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 97,000 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 18 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 October 2013 are:
Jon Edward “Jughead” COUNSELL, Master CFI-Aerobatic (Initial: 21Oc t13)
Arlington TX
E-mail: JugheadF15@yahoo.com
Jon “Jughead” Counsell, a 1st-time Master as well as as well as a member of IAC and SAFE, recently earned his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation.
A veteran US Air Force command pilot, Jughead is an instructor pilot with APS Emergency Maneuver Training at Arlington Municipal Airport (GKY).
He specializes in advanced upset recovery and aerobatic training largely in Extra 300s. (Photo: MCFI-A Jon Counsell of Del Rio, TX)
Lara Zook GAERTE, Master CFI (Renew: 17Oct13)
Fort Wayne IN
E-mail: LaraGaerte@gmail.com
Lara Gaerte, a 4-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation.
Lara is the CEO, manager, and chief pilot of Century Aviation, a full-service FBO at De Kalb County Airport (GWB).
She also serves as the safety officer and a director of the Air Race Classic and is a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s South Bend FSDO area. (Photo: MCFI Lara Gaerte of Fort Wayne, IN)
Clifford Monroe “Cliff” IZER, Master CFI (Renew: 30Sep13)
Cumming GA
E-mail: Cliff@ProfessionalAviationServices.com
Clifford M Izer, a 6-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
The general manager of Professional Aviation Services at Dekalb Peachtree Airport (PDK), Cliff specializes in Cirrus and other technically advanced aircraft training.
He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Atlanta FSDO area. (Photo: MCFI Cliff Izer of Cumming, GA)
John Anthony KOLMOS, Master Aviation Educator (MAE) (Initial: 9Oct13)
Mastic Beach NY
E-mail: JKolmos@LibertyJet.com, JKKnightman@optonline.net
John A Kolmos, a 1st-time Master and SAFE member, recently earned his Master Aviation Educator (MAE) accreditation.
John is the director of safety and security as well as manager of crew member training with Liberty Jet Management.
He also serves with the New York Wing of the Civil Air Patrol and is a FAASTeam Representative in the FAA’s Framingdale FSDO area. (Photo: MAE John Kolmos of Mastic Beach, NY)
Neil Joesph SINGER, Master CFI (Renew: 30Sep13)
Marblehead MA
E-mail: NJSinger@gmail.com
Neil J Singer, a 5-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.
A technically advanced aircraft instructor, Neil is an independent instructor pilot and mentor (http://www.NJSFlight.com/).
He specializes training and mentoring owner pilots transitioning into single-pilot very light jets as well as initial jet type ratings, recurrent jet training, avionics instruction, and turbine transition training. (Photo: MCFI Neil Singer of Marblehead, MA)
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/