News Bouys

Congrats to Gary Kitely, our WaterWings flight examiner, who recently earned his Master Instructor designation. He was the University Aviation Association's executive director for 23 years and is now director of the Council on Aviation Accreditation (CAA). Gary also serves a consultant with K & K Aviation in Auburn and is pilot examiner for the Birmingham FSDO.  Following is the official announcement:

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) takes pride in announcing a significant aviation accomplishment on the part of Gary W Kiteley, executive director of the Council on Aviation Accreditation and resident of Auburn, AL.  Recently, Gary was designated a Master CFI (Certificated Flight Instructor) by NAFI, his professional aviation education organization.

To help put this achievement in its proper perspective, there are approximately 85,000 CFIs in the United States.  Fewer than 500 of them have achieved that distinction thus far.  The last nine national Flight Instructors of the Year were Master CFIs while Gary is one of only 7 Alabama aviation educators who has earned this prestigious "Master" title.

The Master Instructor designation is a national accreditation recognized by the FAA that is earned by a candidate through a rigorous process of continuing education and peer review.  Much like a flight instructor's certificate, it must be renewed biennially.  This process parallels the continuing education regimen 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 have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth, and service to the aviation community.

Earning this designation is tantamount to having the words summa cum laude emblazoned on an instructor's certificate.  These Masters truly represent the crème de la crème of our industry!  To publicly recognize these individuals and their noteworthy accomplishments, NAFI will be hosting its "Meet the Masters" breakfasts, to which Gary will be invited, during EAA's AirVenture in Oshkosh and Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland.  Any support that can be provided will be appreciated. 

NAFI is dedicated to providing support and recognition for America's aviation educators while helping them raise and maintain their level of professionalism.  It is also committed to providing a safe and effective learning environment for student pilots.  The Association was founded in 1967 and affiliated with EAA in May of 1995.

Hurricane visitors
Things got very exciting (of course, that depends on your perspective) here at the flight center during the waning days of summer 2004, mid-hurricane season. We had some special visitors heading north to safety as far as they could get--Eric Weaver and Mike Volk, the SPA president, stopped by in their respective 150 floatplanes. We had a great visit as they planned and replanned their flight routes to places of shelter.