Daniel Gerbus, Jr. of Pickerington, Ohio has been designated at Master Instructor for the First Time. Dan’s love of aviation began at an early age when he observed flights arriving and departing into Lunken Airport in Cincinnati; this spurred him into pilot training during high school with Eastern Cincinnati Aviation. He went on to the University of North Dakota and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautics. After college he flew Dehavilland DHC-8s for Piedmont Airlines for 10 years before joining a Part 142 training provider as an Instructor, Program Manager and Director of Training. Dan is a FAASTeam Representative, a freelance flight instructor and a volunteer instructor and examiner for the Civil Air Patrol. He specializes in mentoring rusty pilots and aircraft owners, and transitioning pilots to new avionics. Dan holds a Fixed wing ATP with DHC-8, SF-340, CE-560XL, CE-680 type ratings and is consistently seeking to expand his knowledge through investing in his own continuing education. On September 15th, 2021, he completed his commercial balloon rating. His favorite aircraft are the DHC-8-200, PA-24, and a Lindstrand 105 balloon.
Master Instructors is honored to recognize David McVinnie of Albuquerque, NM as a Master CFI for the 13thtime! What makes this achievement so extraordinary is that he has been a Master CFI for twenty-six years. David is a true professional and very humbly stated during this 13th accreditation: “I am proud to have achieved and maintained Master CFI status for a Quarter Century.” The entire Master Instructor Community understands what an incredible achievement this is and we all salute him for his commitment to excellence, professional growth, and service to the Aviation community.
Master Instructors is pleased to announce the designation of John Mahany of Long Beach, CA as a Master CFI for the Seventh Time. John was an instructor at a FAR 142 training center in Long Beach until April 2020, when he and many of his colleagues lost their posts during the pandemic. John continues to advocate for aviation safety while seeking opportunities to fly, provide advanced training, and avionics training.
Master Instructors is pleased to announce the designation of Brandon Ray of Conroe, TX as a Master CFI for the Seventh Time. Brandon is the President & CEO of High Performance Aviation, LLC (https://www.flyhpa.com) at the Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, where he leads a team that specializes in sales and acquisitions of piston, turboprop, and jet aircraft. He is an airline pilot on the Boeing 737, as well as an FAA certificated Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic. His general aviation flight activities are most often in the Cessna TTx, Cirrus SR22T, or Cirrus SF50 G2 Vision Jet. Brandon currently attends The Wharton School’s MBA for Executives program at the University of Pennsylvania.
Master Instructors is pleased to announce the designation of Kelly Manzani of Temecula, CA as a Master CFI for the Second Time.
Kelly began flying in 2013 after being influenced by her older son who started in 2008. Since flying is not her first, or even second career, it has been part time until recently, when she retired after 19 years of being an educator in the public schools setting. Now, Kelly is a full-time CFI and provides all levels of instruction from Private to MEI. She is proficient in a myriad of planes from a C-150 to the Cirrus SR-20 to the Beechcraft Dutchess as well as a variety of avionics systems. Her specialities include aviation weather, aircraft systems, and Fundamentals of Instruction. In addition to instructing, Kelly assists in running an aviation youth program for teens, flies for Pilots n Paws and EAA Young Eagles. “My plan is to continue to learn, instruct, and be a positive role model/mentor to new instructors as well as a leader at our flight school,” she says. Kelly also enjoys flying with family and friends, bike riding, walking the dogs and relaxing with her family.
Master Instructors is pleased to announce the designation of David Pepitone of Polvadera, New Mexico as a Master Aviation Educator for the Third time. Dave holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and is an Accredited Aviation Psychologist specializing in learning performance. He is a Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award Winner as well as an Elected Senior Fellow to the Royal Aeronautical Society. He holds ATP, CFII, CFIG and Remote Pilot certificates and has been flight instructing since 1978. Dave, a former engineer and technical pilot for NASA, Boeing and Honeywell Aerospace International, currently flies for the Civil Air Patrol in Transport Mission and Check Pilot capacities. He also is a volunteer pilot for Flying Doctors. He has had a lifelong commitment to aviation safety and holds 50 patents for air safety cockpit systems.