The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) announced the appointment of its new Director of Publications and Editor, Beth Stanton. Stanton is an author, editor, aerobatic pilot, and aviation journalist.
Stanton joins NAFI at the retirement of long-time Director of Publications and Editor David Hipschman. She will oversee the publication of NAFI’s weekly e-newsletter, eMentor, and its bi-monthly Mentor magazine.
“Leaving NAFI after more than 11 years is an emotional moment,” Hipschman said. “Having introduced my old friend Beth to the NAFI Board and seeing the synergy erupt, I know NAFI members will be in fantastic editorial hands going forward. I’m grateful to the three separate board chairs I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years and especially grateful to the members who have been generous with the stories they’ve submitted and the advice they’ve shared.”
Of the transition from Hipschman, 69, Stanton said: “David has been a sage mentor to me these past months. It’s been an honor to work with the master.”
Stanton said her life took a turn after she earned her private pilot certificate in 2011. Facing her fear of spins, she sought unusual attitude training three weeks after her checkride and inadvertently discovered the thrill of aerobatics. She flew competition aerobatics for seven years, winning state, regional and western U.S. championships. She has served as president and a director of the International Aerobatic Club (IAC) Northern California Chapter 38.
Stanton has conducted FAAST safety seminars promoting unusual attitudes and spin recovery training. She has spoken on topics ranging from risk-taking to goal achievement for aviation and women’s civic organizations around the country and has served as a panelist and mentor at San Francisco Bay Area Women of Aviation Week events.
Stanton writes feature articles for various aviation publications and is the innovation columnist for EAA Sport Aviation magazine. Her editorial experience encompasses manuscripts, magazines, speechwriting, and newsletters. She is the creator and host of the Badass Pilot Babes podcast, which celebrates the multifaceted work and play of female aviators.
In addition to flying high-performance tailwheel aircraft, Stanton is a Part 107 drone pilot and has flown helicopters, seaplanes, aerobatic gliders, balloons, an electric airplane, and was a test pilot for an electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle prototype. Other aviation adventures include air show announcing and crewing in the Biplane Class at the Reno National Championship Air Races.
“Retiring editor David Hipschman is a colleague and true friend of NAFI and the industry,” NAFI President Paul Preidecker said. “His contributions and guidance over the years have been instrumental in our success. Now we are so very fortunate to welcome Beth Stanton to the team. Her involvement and passion for all things aviation will help ensure we continue to provide relevant editorial content to our growing membership.”
“It’s an amazing experience to work with a group of such dedicated professionals,” Stanton said. “I’m looking forward to unleashing my creative energy in service of the flight training community.”
