Arlynn McMahon, National CFI of the Year

Master CFI Arlynn McMahon, the 2009 National CFI of the Year, grew up at Kentucky’s Lexington-Blue Grass Airport (LEX) where she was the kid in pigtails sweeping hangar floors and washing airplanes. On her 16th birthday, she soloed; on her 17th birthday, she earned her private pilot certificate.

Now, more than three decades later, she is a flight instructor at the very same airport with more than 9000 hours of dual given. She specializes in training CFI candidates. Says McMahon, “Lexington provides a great learning environment because the weather allows for year round flying while the students get to experience several different weather patterns through the seasons.” She also earned a BS degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry Riddle and an MBA in Strategic Leadership from Amberton University.

A flight instructor at Aero-Tech, a part 141 / part 61 flight school at LEX, she continually updates her skills after adding a CFII, MEI, AGI and Gold Seal to her original flight instructor certificate by completing transition training in glass cockpits and light sport aircraft. A Cirrus Certified Instructor, a Cessna Factory Authorized FITS Instructor, and an FAA Designated Examiner for Sport Pilots, she now serves as Aero-Tech’s chief flight instructor.

Recently, ASA published her book entitled “Train Like You Fly, a Flight Instructor’s Guide to Scenario Based Training.” She also provided editorial assistance for the newly revised FAA Aviation Instructor’s Handbook.

Since 1984, she has been active in the FAA’s National Safety Program and currently serves as an FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) representative with the Louisville FSDO. The holder of Master Level wings in the FAA’s WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program, she contributes to the quarterly FAASTeam CFI workshops. A current Master CFI, she first earned that national professional accreditation in 2002.

A resident of Versailles, KY, Arlynn is a charter member of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), a new organization for aviation educators, and is a candidate for SAFE’s board of directors. She is also a member of AOPA, NAFI, and WAI.