Master Instructors LLC (MI 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 through Master Instructors LLC’s https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/ 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 101,000 FAA-certificated 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, twenty-three (23) of the last National Flight Instructors of the Year, National FAASTeam Representatives of the Year, or National AMTs of the Year were Masters (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 or renewed their “Master” title during March 2017 are:
Hobart Caleb “Hobie” TOMLINSON, Master CFI
Huntington VT
Hobie’s e-mail address: HobieTW@att.net
Hobart C “Hobie” Tomlinson, an 8-time Master and a SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC MICEP program https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/
A recipient of the FAA’s prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot award, Hobie is the manager of Montair Flight Services LLC at Burlington International Airport (BTV) where he specializes in Beechcraft and Cirrus flight training.
The 2012 National CFI of the Year as well as a retired TWA pilot, he also serves as a FAASTeam lead representative and pilot examiner (DPE) in the FAA’s Portland Maine FSDO area.
(Photo: MCFI Hobie Tomlinson of Huntington, VT)
Raymond Francis “Ray” SPENGLER Jr, Master CFI & Master GI
Longview TX
Ray’s e-mail: Ray@SkyparkFlying.com
Raymond F Spengler Jr, a 6-time double Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI and Master GI accreditations through the Master Instructors LLC MICEP program https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/
Ray formerly served in the Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and is a pilot examiner (DPE) as well as a FAASTeam lead representative in the FAA’s Lubbock FSDO area.
An A & P mechanic, he is also the president of Skypark Aviation LLC, a Cessna Pilot Center at East Texas Regional Airport (GGG) where he specializes in primary, advanced and avionics flight training.
(Photo: MCFI-MGI Ray Spengler of Longview, TX)
Edward John “Ed” MURPHY, Master CFI-Helicopter
Palm Beach Gardens FL
Ed’s e-mail address: MurphyEJ@aol.com
Edward J Murphy, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI-Helicopter accreditation through Master Instructors LLC MICEP program https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/
A retired US Army helicopter pilot, Ed is a Part 135 check airman and a Sikorsky 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 and also serves as a pilot examiner (DPE) as well as an FAA FAASTeam representative.
(Photo: MCFI -H Ed Murphy of Palm Beach Gardens, FL)
Michael J “Mike” LENTS, Master CFI-Aerobatic
Grand Forks ND
Mike’s e-mail address: Lents@Aero.UND.edu
Michael J Lents, a 3-time Master and a member of IAC as well as SAFE, recently renewed his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC MICEP program https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/
Mike is an aerobatic flight and ground instructor as well as an aviation lecturer at the University of North Dakota’s John D Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences.
The founder of Double Helix Aviation, he also serves as coach of the UND’s 8-time national championship aerobatic flight team and is an IAC aerobatic competitor himself.
(Photo: MCFI-A Mike Lents of Grand Forks, ND)
Elaine Helen KAUH, Master CFI
Watertown / Green Bay WI
Elaine’s e-mail address: TrueFlying@icloud.com
Elaine Kauh, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC MICEP program https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/
An aviation writer and videographer with AVweb, Elaine is also a flight and ground instructor with Wisconsin Aviation at Watertown Municipal (RYV) and Madison’s Truax Field (MSN).
She also serves on the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame board of directors and is a FAASTeam representative for the Milwaukee FSDO area.
(Photo: MCFI Elaine Kauh of Green Bay, WI)
Kent Christopher “Chris” FITCH, Master CFI
Daleville AL
Chris’s e-mail address: Kent.Fitch90@gmail.com
Kent “Chris” Fitch, a 1st-time Master and SAFE member, recently earned his Master CFI (MCFI) accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC MICEP program https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/
A veteran United States Marine Corps helicopter maintenance technician, Chris is currently serving as a US Army warrant officer helicopter pilot at Fort Rucker near Enterprise, Alabama.
Additionally, he provides civilian fixed wing flight and ground training at Enterprise Municipal Airport (EDN).
(Photo: MCFI Chris Fitch of Daleville, AL)
Robert Kent “KB” BRANNUM, Master CFI-Aerobatic
Southern Pines NC & Arizona
Robert’s e-mail address: Robert.Brannum@APSTraining.com
Robert “KB” Brannum, a 1st-time Master as well as a member of IAC and SAFE, recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC MICEP program https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/ A graduate of the US Air Force Academy, Robert is the Part 141 chief instructor as well as an instructor pilot with Aviation Performance Solutions LLC at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA) and Dothan Regional Airport in Dothan, Alabama (DHN). A retired US Air Force F-16 instructor pilot, he specializes in upset prevention and recovery training. (Photo: MCFI-A Robert Brannum of Southern Pines, NC)
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.
Please feel free to disseminate this information widely. Questions regarding the Master Instructor Continuing Education Program (MICEP)ä may be directed to 303-485-8136 or MasterInstrs@aol.com For more information about the Master Instructor Continuing Education Programä ( https://MICEP.FluidReview.com/ ) and to locate other Masters, please visit www.MasterInstructors.org To learn more about the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), visit http://SafePilots.org/