Rich Stowell, now an eight-time Master and a member of IAC and SAFE, recently renewed his Master CFI-Aerobatic accreditation through Master Instructors LLC. Stowell is an aerobatic instructor specializing in emergency maneuver, spin, aerobatic, and tailwheel training at Santa Paula Airport (SZP) and Cascade Airport (U70). The 2006 National CFI of the Year, he is also a noted aviation author and serves as a FAASTeam representative in the FAA Boise FSDO area.
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Master Instructors LLC takes great pride in announcing a significant aviation accomplishment on the part of Rich Stowell, the 2006 National CFI of the Year and resident of McCall, Idaho. Recently, Stowell’s accreditation as a Master CFI-Aerobatic was renewed by Master Instructors LLC, the international accrediting authority for the Master Instructor Continuing Education Program. He first earned the professional accreditation in 1999, has held it continuously since, and is one of only 12 worldwide to earn the credential eight times.
To help put these achievements into proper perspective, there are approximately 95,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 700 of those aviation educators have achieved this professional distinction thus far. The last 17 national Flight Instructors of the Year were Master CFIs, while Stowell is one of only four Idaho teachers of flight to earn the “Master” title and one of only 30 to ever earn the aerobatic accreditation.
The Master Instructor designation is a national accreditation recognized by the FAA. Candidates must demonstrate an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth, and service to the aviation community, and must pass a rigorous evaluation by a peer Board of Review. The process parallels the continuing education regimen used by other professionals to enhance their knowledge base while increasing their professionalism. Designees are recognized as outstanding aviation educators not only for their excellence in teaching, but also for their engagement in the continuous process of learning—both their own as well as their students’. The designation must be renewed biennially and significantly surpasses FAA requirements for renewal of the candidate’s flight instructor certificate.
For more information about the Master Instructor Program and to locate other current Master Instructors, visit the Find a Master Instructor page.