditation as an alternate means for CFIs to renew their flight instructor certificates.

Aviation educators who earned the “Master” title during September 2013 are:

Russell Frederick "Russ" STILL, Master CFI
Russell Frederick “Russ” STILL, Master CFI

Russell Frederick “Russ” STILL, Master CFI
Cumming  GA
E-mail:  Russell@GoldSealFlight.com

Russell F Still, a 5-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. 

Russ is the president of Atlanta Flight Training at Gwinnett County Airport (LZU). 

A published aviation author, he also serves with the Georgia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) primarily as an instructor pilot.    (Photo:  MCFI Russ Still of Cumming, GA)


 

Edgar Melville "Ed" FINK, Master CFI
Edgar Melville “Ed” FINK, Master CFI

Edgar Melville “Ed” FINK, Master CFI
Fort Myers  FL
E-mail:    EdMFink@comcast.net

Edgar M Fink, a 9-time Master and a SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. 

A retired Army officer, Ed is an independent flight and ground instructor at Page Field Airport (FMY) in Fort Myers. 

He also serves with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Sundowners Search & Rescue Flying Club, and was a longtime FAASTeam representative for the FAA’s Tampa FSDO area.   (Photo:  MCFI Ed Fink of Fort Myers, FL) 


 

Kele Huia FERGERSTROM, Master CFI
Kele Huia FERGERSTROM, Master CFI

Kele Huia FERGERSTROM, Master CFI
Honolulu  HI
E-mail:  Kele@Fergerstrom.net

Kele H Fergerstrom, a 2-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. 

Kele is the chief flight instructor with Barbers Point Flight School at Kalaeloa Airport (HJR) where he specializes in primary and tailwheel flight training. 

An A&P mechanic, he also serves in the Hawaii Wing of the CAP and is an industry check pilot for the Honolulu FSDO. (Photo:  MCFI Kele Fergerstrom of Honolulu, HI)  


 

Raymond Wilbur "Ray" BROWN, Master CFI
Raymond Wilbur “Ray” BROWN, Master CFI

Raymond Wilbur “Ray” BROWN, Master CFI
Avon Lake  OH
E-mail:  
RayTopGun@yahoo.com

Raymond W Brown, a 7-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. 

Ray is the lead flight instructor and president of Top Gun Flight Training Academy at Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL) where he specializes in tailwheel and technically advanced training.  (Photo:  MCFI  Ray Brown of Avon Lake, OH)  


 

Randall Loren "Randy" BROOKS, Master CFI-Aerobatic
Randall Loren “Randy” BROOKS, Master CFI-Aerobatic

Randall Loren “Randy” BROOKS, Master CFI-Aerobatic
Arlington  TX
E-mail:   Randall.Brooks@APSTraining.com

Randall L Brooks, a 1st-time Master as well as a member of IAC and SAFE, recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation. 

Randy is the vice president of training and business development with APS Emergency Maneuver Training at Arlington Municipal Airport (GKY). 

He specializes in spin and recovery training as well as formation aerobatics.    (Photo:  MCFI-A Randy Brooks of Arlington, TX)  


The Master Instructor designation is a national accreditation recognized by the FAA and revered by industry.  It 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, Masters have earned their “black belts” in aviation education. They truly represent the crème de la crème of the aviation industry!  High and low resolution photos are available upon request.

Questions regarding the Master Instructor Programä may be directed to 303-485-8136 or MasterInstrs@aol.com   For more information about the Master Instructor Programä and to locate other Masters, please visit the “Find a Master Instructor” section of www.MasterInstructors.org  To learn more about the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), visit http://SafePilots.org/  The International Aerobatic Club (IAC) can be reached through their website at http://IAC.org/