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 and industry 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 November are:
Craig Michael PATTERSON, Master CFI
Midland TX
E-mail: CPatterson@Midland.edu
Craig M Patterson, a 3-time Master, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Craig is an associate professor of aviation and chief flight instructor with Midland College’s Part 141 professional pilot preparation program ( www.Midland.edu/~Pilots ) at Midland Airpark (MDD). He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Lubbock FSDO area.
Edward William “Bill” OTWAY, Master Instructor Emeritus
San Antonio TX
E-mail: BillOtway@hotmail.com
William Otway, a 7-time Master CFI, was recently granted Master Instructor Emeritus status in recognition of his many years of commitment to excellence, professional growth, service to the aviation community, and quality aviation education. Bill retired as the chief CFI with Wright Flyers Aviation ( www.WrightFlyers.com ), a Part 141 Cessna Pilot Center at San Antonio International Airport (SAT).
Helen D “Pat” KNIGHT, Master CFI
Naperville IL
E-mail: PKnight@earthlink.net
Pat Knight, a 7-time Master and a SAFE board member, recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation. Pat is a Citation captain with Sterling Aviation ( www.SterlingAviation.com/ ) as well as an instructor with Travel Express Aviation ( www.FlyTEA.com ) at DuPage Airport (DPA). She also serves as a pilot examiner and FAASTeam rep in the FAA’s DuPage FSDO area.
Carol Ruth JENSEN, Master CFI
Georgetown TX
E-mail: Carol@LightningRanch.net
Carol R Jensen recently earned her initial Master CFI accreditation. Carol is the president of Lightning Ranch Group ( www.LightningRanch.net/CentralTexasFlightAcademy ) at Georgetown Municipal Airport (GTU). She also serves on the board of the Cirrus Owners & Pilots Association (COPA) and is as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s San Antonio FSDO area.
Edgar Melville “Ed” FINK, Master CFI
Fort Myers FL
E-mail: EdMFink@comcast.net
Edgar M Fink, a 7-time Master and a SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Ed is an independent flight and ground instructor at Page Field Airport (FMY). He also serves with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Sundowners Search & Rescue Flying Club, and is a FAASTeam representative for the FAA’s Tampa FSDO.