 Dale Arthur Meiler, floor inspector at Banyan Air Service, was recently honored as a recipient of the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Meiler is one of only 3,018 recipients of The Charles Taylor Award, the most prestigious FAA award to an aviation maintenance technician. Named in honor of Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight, award recipients are required to have 50 years of civil and/or military maintenance experience with no violations.
Meiler began his aviation maintenance career in the U.S. Army as a helicopter mechanic and served in the Vietnam War. After the military, he graduated from Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University with his A&P License. Meiler joined Banyan Air Service in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sept. 9, 1983, as the lead technician. During those early years, Meiler was crucial to Banyan’s maintenance department’s certification because of his experience and relationship with the FAA. He added quality into the inspection process and increased awareness, safety, and efficiency for the entire MRO department as the Floor Inspector. “It was an honor and a pleasure to work with a man of Dale’s caliber. His professionalism and integrity served as bookends to his core commitment to quality and our customers’ safety,” said Lewis Homsher, quality manager of MRO Services at Banyan Air Service. Meiler has mentored countless junior technicians and has been promoted to several positions of increased responsibilities during his 37 years with the Banyan team. Dale was also the recipient of the NATA Technician of the Year award in 2006. Banyan is proud to have been a part of Dale’s invaluable career in the aviation industry and congratulate him on his retirement.
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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.  TRIBUTE TO THOMAS H. WARDLEIGH
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I pay tribute to Mr. Thomas H. Wardleigh, Alaskan aviation legend, who left us for new horizons on July 7, 2004, following a long battle with cancer. A World War II Navy veteran, Tom moved to Alaska in 1951 and continued his aviation career as a mechanic with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, keeping its fleet of Grumman aircraft in operation for decades. He completed his federal service at the Federal Aviation Administration. He then devoted the rest of his life to promoting safety enhancements for Alaskan aviation. In 1984 he became chairman of the Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation and produced more than 1,000 weekly episodes of a TV show called ``Hangar Flying'' which was broadcast all over Alaska. Because of the value of the instruction, the national organization, Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association, recently gave a grant to the University of Alaska Archives to transfer all of the programs to DVD so that future aviators will be able to learn from his timeless wisdom. Tom Wardleigh logged over 33,000 flight hours in numerous types of aircraft. He was in great demand as an advanced flight instructor, and was one of the few multiengine sea plane instructors. Many, many Alaskan pilots were Tom's students over the years. Although he was a tenacious fighter, Wardleigh was soft spoken, friendly, and always a gentleman, perhaps some reasons he was such a successful advocate for aviation safety enhancement, whether in education or technology. He was most recently instrumental in the development of the FAA Capstone Project which has been credited as a significant factor in lowering the accident rate in rural Alaska. While his work was primarily in Alaska, Tom participated in forums and projects all over the United States as well as in other countries whose aviation leaders often came to Alaska to personally seek Tom's advice on developing their safety programs. he list of commendations Tom had received over the years is long, and includes AOPA's Laurence P. Sharples' national award in 1994 for his lifetime of service. Last year, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey personally recognized Tom with one of the agency's most significant honors in U.S. civil aviation, the Distinguished Service Award--this in addition to having previously bestowed on him the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic and the Wright Brothers' Master Pilot Awards. While Tom Wardleigh may have taken his last flight, pilots and passengers alike will fondly remember this special aviator as they turn onto Wardleigh Drive at the Anchorage Ted Stevens International Airport. [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov] [Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13] [Senate] [Pages 17062-17063] Perry Siler has been awarded the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award to recognise his contributions to aviation safety for over 50 years. He will receive the award in November 2025 in Florida alongside his friends, customers, and colleagues. Born in Kentucky, Siler first ventured into aviation in 1973 by earning his FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) License at the Somerset Aero Technical School. His career began at Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. (PHI) as a mechanic, rising to Maintenance Supervisor, African Operations. From there, he held roles at Arizona Rotorcraft, Africair, Air Services, and Keystone Engine Services, where he still acts as a consultant. He then moved over to Precision Aviation Group (PAG), where he helped to develop operator relationships within Africa, the Middle East, and Hawaii. “I’ve been fortunate to be able to focus on what I do best, which is supporting my customers,” said Siler. “I have known and worked with Perry Siler for thirty-five years,” commented Mark Tyler, Vice President and General Manager of Precision Aircraft Services. “As an A&P and as a person, Perry has always displayed honesty and integrity as his core values and demonstrates exceptional skill in aircraft maintenance. He takes immense pride in his work and has established safety as job one. It is with great honour that I recommend Perry Siler for the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.  Involved in aviation for more than 60 years, including 51 years as a licensed aircraft maintenance technician, Lynton Scott of Trinity Center, CA, received special recognition from the FAA in March when he was presented the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic award during the FAA’s annual Airworthiness Inspector Certificate Renewal symposium in Reno.
