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 April are:
Cathleen Moira “Cathy” STEELE, Master CFI (Renew: 30Apr09)
Severna Park MD
E-mail: C.M.Steele@juno.com
Cathleen M Steele, a 4-time Master, recently renewed her Master Instructor accreditation. Cathy is an independent flight instructor at Baltimore’s Martin State Airport (MTN) who has recently been working as the chief CFI at Shivani Air in Katmandu, Nepal (www.ShivaniAir.com). She also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Baltimore FSDO area.
Nicholas Gregory “Greg” SOTER, Master CFI (Renew: 22Apr09)
Orem UT
E-mail: Greg@Soter.net
Gregory Soter, a 3-time Master, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Greg is an instructor specializing in instrument and multiengine training in Utah Valley University’s Aviation Science Department ( www.UVU.edu/Aviation ) at Provo Municipal Airport (PVU). He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the Salt Lake City FSDO area.
Quay Carl SNYDER, Master CFI (Renew: 30Apr09)
Monument CO
E-mail: QSnyder@AviationMedicine.com
Quay Snyder, a 4-time Master, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Quay is president of Virtual Flight Surgeons and specializes in aeromedical certification for pilots and air traffic controllers. He is also the Black Forest Soaring Society’s chief CFI at Kelly Air Park (CO15) as well as a pilot examiner and FAASTeam rep with the FAA’s Denver FSDO.
Charles Arthur “Charlie” SKELTON, Master CFI (Renew: 21Apr09)
Branford CT
E-mail: RBOCAS@comcast.net
Charles A Skelton, a 6-time Master, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Charlie is the president of Yale Aviation, a flying club located at Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), where he specializes in primary and instrument training. He is also the chief pilot for CAS Aviation and serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Windsor Locks FSDO area.
Paul Edward JURGENS II, Master Ground Instructor
Williamsburg OH
E-mail: PJurgens@Sportys.com
Paul E Jurgens, a 2-time double Master, recently renewed his Master Ground Instructor (MGI) accreditation. Paul is the chief flight instructor for glider and multiengine training at Sporty’s Academy and Eastern Cincinnati Aviation at Clermont County Airport (I69). In addition, he is the vice president of publishing for Sporty’s Pilot Shop specializing in product development.
Paul GRETSCHEL, Master CFI (Renew: 14Apr08)
Coram NY
E-mail: Paul@PACKAviation.com
Paul Gretschel, a 3-time Master, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Paul is the president and owner of PACK Aviation (www.PACKAviation.com) at Islip’s MacArthur Airport (ISP). He also serves with the USCG Auxiliary, the Beechcraft Pilot Proficiency Program (BPPP) and is a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Farmingdale FSDO area.
Thomas Michael “Mike” GARRISON, Master CFI (Renew: 28Apr08)
Leawood KS
E-mail: MGarrison8@sbcglobal.net
Michael Garrison, a 4-time Master, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Mike is an independent flight instructor specializing in instrument, multiengine, and Cirrus training at Johnson County Executive Airport (OJC). He also serves as a designated pilot examiner and a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Kansas City FSDO area.
Gordon Ashby EWALD, Master CFI
Hardy VA
E-mail: GEwald1948@verizon.net
Gordon A Ewald, a 4-time Master, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Gordon is the assistant chief CFI with Falwell Aviation (www.FlyFalwell.com), a Lynchburg Part 141 flight school with a satellite campus at Roanoke Regional Airport (ROA). He is also an independent flight and ground instructor who serves as a volunteer Angel Flight pilot.
Timothy James “Tim” BUSCH, Master CFI
Atkins IA
E-mail: Tim@IowaFlightTraining.com
Timothy J Busch recently earned his Master CFI accreditation. Tim is the chief flight instructor, owner, and manager of Iowa Flight Training ( www.IowaFlightTraining.com ) providing flight and ground instruction at several Cedar Rapids-area airports. He also serves as a FAASTeam representation in the FAA’s Des Moines FSDO area.