Redbird Flight Simulation is offering SAFE instructors a unique opportunity to become Redbird Certified Instructors. Redbird will host its first instructor certification class June 15-16 at their Skyport operation in San Marcos, Texas. Space is limited to the first 12 instructors who sign up. The two-day course will consist of: one day of intense Redbird simulator operation; followed by a day of flying and instructing the Pilot Proficiency Project scenarios.

Those who successfully complete this course will become the first Redbird Certified Instructors. This first certification class is being offered at no cost to the attendee. Attendees will receive a reduced rate at the Embassy Suites Hotel in San Marcos.

If you are interested in becoming one of the first - in - the - country to be certified as a Redbird Instructor you need to send an email to  SAFE Chairman Mark Adams (adamsmark@earthlink.net) no later than May 10th. Class size will be limited to twelve people, so don't delay. This is an excellent opportunity to learn the Redbird FMX, as well as share some quality time with fellow SAFE educators.

A discount for iFlightPlanner is now an additional benefit to SAFE members.  Featuring a web-based "Flight Wizard" that can be accessed via http://www.iFlightPlanner.com or http://mobile.iFlightPlanner.com, you can intuitively plan your routes with interactive weather overlays, retrieve FAA certified weather briefs, calculate weight & balance and file VFR, IFR and ICAO flight plans --  all in one guided process.  If you fly with an iPad, you can wirelessly sync your flights with iFlightPlanner for iPad (presented by Sennheiser) and have seamless, on-the-go cockpit functionality with a GPS-enabled moving map over georeferenced VFR or IFR charts.

iFlightPlanner was launched in 2010 by Andy Matthews and John Burnside on the premise that there needed to be a more comprehensive and intuitive method for electronic flight planning.  The company continues to develop its products based on direct feedback from its users.   "Every new feature is rooted in member feedback" said Matthews, iFlightPlanner's Co-Founder & Director of Business Development.  "We believe in providing our members fast and personal customer service.  We are looking forward to working with SAFE and its membership to help shape the future of iFlightPlanner!"

Your SAFE membership entitles you to save $20 off iFlightPlanner Premium annual memberships (reg. $89.95) or $5 off renewable 3-month memberships (reg. $24.95).  iFlightPlanner Premium unlocks a wealth of additional features including the ability to save and use custom waypoints in your planning, an integrated weight & balance calculator and the functionality to export detailed navigation logs to Garmin or other GPS devices; just to name a few.  Through their partnership with Sennheiser Aviation, free flight planning memberships are also available that include access to iFlightPlanner's integrated iPad app.

For more information and to claim your member benefit with iFlightPlanner please visit http://www.iFlightPlanner.com/SAFE.

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.

For more information, see: www.MasterInstructors.org