Dale 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, the award honors mechanics who have 50 years of civil and/or military maintenance experience with no violations.

Dale 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.

​“He added quality into the inspection process and increased awareness, safety, and efficiency for the entire MRO department as the floor inspector,” officials add.
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“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.

Dwight Jarboe, former CEO of Missionary Maintenance Services Inc. (MMS), was recently awarded the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award from FAA Safety Team Manager Mark Harden. The award is given to aircraft mechanics who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years in the aircraft maintenance profession.

“I’m honored by it [the award],” said Jarboe. “I feel honored. Years of work are recognized and I think it’s appreciated. It’s a good feeling and I value the award. It’s not just a little consequence to me. I value it.”

​There is a process to apply for this prestigious award. Applicants must send in a resume of their service over the years which the FAA reviews for consideration. Each applicant must also supply three letters of recommendation from other mechanics and fill out an application.

Celebrating a lifetime of work in the aviation field, George Perrin, senior manager of tech ops training, Spirit Airlines, was awarded the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award earlier this year. Recently, Perrin was the keynote speaker for MIAT College of Technology’s 2023 graduating class of the airframe and power plant program. He was presented the award at the graduation to illustrate that aviation industry can provide a long, rewarding career.

“Receiving the Charles Taylor Award is to me almost like an animation. It's like you don't really run a clock on yourself on how long you've been doing something in one area, until something like the Charles Taylor Award comes around. And to understand that it's been truly more than 50 years in the airline and the aviation industry is a dose of reality, a lot of years have passed.
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The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award awarded by the FAA recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior aviation mechanics and is given to mechanics who have exhibited exemplary aviation expertise, distinguished professionalism, and steadfast commitment for at least 50 years of aviation maintenance experience.  The award presentation is scheduled for August 2024 in Sebastian, Florida.

Richard "Skip" Anderson, an employee at Cobalt Aero Services, was recently recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration in a surprise ceremony, where he was presented the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award for 50 years of service in aviation maintenance.

The award recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics and is named in honor of the first aviation mechanic in powered flight, Charles Taylor, who served as the Wright brothers' mechanic. Taylor is credited with designing and building the engine for their first successful aircraft.
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"I'm very humbled quite by all of this; I have modified some bicycles in my day, but I don't think I'll be building any engines anytime soon," Anderson said laughing after a presentation on Taylor, who got his start fixing bicycles. "I just appreciate all of this and working with you all, and it just makes a nice finish to a little career."

Anderson received a certified Blue Ribbon package along with his award, containing copies of his airman records and his award certificates.

FAA Wichita FSDO Aviation Safety Inspector Rick Stevens presented Bob Hays with the Charles Taylor and Wright Brothers awards at the B-29 Doc Hangar, Education and Visitors Center on Nov. 21, 2023

The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award awarded by the FAA recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior aviation mechanics and is given to mechanics who have exhibited exemplary aviation expertise, distinguished professionalism, and steadfast commitment for at least 50 years of aviation maintenance experience.

The Wright Brothers award is to recognize individuals who have exhibited exemplary aviation expertise, distinguished professionalism, and steadfast commitment for at least 50 years of piloting experience or 50 or more years combined experience in both piloting and aircraft operations.

​“When I took that first flight lesson in 1967, I had no idea it would lead to nearly 60 years of being hooked on aviation and flying,” Bob said. “I’ve been blessed to have a career that has allowed me to work with so many people in an ever-changing and evolving industry that has helped to connect people and make air travel safe for so many people. I am humbled to receive these honors and recognition from the FAA, and I look forward to continuing to volunteer and work with my fellow B-29 Doc maintainers to keep Doc flying for generations to come.”

James “Jim” Nunnelee was recently surprised by members of the Experimental Aviation Association at the Carson City Airport when representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration presented him with two significant awards that recognize over 50 years of aviation prowess.

Nunnelee received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award and the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award on March 20.  Eligibility for both awards are for pilots and senior aviation mechanics who have at least 50 years of experience in being a pilot and operation; and in aviation maintenance industry, for the Master Mechanic Award, 30 of these years must have been served as an FAA-certified mechanic or repairman.

Federal Aviation Administration Safety Team Program Manager Larry Cheek said that in all his years of presenting the awards only a handful have received both. Only 3,470 people have received the Master Mechanic Award and 8,410 Wright Brothers Mater Pilot awards.

Nunnelee, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, began his aviation experience earning his student pilot certificate in April 1958. In November of the same year he earned his A&P Mechanic Certificate. Three years later he received his Private Pilot Certificate and in 1978 enhanced his aviation mechanics resume with his Inspection Authorization Certificate.

He earned his degree in aircraft maintenance technology and also as an instructor in the aviation department for Glendale Community College in Southern California. Throughout his career, he was with Boeing, Western A/L, Lockheed and Aerojet.

Retiring to Carson Valley in the 1980s, Nunnelee immediately turned his passion for aviation into giving back and helping youth to discover the career opportunities available in the aviation field..

John "Corky" Gill served several years in military and aviation field. Today, he was honored with the FAA's Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. Highly regarded as their most prestigious award, the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award awarded by the FAA recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior aviation mechanics and is given to mechanics who have exhibited exemplary aviation expertise, distinguished professionalism, and steadfast commitment for at least 50 years of aviation maintenance experience.

People flooded the Harris Hill Youth Camp reception hall to help honor Corky and celebrate him and his achievements. Many of those people were members of the Harris Hill Soaring community where Corky has spent a lot of his time. He mentioned he recorded having over 8,300 flights in the glider.

An attendee at the event even referred to Corky as "the grandfather of Harris Hill."

In addition to honoring Corky with the award, a surprise was organized on his behalf.

"I was very happy to see that and, not just one Thunderbird, but a few, several of them there," said Corky, the award recipient. "That made me real happy because the Thunderbirds was a big three and a half years of my career in the Air Force and I'll never forget that."