.In November 2015, the FAA honored Peter Conner with the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award and the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. These awards are not merely tokens of appreciation but rigorous recognitions of a half-century of dedication to the skies. To qualify for the Charles Taylor Award, named after the Wright brothers' pioneering mechanic, a recipient must demonstrate exemplary aviation expertise and professionalism for at least 50 years in aircraft maintenance without a single certificate revocation. 

Conner’s journey into the world of flight began in 1965 at Plum Island Airport, shortly before he joined the Navy and earned his private pilot’s license in 1968. Although he initially considered a career as an airline co-pilot, his natural talent for the mechanical side of aviation led him to pivot. In 1976, he founded Yankee Aviation Services at Plymouth Municipal Airport, where he has spent the last four decades building a reputation as a trusted authority for pilots across New England. Known for "telling it like it is," Conner has become a fixture in the community, serving not only as a master mechanic and pilot but also as a consultant and FAA Designated Airworthiness Representative. 

The significance of receiving both the Wright Brothers and Charles Taylor awards simultaneously cannot be overstated, as it highlights Conner's mastery of both the cockpit and the hangar. While the Master Pilot award honors his 50 years of safe flight operations, the Master Mechanic award recognizes the painstaking technical work that ensures those flights are possible in the first place. For Conner, aviation has always been a "labor of love," and this dual recognition serves as a testament to a career defined by an unwavering commitment to safety and the meticulous documentation required to keep small planes and jets soaring safely above the rooftops.

Read the full story at Wicked Local.
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Ron Grosewas honored with the prestigious Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award in 2024 at Duncan Aviation’s Lincoln, Nebraska, headquarters for a distinguished 50-year career in aviation maintenance. This FAA-recognized award, named after the Wright brothers' original mechanic, is reserved for technicians with at least 50 years of experience, including 30 years as an FAA-certified mechanic, highlighting a career dedicated to safety and technical integrity.

Beginning his aviation journey in 1973, Grose joined Duncan Aviation in 1976, where he built a foundation spanning five decades of technological advancement. Throughout his tenure, he held key leadership positions, including Airframe Service Shop Supervisor, and later served as a Falcon Technical Representative and Program Manager, establishing himself as a trusted expert for complex airframe systems.
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Known for his technical expertise, Grose mentored numerous technicians and was a cornerstone of safety within the maintenance community. By reaching this 50-year milestone, he joins an elite group of professionals, with his career legacy setting a high standard for future aviation mechanics. Read more about the award at duncanaviation.com.

Metro Aviation announced Managing Director Milton Geltz has been awarded the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, one of the highest honors presented by the Federal Aviation Administration to recognize lifetime achievement in aircraft maintenance.

The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award honors aviation maintenance professionals with 50 or more years of exemplary service. Geltz becomes one of fewer than one-percent of certified mechanics worldwide to receive this distinguished recognition.

A surprise celebration was held last week with Geltz’s family, friends, and colleagues in attendance to commemorate the milestone.

“Milton has forgotten more about aviation than most people will ever know,” said Metro COO Kenny Morrow. “His leadership, integrity, and technical expertise have shaped our culture and our commitment to safety for decades.”
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Throughout his career, Geltz has been instrumental in advancing Metro Aviation’s maintenance standards, mentoring generations of technicians, and strengthening the company’s reputation for excellence across the aviation industry. His influence can be seen in every hangar, every aircraft, and every team member who has had the privilege of learning from him.

Read the full press release here.

The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award is the ultimate recognition for a lifetime of dedication to aviation safety and excellence, celebrating technicians who achieve 50 years of service in the field. Named after the first aviation mechanic who built the Wright brothers' engine, the award signifies a profound commitment to the craft.

In 2003, the FAA recognized Roy A. Sale of the St. Louis area, a distinguished aviation maintenance technician whose career spanned half a century.

