Accreditation Program Aims to Reach More Qualified Aviation Educators

Master Instructors LLC (MI LLC) recently announced that it has overhauled its entire website and established a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.  Responding to a survey of Master Instructors as well as feedback from members of the Master Instructor Continuing Education Program (MICEP) Board of Review, program administrators Sandy and JoAnn Hill are now expanding MICEP’s visibility and appeal to more aviation educators.  Numerous Masters volunteered to assist with the upgrades, including producing the program’s first in a series of promotional videos (visit http://YouTu.be/DequUQiQ9uQ ).

According to Sandy Hill, “The time has come to be more proactive with the program, to actively reach out to more of the nation’s and world’s qualified aviation educators and challenge them to become Masters.”  Hill continued, “At the same time, we are working to streamline the application process while maintaining the same rigorous standards our Masters have come to expect from this challenging-yet-rewarding program.”  MICEP is converting from paper-based applications to a more efficient online process.  The Hills plan to have the changeover completed and in place before Oshkosh AirVenture 2013.

The Master Instructor Continuing Education Program (MICEP) is a family of six diverse, voluntary accreditations available to qualified aviation educators.  The program is based on a system of advanced professional standards and rigorous peer review.  It identifies and recognizes educators who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to excellence and professional growth in, as well as service to, the aviation community while establishing professional standards to which all aviation educators should aspire.  According to a 2010 survey of all Masters, most reported a 10 to 40 percent increase in income as a result of earning their accreditations.

The Master Instructor accreditation program, highly acclaimed and recognized by industry and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), was conceived in 1995.  Currently, there are approximately 97,000 FAA certificated flight instructors in the United States.  More than 1600 initial and renewing Master Instructor candidate’s portfolios have been reviewed since the program’s inception.  Fewer than 800 aviation educators have achieved the accreditation thus far.  The last 18 National Flight Instructors of the Year or FAASTeam Representatives of the Year were Masters who have earned the prestigious “Master” title (visit: http://www.GeneralAviationAwards.org/).  

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 97,000 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 18 National Flight Instructors of the Year or 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.

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!  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/

Aviation educators who earned the “Master” title during March are:

Sean WALSH, Master CFI

Sean WALSH, Master CFI
New Fairfield  CT
E-mail:   Sean.Walsh@FullMotionFlight.com

Sean Walsh, a 1st-time Master and SAFE member, recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.

Sean is lead flight and ground instructor as well as the founder of Motion Simulations LLC, a school specializing simulator, avionics, and high performance training at Danbury Municipal Airport (DXR).

He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Windsor Locks FSDO area.

Hobart Caleb “Hobie” TOMLINSON, Master CFI

Hobart Caleb “Hobie” TOMLINSON, Master CFI  
Huntington  VT
E-mail:  HobieTW@att.net

Hobart C Tomlinson, a 6-time Master and a SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.

The 2012 National CFI of the Year, Hobie is a CSIP instructor and manager of Montairair Flight Services LLC at Burlington International Airport (BTV).

He also serves as a pilot examiner and FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Portland Maine FSDO area.

“Ray” SPENGLER Jr, Master CFI & Master GI

Raymond Francis “Ray” SPENGLER Jr, Master CFI & Master GI 
Odessa  TX
E-mail:  Ray@SkyparkFlying.com

Raymond F Spengler, a 4-time double Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI and Master GI accreditations.

Ray is the president of Skypark Aviation LLC, a Cessna Pilot Center at Odessa-Schlemeyer Airport (ODO).

He also serves in the Civil Air Patrol’s Texas Wing and is a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Lubbock FSDO area.

Elaine Helen KAUH, Master CFI

Elaine Helen KAUH, Master CFI
Green Bay  WI
E-mail:   Elaine.Kauh@WisconsinAviation.com

Elaine Kauh, a 2-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed her Master CFI accreditation.

Elaine is a ground and flight instructor with Wisconsin Aviation at Watertown Municipal Airport (RYV).

A committed career flight instructor and aerobatic pilot, she also serves as a FAASTeam representative for the Milwaukee FSDO area.

“Chuck” EBBECKE, Master CFI

Charles Henry “Chuck” EBBECKE, Master CFI   
Santa Rosa Beach  FL
E-mail:   Ebbecke@mchsi.com

Charles H Ebbecke, a 3-time Master and SAFE member, recently renewed his Master CFI accreditation.

Chuck is a flight and ground instructor with Mooney’s MAPA Safety Foundation as well as a senior aviation consultant and an independent instructor at Defuniak Springs Airport (54J).

He also serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA’s Birmingham FSDO area.