More than 150 people gathered Thursday at the EAA Nature Center for the ninth annual National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) Meet the Masters Breakfast. FAA Administrator Marion Blakey attended the breakfast, ostensibly to acknowledge the importance to aviation of dedicated flight instructors.

In fact, though, she was surprised to be honored with the Jack J. Eggspuehler Award in recognition of her strong support of the Master Instructor program. "I’ve given this award, and I know what it means to this community," she said. "I feel as if I am in the presence of the best of the best. You’re the people who say, ‘Yes, you can,’ to people interested in learning to fly."

Blakey also acknowledged EAA President Tom Poberezny’s work with the light-sport aircraft initiative. "Tom worked as hard as any human being could," she said.

Poberezny remarked that one of the best things EAA has done is to join forces with NAFI. "The amount of aviation knowledge in this room is unsurpassed," he said, further challenging the instructors to be active in growing the pilot population to 1,000,000 pilots.

Also honored were Nora and John Teipen named NAFI Flight Specialists of the Year for their work with EAA KidVenture. Barrington Irving, fresh from his inspirational around-the-world flight, also spoke and told the crowd, "You are the front line of the battle we’re in to get more people flying."

This year’s Meet the Masters Breakfast was co-sponsored by Sporty’s Pilot Shop and Aviation Supply & Academics. Both companies provide textbooks, workbooks, DVDs, and other tools to make learning to fly easier and safer for both the instructor and the student.

Think you have what it takes to be a Master? An application packet can be downloaded from www.NAFIMasters.org.