Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is honored to announce that Donald Kaye of Santa Clara, California, has received his Thirteenth Accreditation as a Master Instructor. This is an extraordinary accomplishment that recognizes his commitment to professionalism and excellence as an Aviation Educator.
Born in Canton, Ohio, Donald was interested in aviation from an early age. After getting his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1968 he earned his Private Pilot’s License. In 1992 he turned his full attention to flying after more than two decades working in real estate. After earning his Instrument Rating, he purchased a Mooney M20M Bravo. Thereafter, he achieved his Instructor and Instrument Instructor Ratings and started teaching full time, specializing in teaching all models of Mooneys, then earned his ATP certification.
For many years he has taught at both the Mooney Pilot Proficiency Course and its corresponding Mountain Flying Course. After one of his students bought a King Air C90, he earned his Multiengine and Multiengine Instructor Ratings and began also teaching the Multiengine Rating. Shortly thereafter, the same student bought a CJ1and the Citation CE-525S ATP was added to his credentials. With 13,300 hours of total GA time, 7,300 hours have been devoted to teaching . He has been willing to travel to Canada, Australia and even North Dakota in the middle of January to assist those interested in learning the art of flying. With the experience gained in the new technology in his Mooney, Don has been guiding students on both purchases of such technology and on how best to use it to provide for the safest flight possible.
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is pleased to announce that Brandon Hennen of Winter Haven, Florida, has received his First Accreditation as a Master Instructor. This recognition affirms his excellence as an Aviation Educator and underscores his commitment to professionalism.
Brandon is a Gold Seal flight instructor located in the Orlando Area. Brandon has experience instructing in a variety of piston airplanes ranging from the Piper M350 to the Mooney M20F, Cirrus SR22, and Cessna Skylane. He particularly enjoys flying with private owners who are transitioning into more powerful and complex airplanes.
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is happy to welcome Phillip Tilleman, Littleton, Colorado to the Community of Master Instructors. This is the second time this month that this is a very personal announcement for me. I have had the opportunity to Mentor Phillip for a number of years and watched him grow personally and professionally.
Phillip is a Gold Seal CFI/CFII who has been part of building and creating two local flying clubs in the Denver Metro area. He began his instructing career as a Part 61 flight instructor in May 2023 before moving into independent instruction. He has a passion for instruction — helping people become pilots and reach their aviation goals, from private through commercial, and even helping some become CFIs. Phillip served as a U.S. Army paratrooper, and that same drive to serve carries into his work as a FAASTeam volunteer, where he gives safety presentations to the local aviation community.
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators welcomes First Time Master Instructor-Aerobatic Jason Smith of Cave Creek, Arizona to the Master Instructor Community. Jason is a member of the flight training team at Aviation Performance Solutions, providing Upset Prevention and Recovery Training and aerobatics in the Extra 300 and Siai-Marchetti S211.
Jason’s career began with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1991. He attained his wings in 1992 and stayed on as a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI), moving up from the Standards Section and Flying Instructor’s School to train QFI candidates. He has trained on the CF-18 multi-role fighter at Cold Lake, Alberta and flew combat missions during NATO Operation Allied Force. Jason then accepted an Exchange position at the US Air Force Safety Center, Kirtland AFB, where he worked as an aircraft mishap investigator for four years. Jason’s next assignment took him back to the RCAF where he instructed on the CT-155 Hawk jet as a Flight Commander, Instrument Evaluator, Operations Officer, and ultimately as Chief Flying Instructor.
Upon retiring from the RCAF in 2009, Jason accepted a contract Instructor Pilot position to train Royal Saudi Air Force Cadets at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, flying the Pilatus PC-9. He remained in this role for six years before returning to North America and into his current roles. Jason has accumulated over 7500 flying hours with more than 5200 hours of all-attitude dual instruction given.
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is delighted to welcome Leonora Pallotta of Lebanon, Ohio to the Community of Master Instructors. Leonora shares her story:
“My passion for aviation began when I was 15 years old after my first discovery flight. I began my flight training at 17 and completed my first solo in a Piper J-3 Cub at the age of 18, an experience that strengthened my passion for stick-and-rudder flying and laid the foundation for my career as a flight instructor.
