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 98,000 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 19 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 August 2014 are:
Timothy John “Tim” BRILL, Master CFI-Aerobatic
Reno NV
E-mail: Tim@AerobaticCompany.com
Timothy J Brill, a 3-time Master as well as a member of IAC and SAFE, recently renewed his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation.
Tim owns and operates the Aerobatic Company, a flight school specializing in emergency maneuver, spin recovery, and aerobatic training at Reno Stead Airport (RTS).
He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Reno FSDO area. (Photo: MCFI-A Tim Brill of Reno, NV)
William Goodwin “Bill CASTLEN, Master CFI
Dothan AL
E-mail: OldCFII@me.com
William G Castlen, a 5-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Bill specializes in technically advanced aircraft training as a Cirrus standardized instructor pilot (CSIP).
A veteran US Air Force master navigator and a 2006 recipient of the Wright Brothers Master Pilot award, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Birmingham FSDO area. (Photo: MCFI Bill Castlen of Dothan, AL)
David Alan “Dave” SIMPSON, Master CFI
San Diego CA
E-mail: Dave@TakeFlightSanDiego.com
David A Simpson, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Dave owns and operates Take Flight San Diego at Gillespie Field (SEE) where he specializes in accelerated primary, commercial, and instrument flight and ground training.
He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s San Diego FSDO area. (Photo: MCFI Dave Simpson of San Diego, CA)
Michael Taylor “Mike” VIVION, Master CFI Emeritus
Bozeman MT
E-mail: Michael.Vivion@gmail.com
Michael T Vivion, a 7-time Master and SAFE member, was recently granted Master Instructor Emeritus (MIE) status in recognition of his many years of commitment to excellence, professional growth, service to the aviation community, and quality aviation education.
Mike recently retired from his position as a check airman and teaching specialist in the University of Minnesota, Crookston’s (CKN) aviation program.
The 1998 Nat’l Aviation Safety Counselor of the Year, he has since relocated to Bozeman, Montana. (Photo: MCFI-E Mike Vivion of Bozeman, MT)
Richard Kingston “Rick” WRIGHT, Master CFI
Phoenix AZ
E-mail: Rick@WrightAviation.net
Richard K Wright, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Rick is the chief instructor of Wright Aviation at Deer Valley Airport (DVT) where he specializes in initial and recurrent technically advanced aircraft training.
A Marine Corps veteran, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Scottsdale FSDO area. (Photo: MCFI Rick Wright of Phoenix, AZ)
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/