Phillip J. Poynor, J.D., former Chair of the Aviation Division and now Professor of Aviation in the School of Aviation Sciences at Daniel Webster College, Nashua, NH is the FAA/Industry 2001 Flight Instructor of the Year. He holds an ATP pilot certificate and is an active flight and ground instructor. He has been captain-qualified on Part 135 carriers and has taught courses on Air Carrier Operations and Advanced Systems for many years. Phil is an attorney with a practice limited to aviation matters. He was a staff attorney in the flight operations department of a major international airline.

Phil began his flying career over 31 years ago and has been instructing for more than 28 years. He is a NAFI Master CFI and is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Flight Instructors. Phil received the Excellence in Pilot Training Award from the National Air Transportation Association in 1998 and the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching from the State University of New York in 1994. Phil previously owned and operated a large, independent flight school in Farmingdale, NY.