Today, I am a Certified Flight Instructor dedicated to developing safe, confident, and proficient pilots through personalized, high-quality flight instruction. I specialize in tailwheel operations, spin training, and instruction for Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and Certified Flight Instructor–Instrument (CFII) applicants. As an instructor, I emphasize stick-and-rudder skills, aeronautical decision-making, risk management, and professionalism. I believe effective flight instruction extends beyond meeting certification standards by building confidence, sound judgment, and a lifelong commitment to safety and continuous learning.
Throughout my aviation career, I have been fortunate to learn from exceptional mentors whose guidance shaped both my skills and my passion for teaching. Their investment in my growth inspires me to give back by mentoring aspiring pilots and helping them achieve their goals. Earning the Master Instructor designation reflects my commitment to lifelong learning, instructional excellence, and advancing the quality of aviation education.
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is happy to announce that David McCormack of Pensacola, Florida has received his second accreditation as a Master Instructor. Below he describes his story:
Aviation has been a constant since 2003. Since transitioning to civilian aviation following my retirement from the USAF, I’ve focused on the pilot pipeline and complex aircraft transitions. Whether I’m sitting right-seat in a PA-46, conducting check rides as a CAP Command Check Pilot Examiner, or volunteering with the FAASTeam to advance local safety, I have found that my role as an educator is as demanding and rewarding as my time on active duty. My background taught me that a mission is only as strong as the leadership supporting it, and I bring that same perspective to my civilian students as pilots-in-command.
Off the flightline, I’m a dedicated husband and father. Look down and waive to me some time boating or wakeboarding with my family, otherwise I’m hitting the gym, golfing, or training for the (very) occasional half-marathon. Earning the Master Instructor designation is my way of staying accountable. It serves as a necessary reality check that demands I remain active as both a mentor and a perpetual student. I believe that no matter how much time we have in our logbooks, the learning never actually stops. This program is my commitment to ensuring I provide the high standards our aviation community deserves.
Master instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is honored to announce that David St. George of Ithaca, New York has received his fifteenth accreditation as a Master Instructor. This is an extraordinary accomplishment which recognizes his more than thirty years of excellence as an Aviation Educator.
David has been a pilot for over 50 years. He earned his CFIA in 1991 and managed an FAA-approved 141 school as chief instructor for over twenty years, accumulating over 16,000 hours of dual instruction given. Honored in the 1990s by the FAA for being selected as a Designated Pilot Examiner, David has conducted over 3500 FAA evaluations at all levels and completed 30 consecutive years as a Master Instructor. David is a lifetime member of SAFE (The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators) and retired this year as the Executive Director after reaching a membership goal of 8,000 active members. Throttle on!
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is honored to announce that Rochelle Oslick of Oxnard, California has received her Fourth Accreditation as a Master Instructor-Aerobatic. She is the only active female MCFI-A in the Master Instructor Continuing Education Program.
Rochelle learned to fly at the Edwards AFB Flying Club, while stationed there as a USAF Flight Test Engineer. She started flying tailwheel/aerobatic airplanes at Santa Paula Airport in 1988. Rochelle’s aerospace engineering career led her to work at Lockheed, Douglas Aircraft Company, and The Boeing Company, so she based her flying at several other airports in southern California and in western Washington. In 2003, Rochelle started flight instructing part-time, mostly in tailwheel and aerobatic airplanes, in the Seattle area. After retiring from Boeing, Rochelle returned to her favorite airport, KSZP, and is a CFI at CP Aviation. In addition to flying the airplanes in the CP Aviation fleet, Rochelle enjoys flying her own Christen Eagle II aerobatic biplane.
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is pleased to announce that Brian Lloyd of Bulverde, Texas, has received his First Accreditation as a Master Instructor-Aerobatic. Brian has been flying for 58 years, is a solo-circumnavigator, and now specializes in mentoring pilots as well as providing spin, UPRT, and basic Aerobatic training.
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is delighted to announce that Stephen Fiegel of Hookset, New Hampshire has received his Second Accreditation of Master Instructor-Aerobatic. Stephen fell in love with aviation at a young age, attending airshows throughout the Northeast with his father and siblings. That early passion led him to earn his pilot certificate in 2006 before becoming a Certified Flight Instructor in 2012. Stephen has built a diverse aviation background spanning gliders, helicopters, banner towing, aerobatic and warbird instruction, aerobatic competition, and aviation entrepreneurship.
