2011 National General Aviation Award Winners Named

A US Army veteran, he is a member of AEA, AOPA, EAA, and NATA.

Callender (RussC@RCAvionics.com represented the Minneapolis FSDO area and the FAA's Great Lakes Region. This year's other regional Avionics Technician of the Year winners include Andrew John "Andy" Braun of Hilltown, PA (FAA's Eastern Region); Nora Sue "Sue" Odom Panama City, FL (FAA's Southern Region) and Delbert Leroy "Del" Willeford Jr from Phoenix, AZ (FAA's Southwestern Region).

2011 NATIONAL CFI OF THE YEAR: Master CFI-Aerobatic Judy Phelps of Santa Paula, California has been named the 2011 National Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) of the Year. Bringing a rare but effective feminine perspective to aviation education, she has provided more than 5,000 hours of flight training ranging from primary, instrument, and commercial instruction to tailwheel endorsements, experimental aircraft checkouts, emergency maneuver, spin, and aerobatic training.

As a private pilot looking to gain confidence, Judy enrolled in the Emergency Maneuver Training (EMT) Program with fellow MCFI-A Rich Stowell. Her EMT experience proved transformative: Judy chose to devote herself to becoming an aviation educator. Although she spread her private pilot training over a five-year period, she soared through the next set of ratings becoming a CFI in 2003 and a CFII two years later.

Judy freely gives back to the aviation community as a volunteer, a mentor, and an instructor. For example, she sponsors an annual EMT Program scholarship worth more than $2,000 as well as tailwheel training scholarships. She has also hosted an annual judge's school for the International Aerobatic Club (IAC). In addition, she leads FAA safety seminars throughout California.

Women comprise less than ten percent of the pilot population. But as a role model and advocate for women in aviation, Judy has had a noticeable effect on the number of women learning to fly. Counting Judy, CP Aviation currently has three female instructors on staff, and it's not uncommon for female voices to outnumber male voices on the radio in the pattern.

A three-time Master CFI-Aerobatic -- the country's first and only woman to earn that accreditation -- Judy's involvement reaches well beyond the cockpit and classroom. She is a proactive member of organizations such as the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), the Ninety-Nines, AOPA, EAA, International Aerobatic Club (IAC), Women in Aviation, and Rotary. Judy has also competed in aerobatic contests in a Pitts and is an IAC regional judge. She currently serves as president of the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula and is a FAASTeam representative.

Phelps (Judy@CPAviation.com) represented the Van Nuys FSDO area as well as the FAA's Western Pacific Region. This year's other regional CFIs of the Year include Cleophas Uriel "Cleo" Hodge of Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands (FAA's Southern Region); MCFI-MGI Theodore Alexander "Ted" Matthews of Aurora, CO (FAA's Northwest Mountain Region); Jonathan Carter Moss from Arkadelphia, AR (FAA's Southwest Region); Janice Lynn Newman of Rye, NH (FAA's Eastern Region); Paul Michael "Mike" Wagers from Louisville, KY (FAA's Central Region); and Therese Catherine Whiting of Ann Arbor, MI (FAA's Great Lakes Region).