The Master Instructor designation is a national FAA-recognized professional accreditation and parallels the continuing education regimen used by other professionals to increase their professionalism. The designation must be renewed biennially and significantly surpasses the FAA requirements for renewal of the candidate’s flight instructor certificate. Of the 101,000 flight instructors in the US, fewer than 800 have earned the Master Instructor designation, and most are SAFE members.
Cliff Chetwin, MCFI MIE
The honor was in recognition of his many years of commitment to excellence, professional growth, service to the aviation community and support for quality aviation education.Clifford “Cliff” Chetwin of Westminster CO and Santa Fe NM, a 7-time Master Instructor and a member of SAFE as well as the MICEP Board of Review, was granted Master Instructor Emeritus (MIE) status February 20.
The president of Kestrel Aviation LLC, Cliff is a retired National Park Service regional chief pilot and aviation program manager. In addition to having served as a SAFE board member, he works as a nationally acclaimed aviation safety lecturer while also serving as a FAASTeam lead representative in the FAA’s Albuquerque FSDO area.
Elaine Kauh, MCFI
Elaine Kauh of Janesville WI, a 5-time Master and SAFE member, renewed her Master CFI accreditation March 10.
A noted aviation writer and speaker, Elaine is also a flight and ground instructor specializing in glass cockpit training and tailwheel instruction at Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (JVL) and Palmyra Municipal Airport (88C).
She serves on the Master Instructor Board of Review and is a FAASTeam Lead Representative for the Milwaukee FSDO.
Chris Fitch, MCFI
Kent “Chris” Fitch of Waxahachie TX, a 2-time Master Instructor and SAFE member, renewed his Master CFI accreditation March 1.
Chris flies for Mesa Airlines as well as L3 Technologies and is a Park University adjunct professor of aviation, and provides civilian fixed wing and rotary wing flight and ground training
He was a United States Marine Corps helicopter maintenance technician and an Army warrant officer helicopter pilot at Alabama’s Fort Rucker.
Hobie Tomlinson, MCFI
Hobart C “Hobie” Tomlinson of Huntington VT, an 9-time Master and a SAFE member as well as a SAFE director, renewed his Master CFI accreditation March 20.
Hobie is a retired TWA pilot and manager of Montair Flight Services LLC at Burlington International Airport, where he specializes in Beechcraft and Cirrus flight training, He was the 2012 National CFI of the Year.
He serves as a FAASTeam lead representative and DPE for the FAA’s Portland ME FSDO. He also won the FAA’s prestigious and coveted Wright Brothers Master Pilot award last year.
Ray Spengler, MCFI
Raymond F Spengler Jr, a seven-time Master, SAFE member and a former member of the SAFE board of directors, renewed his Master CFI accreditation March 1.
Ray has served in the Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and is a FAASTeam lead representative for the FAA’s Lubbock FSDO. He is also an A&P mechanic.
Ray is also the president of Skypark Aviation LLC, a Cessna Pilot Center at East Texas Regional Airport (GGG) where he specializes in primary, advanced and avionics flight training.