A Career of Service and Skill
Roy Sale's journey in aviation was extensive, leading him from the U.S. Air Force to various roles in civil aviation maintenance. He has been described by colleagues as bringing "unmatched craftsmanship, ingenuity, and heart" to his work, ensuring thousands of aircraft were safe for flight during his nearly three decades in air medical transport after his military career.

Sale's work in the St. Louis area made him a respected figure within the local aviation community, which aims to promote a high standard of technical and ethical practices. His career stands as a testament to the quiet professionalism that keeps the world flying safely.

Joining the Roll of Honor
Sale was officially added to the FAA Roll of Honor in 2003. This list includes a select group of mechanics from the St. Louis Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) area.
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While his name is on this official list, the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) is working to gather detailed stories for many of these pioneers. Roy A. Sale is one of the many esteemed individuals from the 2000s who is a perfect subject for a feature biography to preserve his invaluable experience for future generations.

David Jones was awarded the FAA’s Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award and Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for his lifetime achievements in aviation during the ATEC annual conference in March 2024. He spoke with Aviation Week Network about some of his career highlights and shared perspectives on challenges the industry faces moving forward.

Read an excerpt from the interview:

You began flying at a young age and then attended school for aviation engineering technology. Could you tell me a bit about the early days of your aviation passion and how you broke into the industry?

My father learned to fly on the GI Bill after World War II, so I grew up with that in the family. He didn’t own an airplane until I was getting ready to learn to fly...He bought a little World War II trainer that I used to learn to fly. My mother was his first passenger when he got his license and she decided to be my first passenger when I got mine—she was a daring lady! The flying kept me [around] airports where you could get really close with the airplanes and people, and my interest continued to grow. When I was in high school, I started working at the airport as a mechanics’ helper, which is where I got my interest in the [technical] side.

The local community college in Lansing, Michigan had an agreement with Western Michigan University (WMU) and they sent people from WMU to recruit for the aviation department. One of the mechanics I worked with was a WMU graduate, so it seemed very logical to look at that program. At the time, the aviation program had an engineering technology degree option, and with it you chose a specialty. I already had a commercial pilot’s license and a lot of that [work] already done, but the classes you took included everything for the mechanics, so I went ahead and did both. I finished my pilot training and got my mechanic certificate at the same time.
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When I graduated, I went back to Lansing to work at the airport. I took my girlfriend for an airplane ride one day and we stopped back to fuel the airplane up. One of the customers whose airplane I had worked on was there and he said he had a job opening that might interest me.  I went to work for him, mostly in a machine shop. It was interesting design work and prototype machinery, but I also got to fly and work on his airplane occasionally. That was really my first aviation job.
You can read the full interview here.

Local aviation figure Terry Kennedy was recently honored with both the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award and the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award at a gathering in the Pioneer Igloo. Nominated by fellow pilot Mark Frohnapfel, Kennedy received these prestigious FAA honors in recognition of nearly 60 years of continuous involvement in aviation maintenance and over half a century as an FAA-certified mechanic and pilot. The awards highlight Kennedy's significant contributions to aviation reliability and safety in demanding environments, as well as his role in mentoring future generations of pilots and mechanics.

The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award is named in honor of Mr. Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight. The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics. Mr. Taylor served as the Wright brothers’ mechanic and is credited with designing and building the engine for their first successful aircraft.  

The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award is the most prestigious award the FAA issues to persons certificated under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 65. This award, named after Charles Taylor, is to recognize individuals who have exhibited exemplary aviation expertise, distinguished professionalism, and steadfast commitment for at least 50 years or more of aviation maintenance experience. A distinctive certificate, and the airman’s Blue-Ribbon package is issued after application review and eligibility requirements have been met. Once the award has been issued, the recipient’s name, city and state will be added to a published “Roll of Honor,” located at https://www.faasafety.gov/content/MasterMechanic/RecipientList.aspx.  

Read the heartwarming article here.

