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News Release

JANUARY 2015

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 these achievements in their proper perspective, there are approximately 98,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 800 of them have earned Master accreditation thus far.  As a measure of the significance and prestige associated with this title, the last 19 National Flight Instructors of the Year or National 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.

Aviation educators who earned the “Master” title during January 2015 are:

David Alan "Dave" CARROLL, Master CFI-Aerobatic
David Alan “Dave” CARROLL, Master CFI-Aerobatic

David Alan “Dave” CARROLL, Master CFI-Aerobatic
Scottsdale  AZ
E-mail:   David.Carroll@APSTraining.com

David A Carroll, a 2-time Master and a member of IAC as well as SAFE, recently renewed his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation.

Dave teaches with Aviation Performance Solutions at Mesa’s Gateway Airport (IWA).

A retired US Air Force instructor pilot and active in the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), he now specializes in upset recovery, spin, and aerobatic flight training.

(Photo:  MCFI-A Dave Carroll of Scottsdale, AZ) 


Timothy John "Tim" CARTER, Master CFI-Aerobatic
Timothy John “Tim” CARTER, Master CFI-Aerobatic

Timothy John “Tim” CARTER, Master CFI-Aerobatic
Fort Worth  TX
E-mail:  
Tim.Carter@Aviation-Performance-Solutions.com

Timothy J Carter, a 1st-time Master as well as as well as a member of SAFE and IAC, recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation.

A former Air Force instructor pilot, Tim teaches aerobatics, upset prevention and upset recovery with APS Emergency Maneuver Training at Arlington Municipal Airport (GKY).

Additionally, he serves as an IAC national aerobatic judge while also mentoring other judges and judge candidates.

(Photo:  MCFI-A Tim Carter of Fort Worth, TX) 


Linda Fritsche "Linda" CASTNER, Master Aviation Educator (MAE)
Linda Fritsche “Linda” CASTNER, Master Aviation Educator (MAE)

Linda Fritsche “Linda” CASTNER, Master Aviation Educator (MAE)
Pittstown  NJ
E-mail:   UpUpAway@embarqmail.com

Linda F Castner, a 1st-time Master and SAFE member, recently earned her Master Aviation Educator (MAE) accreditation.

Linda co-owns, operates, and manages Alexandria Field Airport (N85).

As an FAA certificated advanced ground instructor, she teaches ground schools that focus on the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) aspects of aviation using her airport as a living lab.

(Photo:  MAE Linda Castner of Pittstown, NJ) 


Andrew David "Drew" CHITIEA, Master CFI
Andrew David “Drew” CHITIEA, Master CFI

Andrew David “Drew” CHITIEA, Master CFI
Black Hawk  CO
E-mail:   Drew@ColoradoSkymaster.com

Andrew D Chitiea, a 9-time Master and charter SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.

Drew is a published aviation author as well as a corporate pilot, chief pilot, and owner of Colorado Skymaster LLC at Centennial (APA) and Front Range (FTG) airports.

He also serves as a FAASTeam representative and a designated pilot examiner (DPE) in the FAA’s Denver FSDO area.

(Photo:  MCFI  Drew Chitiea of Black Hawk, CO) 


Kelby Scott FERWERDA, Master CFI
Kelby Scott FERWERDA, Master CFI

Kelby Scott FERWERDA, Master CFI
Walkersville  MD
E-mail:   Kelby.Ferwerda@AOPA.org

Kelby S Ferwerda, a 2-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.

Kelby is the manager of AOPA’s flying club initiative where he promotes the development and growth of flying clubs.

The former owner / operator of Rochester Aviation in New Hampshire, he also now works as an independent flight and ground instructor in the Frederick, Maryland area.

(Photo:  MCFI Kelby Ferwerda of Walkersville, MD) 


The Master Instructor designation is a national accreditation recognized by the FAA and revered by industry.  It 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, Masters have earned their “black belts” in aviation education. They truly represent the crème de la crème of the aviation industry!  High and low resolution 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/