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 20 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.
Professional aviation educators who earned the “Master” title during March 2015 are:
Clifford Floyd “Cliff” CHETWIN, Master CFI (Renew: 28Feb15)
Santa Fe NM
E-mail: KestrelAir1@gmail.com
Clifford F Chetwin, a 5-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
A retired National Park Service regional chief pilot and aviation program manager, Cliff is now the president of Kestrel Aviation.
In addition, he works as a nationally acclaimed aviation safety lecturer while also serving as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Albuquerque FSDO area.
(Photo: MCFI Cliff Chetwin of Santa Fe, NM)
Charles Henry “Chuck” EBBECKE, Master CFI Emeritus (1Mar15)
Santa Rosa Beach FL
E-mail: Ebbecke@mchsi.com
Charles H Ebbecke, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, was recently granted Master Instructor Emeritus (MIE) status in recognition of his many years of commitment to excellence, professional growth, service to the aviation community, and quality aviation education.
Chuck was a long time flight and ground instructor with Mooney’s MAPA Safety Foundation as well as an aviation consultant and independent instructor at Bonifay’s Tri-County Airport (1J0).
He also serves as a FAASTeam lead representative in the FAA’s Birmingham FSDO area.
(Photo: MCFI-E Chuck Ebbecke of Santa Rosa Beach, FL)
Elaine Helen KAUH, Master CFI (Renew: 20Mar15)
Green Bay WI
E-mail: Elaine.Kauh@WisconsinAviation.com
Elaine Kauh, a 3-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation.
Elaine is a flight and ground instructor with Wisconsin Aviation at Watertown Municipal Airport (RYV).
She also serves as a FAASTeam representative for the Milwaukee FSDO area and is the chairperson for the SAFE online resource center.
(Photo: MCFI Elaine Kauh of Green Bay, WI)
Fredrick William “Billy” SHUGART Jr, Master CFI (Initial: 23Mar15)
Canfield OH
E-mail: Shugart2003@yahoo.com
Billy Shugart, a 1st-time Master and a SAFE member, recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.
When not piloting a Boeing 757 for Federal Express, Billy works as a flight instructor specializing in spin, aerobatic, and emergency upset recovery training with Bad Attitude Aviator Training at Ohio’s Salem Airpark (38D).
Additionally, he provides conventional flight training with Skyline Aviation also located at Salem Airpark.
(Photo: MCFI Billy Shugart of Canfield, OH)
Raymond Francis “Ray” SPENGLER Jr, Master CFI & Master GI (Renew: 1Mar15)
Odessa TX
E-mail: Ray@SkyparkFlying.com
Raymond F Spengler, a 5-time double Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI and Master GI accreditations.
Ray is the president of Skypark Aviation LLC, a Cessna Pilot Center at Odessa-Schlemeyer Airport (ODO) where he specializes in primary and advanced flight training.
He also serves in the Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol and is a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Lubbock FSDO area.
(Photo: MCFI -MGI Ray Spengler of Midland, TX)
Hobart Caleb “Hobie” TOMLINSON, Master CFI (Renew: 1Mar15)
Huntington VT
E-mail: HobieTW@att.net
Hobart C Tomlinson, a 7-time Master and a SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
The 2012 National CFI of the Year as well as a retired TWA pilot, Hobie is the manager of Montair Flight Services LLC at Burlington International Airport (BTV) where he specializes in Cirrus and Beechcraft flight training.
He also serves as a FAASTeam representative and pilot examiner in the FAA’s Portland Maine FSDO area.
(Photo: MCFI Hobie Tomlinson of Huntington, VT)
Benjamin Michael “Ben” WHITE, Master CFI (Initial: 23Mar15)
West Mebourne FL
E-mail: Ben.White318@gmail.com,
Benjamin M White, a 1st-time Master and SAFE member, recently earned his initial Master CFI accreditation.
Ben served a lead instructor and flight training supervisor with Florida Institute of Technology’s College of Aeronautics at Melbourne International Airport (MLB).
He is now free lance instructing and will also be working as a pilot for PlaneSense starting in May of 2015.
(Photo: MCFI Ben White of Melbourne, FL)
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/