PAMA is proud to celebrate the aviation maintenance professionals whose careers reflect a lifetime of dedication, skill, and service. We are currently seeking submissions for recipients of the Charles E. Taylor Master Mechanic Award, one of the highest honors in aircraft maintenance.

Established by the FAA, the Charles E. Taylor Master Mechanic Award recognizes senior aviation mechanics with 50 or more years of civil aviation maintenance experience. Named after Charles E. Taylor, the first aviation mechanic and the man behind the engine that powered the Wright brothers’ first successful aircraft, this award honors those who have spent decades ensuring the safety, reliability, and advancement of aviation.

Do you know a mechanic whose career exemplifies professionalism, technical excellence, and commitment to the aviation maintenance community? We want to hear their story.

Why Submit?
Selected award recipients will be:

• Featured on the PAMA website
• Recognized for their lifetime contributions to aviation maintenance
• Celebrated as role models for current and future maintenance professionals

How to Submit
To submit a nomination or share information about a deserving Master Mechanic, please email details to [email protected]. Submissions may include background on the nominee’s career, years of service, areas of expertise, and why they are deserving of recognition.

Help us honor the individuals who built, and continue to uphold, the foundation of aviation safety and excellence. We look forward to highlighting the remarkable careers that define our profession.

Bill Bridges, founder of The Flight Shop in Brigham City, is still turning wrenches and working on airplanes at 82 years old. In fact, in September 2025, he was given the Charles Taylor Mechanic Award from the Federal Aviation Administration for 50 years of servicing and repairing airplanes.

The FFA said The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award was named in honor of Mr. Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic who built the motor for the Wright brothers’ first powered flight.

“I was surprised they kept the award a secret until they gave it to me,” Bridges said. “I told them I was getting ready to leave and they told me to stick around. They started setting up tables and invited some of my friends. Then they gave me the plaque.”

The award is prominently displayed in the office.

“People think you have to work for the airlines to make a living as an airplane mechanic,” he said. “We’ve made a pretty good living working on airplanes right here.”

They had the first license he received in 1968 up until his last one.

“They had all my licenses compiled,” Bridges said. “I am one of 3,500 other aviation mechanics across the country to have this award.”

The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics.

“It’s a huge deal,” said his daughter Liz Hansen, who works at The Flight Shop, her father’s airplane maintenance and repair business. “In 1968 he got his first license for airframe, and powerplant repair for airplanes and he has received one every year since then.”

“Craig Hulse started working with Bill out of high school and became a successful mechanic,” Liz said. “He is now taking most of the mechanical duties.”

As a family-built and privately owned business that prioritize large-scale capabilities with small-shop attention, their technicians are IA and A&P certified and are experienced enough to handle most critical service needs and still care about every detail.

Read the full article here.

In October 2020, James “Jim” Marvin earned the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.

The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award is an honor presented by the United States Federal Aviation Administration in honor of Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight. The award recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior aviation mechanics. Taylor served as the Wright brothers’ mechanic and is credited with designing and building the engine for their first successful aircraft.

James “Jim” Marvin served in the United States Air Force for 20 years as an aircraft mechanic and also worked as an aircraft mechanic, supervisor and Chief Inspector with Piedmont Airlines for 30 years. Working 50 years in aviation maintenance and spending a minimum of 30 years as a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-certified mechanic.

During his time in the military, Jim worked on B-52 aircraft in Rome, New York and 135 refueling aircraft in Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada. After re-enlisting, Jim was stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware where he served 16 years working on C-5 cargo planes and obtained his Airframe and Powerplant license. He retired as a Master Sergeant.

Jim later joined Piedmont Airlines on August 15, 1990 as a mechanic in Salisbury, Maryland. He began his career with Piedmont working on the aircraft that remained overnight and was later promoted to several positions of increased responsibility including RON Maintenance Supervisor, Quality Control Supervisor and the position of Chief Inspector which he held for fifteen years.