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 96,000 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 16 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 Programä may be directed to 303-485-8136 or MasterInstrs@aol.com For more information about the Master Instructor Programä and to locate other Masters, please visit the “Find a Master Instructor” section of www.MasterInstructors.org To learn more about the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), visit http://SafePilots.org/ The International Aerobatic Club (IAC) can be reached through their website at http://IAC.org/
Aviation educators who earned the “Master” title during January are:
James Leighton “Jim” STOVER, Master CFI
Fredericksburg VA
E-mail: StoverJL@cox.net
James L Stover, a 6-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Jim is the chief CFI and owner of JLS Aviation, a Part 141 flight school at Shannon Airport (EZF) where he specializes in primary and instrument flight training.
A retired Army veteran, he also serves as a representative of AOPA’s Airport Survelance Network and mentors new flight instructors.
Beverly Jean RUNNER, Master CFI
Lakeside CA
E-mail: HWRunner@earthlink.net
Jean Runner, a 5-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) and is a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s San Diego FSDO area.
Robert Kloman “Bob” GAWLER, Master CFI
Bethesda MD
E-mail: TreborAV8@gmail.com
Robert K Gawler, a 7-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Bob is an independent flight instructor TreborAV8.com/TreborAV8/Welcome.html as well as a pilot examiner (DPE) at Gaithersburg Montgomery County Airpark (GAI).
He also works with the Civil Air Patrol and serves as a FAASTeam representative for the FAA’s Baltimore FSDO area.
Thomas Monroe “Tom” EVANS, Master CFI
Tampa FL
E-mail: WorldwideOptical@att.net
Thomas M Evans, a 6-time Master and a SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Tom is a flight and ground instructor with Atlas Aviation, 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 Tampa FSDO area.
Troy Dale BROCKWAY, Master CFI
Salina KS
E-mail: TroyB@KSU.edu
Troy D Brockway, a 3-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Troy is an associate professor as well as assistant chief flight instructor for Kansas State University’s College of Technology and Aviation at Salina Municipal Airport (SLN).
He specializes in flight instructor training and is also a volunteer Young Eagles pilot.
Cleon Joseph BITER, Master Instructor Emeritus
Longmont CO
E-mail: CJBiter@gmail.com
Cleon J Biter, a 7-time Master CFI and charter SAFE member, 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.
An American Meteorological Society certified consulting meteorologist, Cleon is also a flight instructor with Air West Flight Center at Vance Brand Airport (LMO).
Additionally, he serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Denver FSDO area.
Allen “Al” BANEN, Master CFI
Fountain Hills AZ
E-mail: BaronInstructor@aol.com
Al Banen, a 3-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Al is an independent Phoenix-area flight and ground instructor specializing in Bonanza, Baron, and Duke recurrent training.
A holder of the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot award, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the Scottsdale FSDO area.