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 November 2013 are:
Burton Loyal “Burt” STEVENS, Master CFI (Initial: 4Nov13)
Woodbury CT
E-mail: BStevens@snet.net
Burt Stevens, a 1st-time Master and SAFE member, recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.
Burt is a flight and ground instructor at Oxford Airport (OXC) where he specializes in primary and advanced training.
He also serves as treasurer of the Oxford Flying Club and is a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Windsor Locks FSDO area. (Photo: MCFI Burt Stevens of Woodbury, CT)
Helen Dalman “Pat” KNIGHT, Master CFI & Master Ground Instructor (Renew: 1Nov13)
Naperville IL
E-mail: PKnight@earthlink.net
Pat Knight, SAFE member as well as a 9-time Master CFI and a Master Ground Instructor (MGI), recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation.
A US Air Force veteran, longtime pilot examiner (DPE) and flight instructor, Pat is an aviation safety inspector with the DuPage FSDO where she specializes in human factors in aviation and accident prevention as well as glider and multiengine flight training. (Photo: MCFI & MGI Pat Knight of Naperville, IL)
Carol Ruth JENSEN, Master CFI (Renewal: 30Nov13)
Georgetown TX
E-mail: CarolJensen@LightningRanch.net
Carol R Jensen, a 3-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation.
Carol is the president of Lightning Ranch Group at Georgetown Municipal Airport (GTU) and serves on the board of the Cirrus Owners & Pilots Association (COPA).
She is also a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s San Antonio FSDO area. (Photo: MCFI Carol Jensen of Georgetown, TX)
William Ralph “Bill” GROSS, Master CFI (Renew: 31Oct13)
Salina KS
E-mail: BGross@KSU.edu
William R Gross, a 6-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Bill is a professor of aviation and the chief flight instructor in Kansas State University’s College of Technology and Aviation at Salina Municipal Airport (SLN).
He also serves as a pilot examiner (DPE) and FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Wichita FSDO area. (Photo: MCFI Bill Gross of Salina, KS)
Lara Zook GAERTE, Master CFI (Renew: 17Oct13)
Fort Wayne IN
E-mail: LaraGaerte@gmail.com
Lara Gaerte, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation.
Lara is the CEO, manager, and chief pilot of Century Aviation, a full-service FBO at De Kalb County Airport (GWB).
She also serves as the safety officer and a director of the Air Race Classic and is a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s South Bend FSDO area. (Photo: MCFI Lara Gaerte of Fort Wayne, IN)
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/