 Taye Yemeru really wanted to go to the coast with his wife that Friday.
He requested the day off work, but was denied. Yemeru's boss at the Federal Aviation Administration's Certificate Management Office in Hillsboro told him he had to be there for an important training session. Expecting a work meeting, Yemeru entered a carpeted room filled with family, friends, coworkers and U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, who all greeted him with smiles and cheers or applause. Bonamici presented Yemeru with the FAA's Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, which honors selected senior mechanics who have worked in aviation maintenance for at least 50 years and are U.S. citizens, in a surprise ceremony earlier this month at his workplace. Yemeru plans to retire at the end of the year after 57 years as an aviation mechanic, he said. It was the first Charles Taylor award Bonamici has presented, and the opportunity was "a great honor," she said. Five Washington County residents have received the award: Four from Hillsboro and one from Beaverton, spokeswoman Alexandra Gilliland said in an email.
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 Leo Sawatzki, retired manager of engine acquisition and sales and a long-time aircraft technician with Duncan Aviation, has received the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.
The award is named in honor of Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight. Taylor served as the Wright brothers’ mechanic and is credited with designing and building the engine for their first successful aircraft. Recipients must have worked for 50 years in an aviation maintenance career. They must have been an FAA-certificated mechanic or repairman working on N-registered aircraft maintained under the federal aviation regulations for a minimum of 30 of the 50 years required. As of June 2022, 3,207 mechanics have earned the award. Sawatzki was awarded this recognition in 2020, but the pandemic delayed its presentation. During a reception held at Duncan Aviation, Leo and his wife Linda were honored and presented the award by Owen Grimm, FAA FAASTeam Program Manager.  During a special ceremony held April 5, 2023, the FAA awarded its Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award to Long Island aviation mechanic Ed Libassi.
Named in honor of Charles Taylor, the Wright brothers’ mechanic who designed and built the engine for their first successful flight, the award is given only to those with more than 50 years of aviation service, honoring an individual’s lifetime accomplishments, sacrifice, and dedication to the aviation industry. More than 50 people, including Ed’s family and friends, were on hand when representatives of the FAA presented him with the award during a special ceremony. Ed, 70, is the owner and president of A&P Aircraft Maintenance at Long Island Mac Arthur Airport (KISP) in New York. Joe Lienau, a Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin native who lives in Fish Creek, Wisconsin, was recently awarded the Federal Aviation Agency’s (FAA) highest, most prestigious awards: the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award and the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. The awards recognize 50 continuous years of exemplary aviation flight experience, professionalism and steadfast commitment to aviation safety. Fewer than 1% of all pilots and mechanics in the United States have ever received both awards. Lienau is one of two recipients in Wisconsin.   NetJets Maintenance Technician Justin Siak recently received the Charles Taylor “Master Mechanic” Award, for 50 years in aviation maintenance, from the Federal Aviation Administration.The award ceremony was held on Aug. 15, 2015 and the audience included Justin’s family, present and former co-workers and representatives from the greater aviation community.
Mark Harden, FAA FAAST Team Coordinator for the Columbus, Ohio FSDO presented the award. Justin began his aviation career in 1962 as an Aviation Machinist. He served as a Troubleshooter in the VS-22 “Checkmates”, anti-submarine warfare squadron aboard the USS Lake Champlain, USS Wasp and USS Essex. Following his military service, he attended Pittsburg Institute of Aeronautics and was hired by Delta Airlines as a Line Maintenance Technician in 1969. After retiring from Delta in 1999, he joined NetJets, Inc. where he currently serves as an AMT.  A Southeastern Oklahoma State University aviation adjunct instructor is the recipient of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) prestigious Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.
The award is named in honor of the first aviation mechanic in powered flight and recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics. Charles Taylor served as the Wright brothers’ mechanic and is credited with designing and building the engine for their first successful aircraft. According to a press release, that instructor is Drew Spears, who served for 20 years on active duty in the United States Air Force. Since 2005, Spears has been employed at Tinker AFB, AAR Corporation, Mundo-Tech Inc., L-3Com Vertex, Dassault Falcon Jet, Ozark Aircraft System, and Pratt-Whitney. Spears has held an Airframe & Powerplant mechanic’s license since 1980, keeping hundreds of aircraft airworthy and safe to fly.  Rob Danzi was honored with the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award from the Federal Aviation Administration. The award is named after Charles E. Taylor, 1868-1956, who built the first aircraft engine used by the Wright brothers in their Wright Flyer aircraft. His mechanical skills were vital in building and maintaining the Wright brothers’ engines and airplanes. So too, Danzi’s skills have been equally vital in building and maintaining his clients’ varied aircraft for many decades. All the support letters for the Taylor award attest to that notion.