With nearly 20 years of aerobatic experience, he has spent the last 15 years helping pilots develop confidence, precision, and safety through aerobatic, spin, and UPRT instruction. Stephen currently serves as Sales Manager, Integrals – Americas, and Demo Pilot for the Integral R aircraft program in the United States, where he combines his instructional background with aircraft demonstration, training, and customer development efforts. He remains deeply involved in the aerobatic community, serving as Secretary of IAC Chapter 35 in New England and competing in contests throughout the eastern United States. Since 2015, he has been active in the airshow industry in roles including team coordinator, narrator, media pilot, and ferry pilot, working alongside airshow notables such as Rob Holland, Sean Tucker, and Mike Goulian. Through his instruction, competition flying, and industry involvement, Stephen continues to share his passion for aviation with pilots at every level with ongoing commitment to aviation education and the aviation community as a whole.
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is honored to announce that Mike Demulling of New Richmond, Wisconsin has received his Thirteenth Accreditation as a Master Instructor. This recognition is an extraordinary accomplishment which recognizes his more that twenty-six years of excellence as an Aviation Educator.
Mike owns and operates Mike Demulling Flight Instruction, based at New Richmond Regional Airport, where he specializes in Aerostar initial and recurrent training. Mike has also managed New Richmond Regional Airport since 1995 and serves as the flight department manager for Ames Construction Inc. Mike is heavily involved in the management and operation of the airport’s fixed base operator, East Metro Jet Center.
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators are happy to welcome Dustin Jones of Placerville, California to the Master Instructor Community. Dustin’s First Accreditation recognizes his commitment to excellence as an Aviation Educator.
Dustin is a Gold Seal Flight Instructor, has been teaching since 2011 and has helped dozens of pilots earn the Sport Pilot, Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Instrument Rating and Flight Instructor certificates. Along with his fellow flight instructor Don Bradley at Foothill Flight Center in northern California, Dustin specializes in teaching tailwheel, spin, and upset recovery. They have recently launched the CFI Spin Proficiency Initiative to improve instructional proficiency in the Educator ommunity. Fully committed to helping each client achieve their aviation training goal, Dustin enjoys developing higher order thinking skills and correlational-level knowledge in each pilot he trains.
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is honored to announce that Michael B. Traud of Gold River, California, has received his Eleventh accreditation as a Master Instructor. This is an extraordinary accomplishment which recognizes his more than twenty-two years as an Aviation Educator committed to excellence. Mike serves as a member of the Master Instructor Board of Review and as a Designated Pilot Examiner in the Western Pacific Region.
He operates MTAviation Services, LLC which provides aviation support and consulting services. He specializes in providing annual recurrent training in multiengine piston and turbine aircraft to meet underwriting requirements for insurance companies in addition to providing evaluation and assessment of newly designed/developed Advanced Aircraft Training Devices. Mike shares his 49 years of aviation experience by providing briefings and seminars to flight schools and flying organizations. He is based at the Sacramento Mather Airport (KMHR).
Judy Ann PHELPS, Master CFI Emeritus-Aerobatic, National CFI of the Year 2011, DPE, Owner CP Aviation, Santa Paula CA
In 2008 I relocated to Ventura, CA and soon after had the opportunity to join the team at CP Aviation. Clay and Judy were warm and welcoming and as I write this am still a member of the team. Last Fall Judy was diagnosed with Stage Four Cancer. She faced the challenge with every fiber of her being, was positive and shared her special gift with all of us. She is loved, respected and has left an indelible imprint on everyone who knew her as a friend, an instructor, a successful business owner and Designated Pilot Examiner.
Her extraordinary community of friends hosted a celebration of her life while she was still with us, and a celebration it was! It was such an amazing experience to hear the stories and be part of the love and respect that everyone shared that night at The Flying Spoon.
I have been an aviation educator at CP Aviation, for eighteen years, during which time I have been sitting in the “right seat” watching Judy manage and grow her business, along with Clay, into a very well regarded flight training organization; recognized for its’ commitment to safety and excellence and welcoming to anyone wanting to pursue a passion for flying. Her role as a Designated Pilot Examiner was something that she embraced and allowed her to have an indirect positive impact on all pilots that she had the privilege to evaluate.
