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.
​
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.
​
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.