Lyn Scott started his aviation career as a gun turret system mechanic on B-50 bombers in 1951 at Walker AFB in Roswell, NM. He later became an A&P mechanic, earned a bachelor’s degree in aircraft maintenance engineering from Northrop Aeronautical Institute in 1959, and obtained his A&P mechanic license from the FAA the same year. He worked for United Airlines as a mechanic when the airline was transitioning from props to jets and also taught mechanics to adult students in San Francisco. In his hometown of Trinity Center, he operates an airplane repair facility at the Trinity Center airport. In addition to his mechanic’s license, he holds a commercial pilot’s license with instrument rating and a ground instructor’s license. Scott says he considers receiving the Charles Taylor award a great honor in memory of “a true mechanical genius” and that after more than 60 years in aviation “I still get a thrill every time I see an airplane land or take off.”  It's been cold in Robert Menier's Newfoundland garage. After-dinner airplane fabrication has occasionally been out of the question.
A U.S. Air Force veteran, Menier's retirement hobby is slightly more complex and expensive than most. Fabricating a light recreational airplane similar to a Piper Cub from plans is also risky, he admits. "Sometimes it's a little chilly down there," said Menier. "I have a heater in there now, so that may help it out." Menier is not a pilot. Still, he is especially qualified, said Don Provost, the treasurer and newsletter editor for Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 501. "Bob Menier is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge of the parts that go into the airframe of a corporate jet," he said. "[He knows] what can and must be done safely to keep them in good repair." The claim is backed up by evidence, according to officials at the Federal Aviation Administration. Later this February, they will award the West Milford native with their Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. At the 2025 National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) honored James “Jim” Janaitis Sr. with the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, recognizing a 50-year career of dedicated service in aviation maintenance and commitment to aviation safety. Dave Schiavone of the FAA Safety Team gave the award to Janaitis, who spent 25 years as director of maintenance for IBM Flight Operations. Janaitis also served as chair of NBAA’s Maintenance Committee and co-founded the NBAA Connectivity Subcommittee. In his career, spanning five decades, Janaitis earned credentials such as:
Before joining IBM, he worked for Canadair and Bombardier, rising from a technician to chief inspector over 14 years. Janaitis retired in 2021 but consults for business aviation companies. According to the FAA, the award celebrates “exemplary aviation expertise, distinguished professionalism and steadfast commitment” to aviation maintenance. In 1903, Charles Taylor designed and built the engine for the Wright brothers’ first successful flight. His namesake award honors individuals with at least 50 years of dedicated service in aviation maintenance. “Jim embodies the very best of our industry—a passion for aviation maintenance, a commitment to innovation, and a deep sense of responsibility to safety,” said Stewart D’Leon, NBAA’s senior director for environmental & technical operations. D’Leon continued, “His impact is evident not only in the aircraft he has maintained, but in the lives and careers of those he has mentored. We are proud to celebrate Jim’s remarkable contributions and congratulate him on receiving the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.” When Janaitis is not working, he maintains his Cessna 182, travels with his wife, Terry, and spends time with his three sons and six grandchildren.  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.
Eligibility To be eligible for the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, nominees must meet the following criteria:
To Apply Follow application procedures located in the current Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award Information Guide. Contact your local FSDO for more information. If you have additional questions, or if you are a Master Mechanic Award recipient and your name is not on this list, please contact your local FAASTeam Program Manager. Click here to view the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award Roll of Honor.  On September 23rd, 2025, Darrell Hughes, from the DFW FAA Safety Team, presented Joseph "Ski" Suszczynski with the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.
Ski was a graduate of Aviation High School, Class of 1973 and Extended 12th, which was completed in January 1974. From Ski, "I could not find an aviation job so I enlisted in the USAF as a jet engine mechanic. I spent 20 years working on T56 engines which were used on C-130 Hercules aircraft in different roles, engine shop, flight line, test cell, engine records, and was a USAF Master Instructor, teaching T56 engines, 54H60-91 Propellers and GTC85-71A gas turbine engines. During that time also taught general, airframe and powerplant courses for the University of Embry Riddle. After my Air Force career, I went to work for Raytheon Aerospace performing MRO on T56 engines for 4 years. Then joined StandardAero where I worked T56 engines for 23 years then switched to Rolls Royce Spey and Tay engines. My current role is a Training Manager." The award was presented at StandardAero DFW Center of Excellence, which is a FAA Part 145 Jet Engine MRO facility, in front of staff, Ski's family and friends.  After five decades in the industry, Denver-based Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor Stan G. still gains so much from mentoring and training new hires and says, "even after 50 years in this business, I'm still learning!" Stan recently received the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, the FAA's highest honor recognizing the lifetime accomplishments of senior aircraft technicians. But what's just as impressive: in his 36 years at United, he has perfect attendance—never missing a single day of scheduled work.
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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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