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 December are:
Richard William “Rich” BARCLAY, Master CFI
Elbert CO
E-mail: FFRichDana@msn.com
Richard W Barclay, a 2-time Master, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Rich is a flight and ground instructor as well as a Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot (CSIP) with Independence Aviation ( http://www.IA-KAPWA.com/ ) at Centennial Airport (APA). He specializes in Cirrus, Diamond, and other technically advanced aircraft training.
Cleon Joseph BITER, Master CFI
Longmont CO
E-mail: CJBiter@earthlink.net
Cleon J Biter, a 6-time Master, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. An American Meteorological Society certified consulting meteorologist, Cleon is also a flight instructor with Air West Flight Center ( http://AirWestFlightCenter.com ) at Vance Brand Airport (LMO). Additionally, he serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Denver FSDO area.
Thomas Monroe “Tom” EVANS, Master CFI
Tampa FL
E-mail: WorldwideOptical@att.net
Thomas M Evans, a 5-time Master, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Tom is a flight and ground instructor with Atlas Aviation ( www.AtlasAviationInc.com ), a Cessna Pilot Center at Tampa’s Peter O Knight Field (TPF). He also serves as president of the Florida Association of Flight Instructors and is a FAASTeam rep in the FAA’s North Florida FSDO area.
Robert Kloman “Bob” GAWLER, Master CFI
Bethesda MD
E-mail: TreborAV8@starpower.net,
Robert K Gawler, a 6-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Bob is an independent flight instructor as well as a designated pilot examiner (DPE) at Montgomery County Airpark (GAI) in Gaithersburg. He also works with the Civil Air Patrol and serves as a FAASTeam representative for the FAA’s Baltimore FSDO area.
David Allen KOEHN, Master CFI
Tulsa OK
E-mail: David@DestinationsEFC.com
David A Koehn, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. David is the owner Destinations Executive Flight Center ( DestinationsEFC.com ) and co-founder of Fast Forward Aviation at Tulsa’s Richard L Jones Riverside Airport (RVS). Additionally, he serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Oklahoma City FSDO area.
Timm PREUSSER, Master CFI
Kleinwallstadt Germany
E-mail: TimmPreusser@t-online.de
Timm Preusser, a 6-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation. Timm is the chief flight and ground instructor at the Darmstadt Flying Club ( www.FlyDFC.com ) as well as the chief instructor for the Cirrus Owners & Pilots Association (COPA) in Europe. He also serves on COPA’s board of directors.
Beverly Jean RUNNER, Master CFI
Lakeside CA
E-mail: HWRunner@earthlink.net
Jean Runner, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation. Jean is an independent flight instructor at El Cajon’s Gillespie Field (SEE). She also serves as a judge for the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Flying Association (PCIFA), a coach and evaluator for SDCC aviation students, and is a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s San Diego FSDO area.