The Master Instructor designation is a national FAA-recognized professional accreditation and parallels the continuing education regimen used by other professionals to increase their professionalism. The designation must be renewed biennially and significantly surpasses the FAA requirements for renewal of the candidate’s flight instructor certificate. Of the 101,000 flight instructors in the US, fewer than 800 have earned the Master Instructor designation, and most are SAFE members.
Ken Fukayama, MCFI
Ken Fukayama of Centennial CO, a four-time Master Instructor and SAFE member, renewed his Master CFI accreditation February 1 through Master Instructors LLC.
A former instructor pilot with Prescott’s Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Ken is now the owner and lead flight instructor with TPA Aviation at Centennial and Rocky Mountain Regional airports where he specializes in single engine, multi-engine and Cirrus training.
He was named Colorado’s Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year last year and serves as a FAASTeam Representative for the FAA’s Denver FSDO.
Dave Carroll, MCFI-Aerobatic
David A Carroll of Sevierville TN, a 3-time Master Instructor and a member of the International Aerobatic Club as well as SAFE, renewed his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation February 15 through Master Instructors LLC.
Dave teaches with Aviation Performance Solutions at Dothan Napier Regional Airport in Dothan, Alabama. A retired United States Air Force officer and F15E instructor pilot, he is active in the Civil Air Patrol as well as the Commemorative Air Force. He specializes in upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) along with spin and advanced aerobatic flight training.
Mike Lents, MCFI-Aerobatic
Michael J Lents of Grand Forks ND, a 4-time Master and a member of IAC as well as SAFE, renewed his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation February19 through Master Instructors LLC.
Mike is an assistant professor of aviation as well as aerobatic flight and ground instructor at the University of North Dakota’s John D Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences
He is also the founder of Double Helix Aviation, which provides upset prevention and recovery training, and serves as a coach of UND’s 8-time national championship aerobatic flight team. Mike is an IAC aerobatic competitor and air show performer himself.
Ed Murphy, MCFI-Helicopter
Edward J Murphy of Palm Beach Gardens FL, a 5-time Master and SAFE member, renewed his Master CFI-Helicopter accreditation February 26 through Master Instructors LLC.
A retired US Army officer and helicopter pilot, Ed is a Part 135 check airman and a Sikorski SK-92 instructor pilot with ERA Helicopters LLC at their Lake Charles, Louisiana training facility..
He specializes in initial and recurrent helicopter training in both simulators and aircraft while also serving as a pilot examiner (DPE) as well as an FAA FAASTeam representative for the FAA’s South Florida FSDO.
Rich Stowell Jr., MCFI Emeritus
Richard L Stowell of McCall ID, an 11-time Master and a member of IAC as well as a founding member of SAFE, was granted Master Instructor Emeritus status February 1 through Master Instructors LLC. The honor is in recognition of his many years of commitment to excellence, professional growth, service to the aviation community, and quality aviation education.
A nationally known author, lecturer and aerobatic instructor specializing in emergency maneuver training and spin recovery, Rich now teaches primarily aviation-themed STEM outreach programs. The 2006 National CFI of the Year as well as the 2014 National FAASTeam Rep of the Year, he also serves as a FAASTeam representative for the FAA’s Boise FSDO. He was one of the first aviation educators to earn the Master designation when the accreditation program was introduced by then-FAA Administrator Barry Valentine at Oshkosh AirVenture 1997.