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 this achievement in its proper perspective, there are approximately 96,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 700 of them have earned Master accreditation thus far. As a measure of the prestige conferred by this title, the last 17 National Flight Instructors 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.
The Master Instructor designation is a national accreditation recognized by the FAA and industry that 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, Master Instructors have earned their “black belts” in aviation education. They truly represent the crème de la crème of the aviation industry!
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/.
Aviation educators who earned the “Master” title during November are:
Shane Larrel VANDE VOORT, Master CFI
Pella IA
E-mail: Shane@FlyClassicAviation.com
Shane Vande Voort, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Shane is the chief flight instructor as well as president of Classic Aviation at Pella Municipal Airport (PEA) where he specializes in technically advanced aircraft and tailwheel training.
He also serves as a pilot examiner (DPE) and a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Des Moines FSDO area.
Todd Michael UNDERWOOD, Master CFI
Prescott AZ
E-mail: Todd@Atjeu.com
Todd Underwood, a 2-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Todd is a Prescott-area flight instructor worki4ng with Wright Aviation, North-Aire Aviation, and FreedomAir at Prescott’s Love Field (PRC).
He also serves as a volunteer Angel Flight pilot and is a designated pilot examiner as well as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Scottsdale FSDO area.
Brian Lee ROBBINS, Master CFI
Columbus NJ
E-mail: Aeromentor@comcast.net
Brian L Robbins, a 4-time Master and charter SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
Brian is an independent flight instructor as well as an instructor with Free Flight Aviation at Medford’s Flying W Airport and Resort (N14).
He also serves as a FAASTeam lead representative in the FAA’s Philadelphia FSDO area.
Kenneth Steven “Ken” FUKAYAMA, Master CFI
Prescott AZ
E-mail: FukayF5E@ERAU.edu,
Ken Fukayama, a 1st-time Master, recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.
Ken serves as a ground instructor and flight check instructor with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Prescott’s Love Field (PRC).
He was also recently named the 2013 Arizona State Flight Instructor of the Year by the FAA’s Scottsdale FSDO and will now move on to the regional competition.