Mike Elliott, MCFI
Mike Elliott of Tarpon Springs CA renewed his Master designated in March. He owns Mooney Pros, Inc., which provides FITS-based transition training for new Mooney pilots.
He is also a trainer for Mooney International, Inc, providing type-specific transition training for new Mooney Ultra owners, with a team of Mooney experts and Master instructors in his company
He is also the co-founder of the Mooney Summit, Inc., a 501(c)3 charity that has an annual educational conference and supports the Bill Gilliland foundation to aid downed Mooney pilots’ families at the time of their greatest need. He is also a FAASTeam Lead Representative, an AOPA Airport Support Network Volunteer and a founding pilot of Honor Flight
Jay Shears, MCFI
Jay Shears is a first-time Master Instructor and member of SAFE. He was recently granted the Master Certified Flight Instructor (MCFI) status. This designation was awarded in recognition of Jay’s professional growth, excellence and commitment in providing quality education to the aviation community.
Jay is a CFII, FAASTeam Representative for the SLC FDO, an FAA Part 107 remote pilot and FAA DronePro.
Jay is also active developing programs within the aviation community as a “Youth in Aviation | Professional” with a commitment to creating awareness, training and opportunities for youth to pursue careers in aviation. Jay can be contacted at jays.emaili@icloud.com.
Clarke McNeace, MCFI
Clarke “Otter” McNeace, a 5-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation through the Master Instructors LLC MICEP program
Clarke is an internationally-recognized speaker and expert in Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) as well as stall/spin awareness, aerobatics, and loss-of-control intervention training.
Additionally, he is the VP of Flight Operations & Standards of Aviation Performance Solutions LLC, a Part 61 and Part 141 flight school headquartered at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA), along with several other national and international venues.
Dan Keen, MCFI
Dan Keen of Lafayette, Indiana has earned his 11th Master Instructor designation.
Dan has been instructing since 1983. He served as Chief Pilot for Aretz Flying Services, a Part 141 flight school, and instructed for Purdue University’s School of Aviation Technology.
He became a Designated Pilot Examiner in 1990 and has worked for the FAA at the Indianapolis FSDO since 2004 as an Aviation Safety Inspector. In 2019 he successfully completed the course requirements to be recognized as an Advanced Aviation Safety Investigator.
Lonnie Hilkemeier, MCFI
Lonnie Hilkemeier, Senior Flight Instructor at Specialty Flight Training, Inc. (SFTI) in Boulder, CO, received the prestigious designation of Master Flight Instructor for the 12th time from Master Instructors, LLC.
His first designation was in 1998. For the past 22 years, Lonnie has upheld the professional and educational standards required to be a Master Instructor and has served as an aviation educator for 30 years.
In 2005, the FAA recognized Lonnie as the State of Colorado and the Northwest Mountain Region Flight Instructor of the Year. Lonnie continues to volunteer as a FAASTeam Representative for the Denver FSDO. He can be contacted at SFTI in Boulder at 303-530-0550.