Master Instructors is honored to announce that James Leighton Stover of Fredericksburg, Virginia, has been designated a Master Instructor Emeritus, marking more than twenty years as a Master CFI and 27 years as an active instructor. Jim began his aviation journey with flight lessons at the local airport in Fort Myers, Florida. Following a break in flying for military service, he resumed training and eventually earned his CFI certificate in 1996. He has been active in the Civil Air Patrol, a volunteer for conservation flying, and participated in medical flights for high-risk patients. He started his flight instruction career at Quantico until the flight school closed. He then opened and operated his own Part 141 flight school at Shannon Airport in Virginia for twelve years. Both he and his school were multiple awardees by AOPA’s Flight Training Excellence Program. He sold the school and continued instructing at Stafford Airport as an Assistant Chief Instructor until 2021. He subsequently was hired as the Airport Director for Stafford Regional Airport, where he continues to work and provide occasional flight instruction to one of his many former students. There is no doubt that Jim represents the “best of the best” in the Aviation Educator Community and we are proud to bestow this honorary designation recognizing his many years of excellence and professionalism.
Master Instructors is honored to announce that Jean-Michel Karr of Chêne-Bougeries, Switzerland has received his First Accreditation as a Master Instructor. Jean-Michel is an ATP/CFI/CFII AGI/IGI and EASA FI(A)/IRI(A)/CRI(A). He has been an active instructor since 2006, and works pro bono as Head of training in a non-commercial flight school in Geneva, Switzerland.
His areas of focus are environmental moderation in flight with the usage of approved simulators, low-carbon aircraft and the Pipistrel Velis Electro. He also bridges the transatlantic gap by helping pilots convert or make the most of their FAA certificates and EASA licenses.
With a background in software engineering, design and quality, Jean-Michel has primarily dedicated a quarter of century to public service in his Geneva community.
Master Instructors is pleased to announce that Nick Marcantonio of Milton, Florida has received his Second accreditation as a Master Instructor. During the past two years, while performing over 200 hours of flight instruction, he was hired by the airlines and now flies the CRJ-900. He continues to contribute to the community primarily through Civil Air Patrol, local flight schools, and FlightSimCoach. Nick says that his favorite thing to do is to help his students save money by teaching them methods of self-study and practice using home simulators. In his free time, he enjoys flying the F/A-18 on DCS, and he loves spending time with his wife and three kids.
Master Instructors is please to announce that Mark Richard King of Oxnard, California, has received his Third accreditation as a Master Instructor-Aerobatic. Mark is a full-time flight instructor with CP Aviation in Santa Paula, Calif. where he specializes in Emergency Maneuver Training, Tailwheel and Aerobatic Instruction. He also works part time as a King Air 250 pilot and flies competition aerobatics in a Pitts S2B.
Master Instructors is pleased to announce that William E. Dubois of Las Vegas, New Mexico, has received his Second accreditation as a Master Ground Instructor. He is a widely published aviation writer, a frequent contributor to General Aviation News, AOPA’s Flight Training magazine, and crafts many of the Air Safety Institute’s Training and Safety tips. Dubois, who started flying at age 17, has a degree in aviation technology, holds a Commercial Pilot certificate with Instrument rating, and an I/AGI ground instructor certificate. Involved in education most of his life, Dubois believes that humor and analogy are key teaching techniques, along with a relaxed and inclusive style that makes learning fun. Dubois was recognized as a Distinguished Flight Instructor in the 2021-22 AOPA Flight Training Experience Awards. He is a national champion air racer, taking home the silver season trophies for production airplanes from the Sport Air Racing League in 2016 and 2017, and holds a world speed record from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. He serves as a FAASTeam Rep, is the Airport Support Network Volunteer for KSXU, and has been a member of AOPA for more than forty years.