Master Instructors is pleased to announce that Paul “BJ” Ransbury of Queen Creek, Arizona has been awarded the Master Certified Flight Instructor-Aerobatic designation for the Eighth Time, recognizing his continued dedication to excellence in aviation safety and loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) mitigation. BJ is the CEO of Aviation Performance Solutions (APS), the global leader in Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT). With a background spanning military, airline, and corporate aviation, he has spent over two decades advancing pilot training strategies to reduce LOC-I, aviation’s leading cause of fatalities. BJ is a former Royal Canadian Air Force F/A-18 fighter pilot and Airbus A320 airline pilot, and his expertise directly influences APS’s Every Pilot In Control – Solution Standard (EPIC-S2), ensuring that pilots of all backgrounds develop real-world UPRT skills beyond regulatory minimums. BJ has also served as Chairman of the NBAA Safety Committee (2022-2024) and regularly speaks at major industry events.
Master Instructors is pleased to announce that Mark King of Santa Paula, California has received his Fourth Accreditation as a Master Instructor-Aerobatic. Mark has been teaching Rich Stowell’s Emergency Maneuver Training Course for over 10 years and is a full-time instructor at CP Aviation in Santa Paula. He also specializes in CFI-Initial Training, CFI Spin Endorsements, Aerobatics and Tailwheel instruction.
Mark was named the 2023 Van Nuys FSDO CFI of the year and served multiple roles to support the 2023 World Aerobatic Championships. Additionally, he flies as a KingAir 200 as a contract pilot and flies competition aerobatics in his Pitts S2B.
Master Instructors is honored to announce that Ken Wittekiend of Burnet, Texas has received his Tenth accreditation as a Master Instructor, which celebrates his more than twenty years of excellence and professionalism as an Aviation Educator. Ken is founder of ProMark Aviation Services, a full-service flight training company based in Burnet. He specializes in floatplane and Beech Bonanza training, and has over 12,800 hours of flight experience in a wide variety of general aviation aircraft, including over 8500 hours of flight instruction given. Ken is a FAASTeam Representative, active in conducting seminars and counseling activities for pilots. In 2009 and again in 2015, Ken was selected as the Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year for the FAA Southwest Region. In 2020, Ken was awarded the FAA Wright Brothers Award for 50 years of aviation experience. Ken is a charter member of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators and formerly served on the SAFE Board of Directors. Ken teaches with both of the national Beechcraft Bonanza training organizations and is a former DPE for the San Antonio Flight Standards District Office with more than 2500 practical tests given. Ken is also an avid backcountry pilot and a columnist for Plane & Pilot.