Tina Oborny has won the prestigious FAA 2006 ‘Flight Instructor of the Year’ award for the Southern Region.  She is now an applicant for the National Flight Instructor of the Year award which is presented at Osh Kosh in July.

 

   Aviation was a career change for Tina. After managing a large Thoroughbred farm in Ocala for several years  she spent 10-12 years riding Thoroughbred race horses for a living as ‘exercise rider’ or ‘exercise jockey’. 

 

  Her aviation career started about seven years ago.  After attaining her CFII and working at aviation schools she purchased a new TAA aircraft and began teaching independently.  Seeing a need for competent training in the new technology aircraft arriving on the market, Tina started what is now Platinum Aviation Solutions LLC which combines a flight school with aircraft management and helping individuals find and purchase the ‘right’ aircraft for their needs.    She then does ‘continued’ training with them in their own aircraft to ensure they attain the skills to fly these new technology aircraft and maintain proficiency.

 

   Tina currently has three new Cirrus aircraft and two new Cessna 172’s on line for instruction and rental at KOPF.  She will soon be opening an office at KTMB for Cirrus training.

 

   Tina states “I have been very fortunate, there have been so many people who have helped me along the way (and still do).  I try to give something back to the aviation community.  I don’t charge other CFIs whenever I fly with them for BFRs, IPCs , aircraft checkouts etc. I mentor  women working on becoming pilots as well as women wanting careers in aviation.  I also give free airplane rides in my Cessna 172 to under-privileged and less fortunate teens.”

 

    Tina is a FAASTEAM Representative  in the Southern Region FSDO-19.  She gives presentations on Glass Cockpit to FAA Safety Team Seminars and speaks to private organizations on the impact new technology aviation is having on the Aviation community.  She will be presented with her award at an FAA dinner at the Sun N Fun Airshow in Lakeland, FL April 19th

Kerry Hackney recently earned his Master CFI accreditation.  Kerry is the chief pilot with Platinum Aviation (www.FlyPlatinum.com), a Part 61 flight school specializing in TAA training at OpaLocka (OPF) and Tamiami Executive (TMB) Airports.  He also serves as a FAASTeam rep for the FAA's South Florida-Miami FSDO.    

  The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) takes pride in announcing a significant aviation accomplishment on the part of Kerry Hackney, the chief pilot at Platinum Aviation and a resident of Miami Lakes, FL.  Recently, Kerry was accredited as a Master CFI (Certificated Flight Instructor) by NAFI, his professional aviation education association.

 To help put this achievement in its proper perspective, there are approximately 90,000 CFIs in the United States.  Fewer than 500 of them have achieved that distinction thus far.  The last eleven national Flight Instructors of the Year were Master CFIs while Kerry is one of only 53 Florida aviation educators who has earned this prestigious "Master" title.  In the words of FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, "The flight instructor is where the rubber meets the runway.  The Master Instructor accreditation singles out the best that the right seat has to offer." 

 The Master Instructor designation is a national accreditation recognized by the FAA 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 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.  In the words of FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, "This accreditation singles out the best that the right seat has to offer." 

 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 Kerry 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.

Please feel free to disseminate this information.  Questions regarding the Master Instructor program may be directed to 303-485-8136 or NAFIMasters@aol.com   Additional information is available at www.NAFIMasters.org and www.NAFInet.org