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 97,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 800 of them have earned Master accreditation thus far. As a measure of the prestige conferred by this title, the last 18 National Flight Instructors of the Year or FAASTeam Representatives of the Year were Master CFIs (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.
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! Photos are available upon request.
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 April are:
Raylene B ALEXANDER, Master Aviation Educator
Lindsborg KS
E-mail: Raylene@K-State.edu
Raylene B Alexander recently renewed her Master Aviation Educator (MAE) accreditation.
Raylene is an associate professor of aviation maintenance and avionics in Kansas State University’s department of aviation technology at Salina Municipal Airport (SAL).
A US Marine Corps veteran, she is also active in the University Aviation Association and Women in Aviation.
(Photo: MAE Raylene Alexander of Lindsborg, KS)
Gordon Ashby EWALD, Master Instructor Emeritus
Hardy VA
E-mail: GEwald1948@verizon.net
Gordon A Ewald, a 6-time Master and 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.
Gordon specializes in primary, instrument, and recurrent training at several local airports including Roanoke Regional.
He also serves as a volunteer Mid-Atlantic Angel Flight pilot.
(Photo: MCFI-E Gordon Ewald of Hardy, VA)
Thomas Michael “Mike” GARRISON, Master CFI
Leawood KS
E-mail: MGarrison8@sbcglobal.net
T Michael Garrison, a 6-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
The holder of a Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, Mike is an independent flight instructor specializing in instrument, multi-engine and Cirrus training at Johnson County Executive Airport (OJC).
He also serves as a designated pilot examiner in the FAA’s Kansas City FSDO area.
(Photo: MCFI Mike Garrison of Leawood, KS)
Paul GRETSCHEL, Master CFI
Coram NY
E-mail: Paul@PackAviation.com,
Paul Gretschel, a 5-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Paul is a flight and ground instructor with the Bonanza Pilot Proficiency Program as well as the owner of PACK Aviation.
He also serves as an aviation safety inspector (ASI) and a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Farmingdale FSDO.
(Photo: MCFI Paul Gretschel of Coram, NY)
Mark William LAMB, Master Aviation Educator
Yardville NJ
E-mail: MarkAero@aol.com, MLamb@Mail.OCVTS.org
Mark W Lamb, a 1st-time Master and SAFE member, recently earn his Master Aviation Educator (MAE) accreditation.
Mark is an aviation technology instructor at Ocean County Vocational Technical School in Jackson, NJ.
An airframe and powerplant (A&P) technician as well as a US Air Force veteran, he also serves as a committee chair on the New Jersey Aviation Education Council.
(Photo: MAE Mark Lamb of Yardville, NJ)
Quay Carlton SNYDER, Master CFI
Monument CO
E-mail: ASW-19Pilot@comcast.net
Quay C Snyder, a 6-time Master and a SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Quay is a pilot examiner and FAASTeam rep in the FAA’s Denver FSDO area as well as the Black Forest Soaring Society’s chief glider CFI at Kelly Air Park (CO15).
He is also the president & CEO of Aviation Medicine Advisory Service specializing in aeromedical certification for pilots and air traffic controllers.
(Photo: MCFI Quay Snyder of Monument, CO)
Cathleen Moira “Cathy” STEELE, Master CFI
Severna Park MD
E-mail: Moira46@gmail.com
Cathleen M Steele, a 6-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation.
An independent flight and ground instructor, Cathy specializes in instrument and Cirrus flight training at Baltimore Washington International (BWI) and Martin States Airports (MTN).
She also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the Baltimore FSDO area.
(Photo: MCFI Cathy Steele of Severna Park, MD)
Hobart Caleb “Hobie” TOMLINSON, Master CFI
Huntington VT
E-mail: HobieTW@att.net
Hobart C Tomlinson, a 6-time Master and a SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
The 2012 National CFI of the Year, Hobie is a CSIP instructor and manager of Montair Flight Services LLC at Burlington International Airport (BTV).
He also serves as a pilot examiner and FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Portland Maine FSDO area.
(Photo: MCFI Hobie Tomlinson of Huntington, VT)