Master Instructors LLC (MI 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 through Master Instructors LLC’s https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/ as Masters by Master Instructors LLC, the international Master Instructor accrediting authority for the six (6) Master Instructor designations as well as the home of the industry acclaimed and FAA-approved Master Instructor Continuing Education Program (MICEP)ä. (US Copyright Office registration number TX0006987479).
To help put these achievements in their proper perspective, there are approximately 101,000 FAA-certificated 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, twenty-three (23) of the last National Flight Instructors of the Year, National FAASTeam Representatives of the Year, or National Aviation Maintenance Techs (AMTs) of the Year were Masters (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.
Professional aviation educators who earned or renewed their “Master” title during February 2018 are:
John Wesley “Jack” VANDEVENTER, Master CFI Emeritus (Emeritus: 31Jan18)
Zionsville IN
Jack’s e-mail address: Jack@MasterInstruction.com
John W “Jack” Vandeventer, a 7-time Master and a charter member of SAFE, was recently granted Master Instructor Emeritus (MIE) status through MI LLC’s https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/ in recognition of his many years of commitment to excellence, professional growth, service to the aviation community, and quality aviation education.
Jack is an independent CFI who instructs with Montgomery Aviation at Indianapolis Executive Airport (TYQ) where he specializes in technically advanced and high performance flight training.
A former member of SAFE‘s board of directors, he also serves a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Indianapolis FSDO area.
(Photo: MCFI-E Jack Vandeventer of Zionsville, IN)
James Leighton “Jim” STOVER, Master CFI (Renew: 17Feb18)
Fredericksburg VA
Jim’s e-mail address: StoverJL@cox.net
James L Stover, a 9-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC’s MICEP program https://MICEP.FluidReview.com
A retired US Army infantry officer, Jim is the chief flight instructor at JLS Aviation, a Part 141 flight school at Shannon Airport (EZF), where he specializes in light sport through commercial flight training.
He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Richmond FSDO area.
(Photo: MCFI Jim Stover of Fredericksburg, VA)
Stewart Douglas “Doug” STEWART, Master CFI (Renew: 20Feb18)
South Egremont MA
Doug’s e-mail address: Doug@DSFlight.com
Douglas Stewart, a 10-time Master and a founding member of SAFE, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC MICEP program https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/
The 2004 National CFI of the Year, he owns and operates Doug Stewart Flight Instruction at Columbia County Airport (1B1) in Hudson, New York.
Doug was the original executive director of SAFE, the Society of Aviation & Flight Educators.
Additionally, he serves as a pilot examiner (DPE) and a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Albany / Windsor Locks FSDO areas.
(Photo: MCFI Doug Stewart of South Egremont, MA)\
Michael Louis PHILLIPS, Master CFI (Renew: 1Feb18)
Ventura CA
Michael’s e-mail address: MCFIMLP@gmail.com
Michael L Phillips, a 6-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation through MI LLC’s https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/
Michael is a flight, ground, and simulator instructor with CP Aviation, a Cessna Pilot Center at Santa Paula Airport (SZP).
A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, he also serves on the Master Instructor Board of Review as well as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Van Nuys FSDO area and is a former member of the SAFE Board of Directors.
(Photo: MCFI Michael Phillips of Ventura, CA)
Lonnie Lee HILKEMEIER, Master CFI (Renew: 20Feb18)
Boulder CO
Lonnie’s e-mail address: Lonnie@SpecialtyFlight.com
Lonnie L Hilkemeier, an 11-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC MICEP program https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/
Colorado’s first Master Instructor in 1998, Lonnie is the senior flight instructor and president of Specialty Flight Training, a Cessna Pilot Center at Boulder Airport (BDU).
He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Denver FSDO area.
Additionally, he was one of the first aviation educators to earn a Master designation when the accreditation program was first introduced in 1997 and is only the third instructor to ever be accredited eleven (11) times.
(Photo: MCFI Lonnie Hilkemeier of Boulder, CO)
Parvez DARA, Master CFI ( Renew: 1Feb18 )
Toms River NJ
Parvez’s e-mail address: DaraParvez@gmail.com
Parvez Dara, a 7-time Master as well as a member of SAFE‘s board of directors, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC’s MICEP program https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/
Parvez was a longtime New Jersey aviation medical examiner (AME) and is a Mooney Pilot Proficiency flight and ground instructor with the Mooney Aircraft Pilots Association Safety Foundation.
He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Philadelphia FSDO area.
(Photo: MCFI Parvez Dara of Toms River, NJ)
Henry Gene BEHRENDS, Master CFI-Aerobatic (Initial: 5Feb18)
Cochran GA
Gene’s e-mail address: Gene.Behrends@MGA.edu
Gene Behrends, a 1st-time Master as well as a member of SAFE and IAC, recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC MICEP program https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/
Gene is the assistant chief flight instructor at Eastman’s Middle Georgia State University flight department (EZM).
In that capacity, he specializes in stage checks, end-of-course checks, aerobatic instruction, and initial CFI training.
(Photo: MCFI-A Gene Behrends of Cochran, GA)
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.
Please feel free to disseminate this information widely. Questions regarding the Master Instructor Continuing Education Programä may be directed to 303-485-8136 orMasterInstrs@aol.com For more information about the Master Instructor Continuing Education Programä ( https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/ ) and to locate other Masters, please visit www.MasterInstructors.orgTo learn more about the Society of Aviation andFlight Educators (SAFE), visit http://SafePilots.org/