Rich Stowell was a mentor for Judy as she embraced the skills required to teach and grow the Emergency Maneuver Training Program at CP Aviation. Rich posted about Judy, that expresses how special she was. “Master Flight Instructor, colleague, friend. She surpassed her mentor and showed the rest of us what it means to be an aviation educator”.
Her commitment to encouraging women, regardless of age, to pursue flying and have fun every step of the way was important to her. Hiring female instructors to make the flight school environment welcoming to women and balancing the energy in and around CP Aviation were actions that are rarely seen at other flight schools. Seeing her every year at AirVenture, volunteering her time with young women at the Girl Venture event was another example of her passion for aviation and making it welcoming and accessible to the next generation of women in aviation. Judy was a proud member of the Ventura County 99’s and they were integral to the celebration of her life.
Judy was the 2011 CFI of the Year, 2010 Western Pacific Region Flight Instructor of the Year, 2008 Professional Woman Pilot of the Year, Southwest Section (Ventura County 99’s). She is a Master Instructor Emeritus-Aerobatic having been recognized as a Master Instructor for more than 20 years. These recognitions are well deserved and recognize that since she jumped in an airplane in 1994, she has been a role model for many and will be missed. Her spirit will always live on at Santa Paula Airport. 🌸🌸🌸
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is pleased to welcome Thomas Slavonik of Pueblo West, Colorado, to the Community of Master Instructors with his First Accreditation as a Master Flight Instructor. Tom is a 4700-hour Gold Seal CFI/CFII/MEI/IGI with over 2000 hours of instruction given, including over 800 hours as a CFII. He instructs for Southern Colorado Flight Professionals at Pueblo and Fremont County Airports in Penrose and is a contract CFII for Professional Instrument Courses (PIC), with numerous 10-Day IFR Training Courses provided coast-to-coast including Maryland (inside the FRZ/SFRA). He is a member of SAFE, the Colorado Pilots Association and EAA Chapter 72 in Falcon, Colorado and is an active FAASTeam Representative for the Denver FSDO with monthly in-person safety seminars. Tom says: “I love the relationships that are forged with my students; some have been in place for many years now. I consider my profession as a Flight Instructor to be one of the most rewarding career choices a person can make. It’s quite difficult to reach a similar level of satisfaction in other professions. I look forward to many more years of Flight Instructing and working hard to help raise the bar in terms of Operational Excellence, Leadership and training the next generation of young aspiring Pilots to be the best ever!”
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is pleased to announce that Andrew Borash of Bozeman, Montana, has received his Second Accreditation as a Master Instructor. Andrew was born into aviation, introduced to flying at the age of 7 by his grandfather. He went on to study aviation in college and graduated as a Commercial Pilot, Single and Multi-engine, and a Certificated Flight Instructor. Since then, Andrew has dedicated himself to growing his knowledge of aviation not only to make himself a safer pilot, but to make those he teaches the best and safest they can be. Andrew has also obtained his CFI-I and MEI credentials, and is SIC type-rated in a Phenom 300. With the combined passion for aviation and teaching, he continues to grow as a pilot, instructor, mentor, and mentee.
MCFI Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is honored to announce that Parvez Dara of Toms River, New Jersey has received his Eleventh Accreditation as a Master Instructor, recognizing more than twenty years as an Aviation Educator. Parvez is an ATP, Advanced Ground Instructor, Gold Seal Instructor and M.D./FACP/MBA. He has been recognized by his peers as Philadelphia FSDO CFI of the Year in 2008 and 2017 and is also an FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year. He has been recognized continuously since 2004 by the FAA for his Volunteer External Service. He is a former Senior Aviation Medical Examiner and serves on the Boards of two non-profit organizations – the MAPA Safety Foundation, involved in Mooney Aircraft Pilot Recurrent Training and SAFE, an educational organization that serves aviation and the STEM programs nationwide, where he served as a Treasurer. As a Lead FAASTeam Representative, Parvez is a regular seminar presenter and is also a BPPP accredited Certified Flight Instructor.
