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 this achievement in its proper perspective, there are approximately 93,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 700 of them have earned Master accreditation thus far. As a measure of the prestige conferred by this title, the last 14 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!
Questions regarding the Master Instructor Program may be directed to 303-485-8136 or MasterInstrs@aol.com To learn more about the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), visit http://SafePilots.US/ For more information about the Program and to locate other Master Instructors, please visit the “Find a Master Instructor” section of www.MasterInstructors.org
Aviation educators who earned the “Master” title during March are:
Wanda Jean ZUEGE, Master CFI ( Renew: 31Mar09 )
Custer WI
E-mail: ATP1682@yahoo.com
Wanda Zuege, a 2-time Master, recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation. Wanda is the chief flight and ground instructor as well as owner of Am I High Aviation (www.AmIHighAviation.com) at Stevens Point Municipal Airport (STE). She also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Milwaukee FSDO area.
Hobart Caleb “Hobie” TOMLINSON, Master CFI (Renew: 31Mar09)
Huntington VT
E-mail: HobieTW@att.net
Hobart C Tomlinson, a 4-time Master, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Hobie is a charter pilot and an independent flight instructor as well as director of safety for Heritage Flight (www.FlyHeritage.com) at Burlington International Airport (BTV). He also serves as a FAASTeam representative and pilot examiner in the FAA’s Portland Maine FSDO area.
Raymond Francis “Ray” SPENGLER, Master CFI & Master GI (Renew: 23Mar09)
Sonoma CA
E-mail: Ray@SkyparkFlying.com,
Raymond F Spengler recently renewed his Master CFI and Master GI accreditations. Ray is the president of Skypark Aviation (www.SkyparkFlying.com), a Cessna Pilot Center at Sonoma Skypark Airport (0Q9). He serves as the Civil Air Patrol’s California Wing Group 5 commander as well as a FAASTeam rep for the FAA’s Sacramento FSDO.
Megan Roberta SAYRE, Master CFI (Initial: 23Mar09)
Bennett CO
E-mail: Megan@DaedalusAviation.com
Megan R Sayre recently earned her Master CFI accreditation. Megan is the director of operations and chief flight instructor at Daedalus Aviation ( www.DaedalusAviation.com ), a Part 141 Cessna Pilot Center at Denver’s Front Range Airport (FTG). She is also a frequent speaker for Metro State College’s aviation program and serves as a FAASTeam representative in the Denver FSDO area.
Ernest Paul “Rusty” SACHS, Master Instructor Emeritus
Norwich VT
E-mail: ClipClop6@hotmail.com
Rusty Sachs, a 7-time Master CFI, 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. A Marine helicopter pilot (HMM-362) and Vietnam veteran, he also served as a pilot examiner and FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Portland, Maine, FSDO area.
Brandon Joel RAY, Master CFI
Conroe TX
E-mail: Brandon@FlyHPA.com
Brandon J Ray recently earned his initial Master CFI accreditation. Brandon is a Cessna sales representative and demo pilot with Devon Aviation ( www.DevonAviation.com ) at David Wayne Hooks Airport (DWH). He also owns High Performance Aviation ( http://FlyHPA.com) and serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Houston FSDO area.
Charles Henry “Chuck” EBBECKE, Master CFI ( Initial: 23Mar09 )
Mullica Hill NJ
E-mail: Ebbecke@comcast.net
Charles H Ebbecke recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Chuck is an independent flight instructor as well as a director and instructor with the Mooney Aircraft Pilots Association (MAPA) Safety Foundation. The FAA’s 2009 Eastern Region CFI of the Year, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Philadelphia FSDO area.
Linda Margaret DOWDY, Master CFI ( Renew: 23Mar09 )
Bethel MN
E-mail: LinDowdy@visi.com
Linda M Dowdy recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation. Linda owns and operates SimFlite Minnesota (www.SimFliteMinnesota.com), a simulator facility specializing in instrument and GPS training. She is also active in the Minnesota 99s and serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Minneapolis FSDO area.