The Flight Instructor Hall of Fame’s 2022 class of inductees are Catherine Cavagnaro and Ron Timmermans. The induction ceremony will take place during the American Bonanza Society’s 14th Annual Membership Dinner held during this year’s EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh.
Inductee Catherine Cavagnaro is a recognized expert on spins and aerobatics. She teaches pilots from the US and other countries at Ace Aerobatic School in Sewanee, Tennessee. She writes the “Flying Smart” column for AOPA Pilot magazine that addresses topics of safety, efficiency, proficiency, and the science of flight. Catherine holds ATP and CFI-IA certificates and serves as a designated pilot examiner and FAA lead safety representative for the Nashville FSDO.
In 2018 Catherine was recognized as the FAA Safety Representative of the Year and the FAA Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year in 2020. In 2018, Catherine was inducted into the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame.
Catherine speaks around the country and online for the FAA, AOPA, American Bonanza Society, National Association of Flight Instructors, and other pilot organizations. She serves as a regular guest on Aviation News Talk with Max Trescott as well as an expert for Pilot Workshops’ “IFR Scenarios” “VFR Scenarios” and other educational products.
Inductee Ron Timmermans fulfilled a 40-year professional career as an architect and project manager before devoting himself to aviation full-time. He has been an independent flight instructor since 1998. He owns and manages AileRon T, LLC, and flies a Beechcraft Bonanza.
Ron holds ATP, CFI-IA, AGI-Instrument, and Remote Pilot certificates. He is a NAFI Master CFI and Master Ground Instructor, a Gold Seal Instructor, and an American Bonanza Society Master Aviator. Ron is active in the Beechcraft Pilot Proficiency Program (BPPP) and Bonanza/Baron Pilot Training (BPT) program.
Ron has served as a FAASTeam Lead Representative for the Orlando and North Texas FSDOs. He has presented at more than 30 WINGS safety seminars. He has also been a frequent presenter at AOPA’s Rusty Pilots Seminars, Safety Seminars, and Flight Instructor Refresher Courses. He is a founding director of the WINGS Industry Network.
Ron’s outreach activities include hosting NAFI MentorLIVE broadcasts for flight instructors and hosting broadcasts for Florida Aviation Network. He is a regular presenter at ABS national conventions, EAA AirVenture, Sun ‘n Fun, and other aviation events. Ron is a contributing member of AOPA, EAA, NAFI, SAFE, ABS, BPT, BPPP, and Quiet Birdmen. In 2021 he was named the National Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year.
“Working to continue the tradition of inducting deserving flight instructors into the hall of fame is such a humbling project for me,” said John Neihaus, NAFI Director of Program Development. “Every year the individuals we choose from are the best our industry has to offer, and this year is no different. Catherine and Ron have given so much of themselves and this is our chance as an industry to give back to them. My sincere thanks go out to our volunteer judges who each year work to make the selection for the induction class, and to ABS for allowing the induction at their annual membership dinner.”
The Flight Instructor Hall of Fame judges include:
- Greg Brown, retired US Marine Corps aviator and current director of education and training services at the Helicopter Association International
- Colonel Julie Tizard, retired US Air Force instructor and former 121 instructor pilot
- Tom Turner, Executive Director of the American Bonanza Society air safety foundation and former Hall of Fame inductee
- Brittney Tough, board member of Women in Aviation, extremely experienced, and talented flight instructor.
- Barry Schiff, former 121 instructor pilot, celebrated AOPA author, and another former Hall of Fame inductee.
Administered by the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI), inductees into the Flight Instructor Hall of Fame represent individuals who have made significant contributions to aviation education and flight instruction while reflecting credit upon themselves and their profession. The honor highlights the important role flight instructors play as a foundation for the safety of the entire national air transportation system.