Master Instructors is honored to announce that James McCord of Santa Rosa, California has received the Master Instructor Emeritus designation, recognizing more than 12 years as a Master Instructor. Jim has been flying and instructing for longer than he’d like to admit, the first half based in the Eastern US and for the last 23 years based in Santa Rosa. His most recent focus has been transition training and mentoring for pilots moving from piston to turboprop aircraft such as the Pilatus PC-12 and the Epic E1000. He enjoys creating and leading virtual safety programs as an FAA Safety Team Lead Rep for the OAK FSDO. Jim owns a Piper Archer nicely outfitted for IFR instruction that is leased back to a local flight school, RAM Aviation. In his “spare” time Jim manages a PC12 NGX, serves on the Sonoma County Aviation Commission, and does an occasional Pilots & Paws flight. When not flying, Jim and his wife Nancy enjoy gardening and fostering small dogs.
Master Instructors is honored to announce that David Pepitone of Santa Fe, New Mexico has received his Fourth accreditation as Master Aviation Educator. Dave holds CFII-A, CFI-G and ATP [MEL, MES and SES] certificates with type ratings in the B-777, B-737, G-550, EMB 145, Ford Trimotor AT-5, DC-3, Convair 600/640 and B-25 Billy Mitchell. He has a PhD in Clinical Psychology, an MA in Human Factors Engineering and is an Accredited Aviation Psychologist. His passions include discovering effective teaching methods to help older flight students learn efficiently. He holds a post-graduate certificate from Harvard in the neuroscience of learning and earned two post-graduate certificates in learning and teaching from University of San Diego. “Getting a PPL for the older adult can be a challenge with the mountain of work,” he says.“ It means mastery of many knowledge areas as well as skill development. As an instructor it is important to ‘tune in’ to a student’s cognitive learning style, but to also address emotional factors as well. As a general rule, the older adult flight student is passionate and determined. They are finally getting a chance to do something they’ve wanted to do as a kid.” Dave owns a C-210 and flies personnel and equipment to Mexico for Flying Doctors. He is also is a Civil Air Patrol Major with roles as Check Airmen, CFI-Glider, Transport Mission Pilot and Emergency Services Senior Officer.
Master Instructors is honored to announce that Clarke “Otter” McNeace of Mesa, Arizona has been named a Master Instructor-Aerobatic for the Sixth Time. With 44 years of aviation experience and 15,000+ flight hours, Clarke is a U.S. Navy veteran, former FA-18 combat-decorated carrier pilot and instructor pilot, and an airline captain flying Boeing aircraft. He has 18+ years specializing in Loss of Control-Inflight (LOC-I) mitigation as a co-owner of Aviation Performance Solutions LLC (APS), dedicated to helping pilots bring everyone home safely. He has served on LOC-I working groups with ICAO, FAA, and EASA. In 2018, Clarke was a recipient of the NBAA Dr. Tony Kern Professionalism in Aviation Award for his contributions. He is now Executive Vice President of Compliance & Standards with APS at Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport (KIWA), where he specializes in aerobatic and upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) for professional pilots along with CFI Spin Endorsements.