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is pleased to announce that Michael Louis Phillips, a resident of Ventura, California, has received his Tenth Accreditation as a Master Instructor, which recognizes more than twenty years as an Aviation Educator and a commitment to professionalism and excellence. Michael remarks:
“I have had the privilege to be the National Coordinator of the Master Instructor Continuing Education Program since 2021 and during this time I have been amazed by the men and women that receive this accreditation. Their commitment to aviation education is extraordinary as is the commitment that they make to excellence. Each person is an inspiration and a role model for me to grow and improve as an educator and an aviator. I owe a great deal of gratitude to Rich Stowell who has been a role model and mentor. He has given me the opportunity to think outside the box and grow as an educator as we have worked on several initiatives together focused on learning and teaching Aviation Educators.
“I am grateful to Sandy and JoAnn Hill for having the vision to start the MICEP accreditation program in 1997, and their commitment to making it a “Hallmark of excellence” for each Master Instructor. Taking the reins of this program from JoAnn Hill has been a responsibility that is a wonderful challenge, and I try each day to honor the designation of Master Instructor by being a role model for others and making sure that the program continues to be the PhD for professional Aviation Educators.”
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is honored to announce that Doug Stewart of South Egremont, Massachusetts has received his Fourteenth Accreditation as a Master Flight Instructor. Doug is among a handful of professional Aviation Educators who has earned the distinction of more than thirty years of excellence in this field. Doug, the 2004 National Instructor of the Year and Instructor Hall of Fame inductee, is a full-time flight instructor focusing on real world IFR training. He has provided more than 13,500 hours of flight instruction and has also served as a DPE for more than 20 years. As a SAFE representative to the General Aviation Joint Safety Committee for 12 years, he has collaborated with others in the industry to help improve GA safety standards. Doug is a well-known Educator nationally with experience as a subject matter expert for Pilot Workshops and Community Aviation, and has presented seminars to thousands of pilots from coast to coast and border to border. When not flying he is often found riding his bicycle.
Master Instructors and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators is honored to announce an extraordinary 15th designation as a Master Instructor to Lonnie Hilkemeier of Boulder, Colorado. This milestone recognizes his excellence as an Aviation Educator for more than thirty years – only among 5 in the world with this achievement. Lonnie shares his story below.
My wife (then girlfriend) purchased my first introductory flight for me. That sparked an interest in aviation that led me to attend Colorado Northwestern Community College for an aviation degree, graduating in 1990. There I quickly gained an appreciation for receiving quality instruction! I focused on becoming a career flight instructor, intentionally seeking out mentors throughout many specialties of industry – aviation, education and others. When I learned of the Master Instructor accreditation program created by Sandy & JoAnn Hill, I was inspired to join this group of aviation educators that saw that quality was much more important than quantity – unfortunately not the “norm” in aviation. I was successful to become the first Master CFI in the State of Colorado in 1998.
To this day, I am still learning from each one of my clients. Several have graced Specialty Flight Training, Inc. (SFTI) by being excellent aviation educators; two have been with SFTI for over 15 years! Many others have become astronaut candidates, military leaders, air traffic controllers, and professional aviators. Integrity, loyalty, hard work and ethics are common denominators of our clients! Yet with all of their laurels, it is so touching when they take the time to reach back out to me to share their “life updates.”
Master Instructors and then Society of Aviation and Flight Educators are pleased to announce that Barbara Filkins of Fillmore, California has received her Second Accreditation as a Master Aviation Educator. Barbara has an interesting path as an Aviation Educator, and she shares it here:
Although my career has not been directly in aviation, aviation has been a theme and influence throughout. I learned to fly while in college, obtaining my private pilot rating through the Bates Aeronautics Program, a program that leveraged aviation to help shape future scientists and engineers as leaders in their field. It was highly successful. Along with a life-long love of aviation, Bates participants gained a strong sense of community (family) and self-confidence that we, as individuals and leaders, can help shape the future. Upon graduation, I moved to upstate New York where I experienced the winter weather as I completed my instrument and commercial pilot ratings. Returning to California in 1978, I became both a CFI and a CFII. I taught for the Bates Program until 2000, giving back to the program that gave me so much.
My aviation involvement then lay dormant, until my husband and I began to build our Velocity V-Twin in 2014. I obtained my multi-engine rating, followed by my MEI and completed the Phase 1 testing on N527VT in 2017. This experience rekindled my love of teaching. Today, I have transitioned into education as my major focus. I am actively flight instructing. I am on the faculty at CAU. I am a FAAST Team rep. And I am researching how automation and autonomy will shape future pilot training.