The private event took place at Danzi’s current business office and hangar for Sussex Aero Maintenance at the Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown. Fellow aviators and mechanics surprised Danzi when they arrived early in the afternoon. They returned his biography and resume, and gave him their letters of recommendation, which were part of the nominating application submitted last October. They presented him with a complete airman file documenting his service from December 1969 through Oct. 10, 2021. The documents detail more than 50 years of Danzi’s steady employment, completed and sealed by the Airmen Certification Branch of the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation. Lastly, Danzi’s colleagues presented him with the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award in recognition of 50 years of exemplary aviation maintenance experience, distinguished professionalism and steadfast commitment to aviation safety. Joe Huffman, Sr., an FAA Certification Engineer with Duncan Aviation, and Bernard Michael, a former long-time technician with Duncan Aviation, were recently honored as recipients of the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. A third aviation technician, George Czarnecki of Central Cylinder Service in Omaha, was also presented with the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. The Nebraska Aviation Mechanics Seminar committee and the FAA presented them with the awards at a banquet. The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award is named in honor of Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight. Taylor served as the Wright brothers’ mechanic and is credited with designing and building the engine for their first successful aircraft. The award recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics. Award recipients are required to have worked for 50 years in an aviation maintenance career and must have been an FAA-certificated mechanic or repairman working on N-registered aircraft for a minimum of 30 of the 50 years required.  The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, named after the Wright brothers’ mechanic credited with designing and building the engine for their first successful aircraft, recognizes individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill and aviation expertise for at least 50 years in the aircraft maintenance profession known as “master mechanics.” Stringent requirements for the award include a 50-year career in aviation without a single FAA violation (30 of those years as a certified mechanic, repairman or avionics technician) and three recommendations from FAA mechanics or repairmen. Recently, the names of three American Airlines team members were added to the official Roll of Honor:
Dennis Staffier, Aircraft Maintenance Technician, BOS Dennis Staffier always found the idea of working in aviation appealing. He enjoyed taking things apart when he was growing up, and he grew up next to the airport, so enlisting in the U.S. Air Force after he graduated high school was the next step to making it happen. Dennis then attended East Coast Aero Tech, where he received his Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license. After a stint with Butler Aviation, he went to work for Allegheny Airlines, where he’s been for the past 47 years through its transition to American Airlines. Bob Kopec, Aircraft Maintenance Technician, MIA Bob Kopec II began his career in aircraft maintenance with American Airlines in Los Angeles in 1966. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and worked as a jet fighter crew chief for four years before joining the airline. One of his first assignments with American was to work on the Boeing 707 and 727. After three years, he relocated to Dallas Love Field for a year, then relocated to San Diego where he spent the next 22 years. In 1986, he made the move to MIA where he has been working ever since. Norm Oakley, Inspector, CLT Growing up, Norm Oakley knew he wanted to do something as a mechanic, but he took a longer road to get to aircraft maintenance. He started working with Reynolds Tobacco out of high school, with a goal of hiring on at Piedmont Airlines. He persisted in checking openings, even quitting his job with Reynolds so he could be available for Piedmont. His persistence paid off and he was hired in 1966. During his time, he worked interiors and heavy maintenance, before becoming an inspector in 1977. His work has taken him around North Carolina, with a brief stint as a Boeing 767 engine inspector in Scotland, before he landed at CLT in 1989. Each of these men received a distinctive certificate and lapel pin. The FAA even gave them the option of requesting a stickpin — similar in design to the lapel pin — for their wives in recognition of their support of the recipients’ aviation maintenance careers.  Gary Hoyle, Director of Campus Operations at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA), was honored by the FAA this week as the recipient of the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. The awards ceremony was a testament to Gary and his 50+ year aviation career. Henrik Vejl Strup of the FAA gave a brief history of Charles Taylor and his impact on aviation. Wendy Grimm, Office Manager of Allegheny FSDO, presented Gary and his wife Sharon with the award. Jason Pfarr, Dean of Academics of PIA, and Suzanne Markle, President and CEO of PIA, also spoke at the ceremony.
Surrounded by friends, family, and coworkers, Gary spoke of his first visits to PIA in high school, where he ultimately enrolled as a student. After earning his A&P, he worked for Sikorsky Aircraft, United, and the U.S. Army. His time as a mechanic prepared Gary for the various roles he took on at PIA starting in October 1973. |
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.
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