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 May 2014 are:
Ludwig Joseph “Lou” WIPOTNIK, Master CFI
Wheeling IL
E-mail: Jan.Lou@comcast.net
Lou Wipotnik, a 9-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Lou is an independent Chicago-area flight and ground instructor at Chicago Executive Airport (PWK).
The 1996 National CFI of the Year and the holder of an FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot award, he is also a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s DuPage FSDO area and serves in the Civil Air Patrol’s Illinois Wing. (Photo: MCFI Lou Wipotnik of Wheeling, IL)
Michael Bruce “Mike” TRAUD, Master CFI
Gold River CA
E-mail: Traud@hotmail.com
Michael B Traud, a 6-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Mike serves as the safety officer for the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Air Squadronas well as as a designated pilot examiner (DPE) in the FAA’s Sacramento FSDO area.
Additionally, he is an aviation consultant who owns MTAviation Services LLC at Sacramento Executive Airport (SAC). (Photo: MCFI Mike Traud of Gold River, CA)
Richard Michael “Mike” COLIGNY, Master CFI
Prescott AZ
E-mail: MColigny@cableone.net
Mike Coligny, a 7-time Master and charter SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Mike is president / CEO of SIMAVIA USA in Prescott, AZ.
SIMAVIA USA is a flight simulation manufacturing company with clients worldwide.
He also serves on SAFE‘s government affairs committee, HAI’s flight training committee, and is a FAASTeam lead representative in the Scottsdale FSDO area. (Photo: MCFI Mike Coligny of Prescott, AZ)
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/