Blog Posts - Professional Aviation Maintenance Association

MAster MEchanic Michael McGuire

8/23/2023

The Niagara Aerospace Museum was pleased to host the 2023 FAA Charles Taylor Master Mechanics Awards, honoring Michael McGuire. The FAA 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. Read more here.

MAster MEchanic Jack Bush

8/23/2023

The Niagara Aerospace Museum was pleased to host the 2023 FAA Charles Taylor Master Mechanics Awards, honoring Jack Bush. The FAA 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. Read more here.

Master Mechanic John Chapman

8/23/2023

The Niagara Aerospace Museum was pleased to host the 2023 FAA Charles Taylor Master Mechanics Awards, honoring John Chapman. The FAA 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. Read more here.

Master Mechanic Larry Owen

7/23/2023

Larry Owen, owner and operator of L&M Aircraft, Inc. at Richard B. Russell Regional Airport, has been recognized with the prestigious Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. Owen received his Airframe and Powerplant license in 1971. He joined the Air Force and worked on KC-135s in Okinawa and Tokyo. In 1975, he returned to Chattanooga to work at Tennessee Airmotive on small, private aircraft.In 1976, he moved to Rome and founded L&M Aircraft a year later. He’s operated the business out of the Rome airport since 1977 as an A&P rated mechanic with inspection authorization privileges. Read more here.

Master Mechanic Richard Anderson

7/23/2023

Richard "Skip" Anderson, of Hot Springs, AR 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. Read more here.

Master Mechanic William Birch

5/23/2023

William (Bill) Birch of Traverse City, MI received the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, the highest honor that a civilian can earn from the FAA. Birch has been a mechanic since 1973. He is now officially retired and had some parting words of wisdom for those in his field. “Pay attention to what you do. Always have integrity and, you know, enjoy what you do. Make sure you enjoy what you do above all. And it doesn’t seem like work. I’ve enjoyed this thoroughly. Worked on small airplanes, large jets. It’s been a ride, been fun,” Birch said. Birch plans to do more traveling in his retirement and spend more time with family. Read more here.

Recipients have 50 or more years of civil and military maintenance experience and hold a U.S. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mechanic or repairman certificate. The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award is named in honor of Mr. Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight. Mr. Taylor served as the Wright brothers' mechanic and is credited with designing and building the engine for their first successful aircraft.

Master Mechanic Henry Williamson

5/23/2023

Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration stopped by the Conway airport to present Henry Williamson of H & H Air Service with the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, which recognizes senior aviation mechanics for their lifetime accomplishments in the aeronautics field.

With over 50 years in the industry, he says keeping his customers safe in the blue skies, is more important than the national and other statewide awards he has been honored with over the years. “The enjoyment is when you get through working on a plane, push it out, run it and everything works,” Williamson said. “It makes you feel good. You want to do it right.” Read more here.

Master Mechanic Fred Dyen

3/23/2023

Master Mechanic Fred Dyen, of Blue Ridge Community College, received the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award; his name will be placed on the Roll of Honor. The prestigious Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics. It was presented to Fred Dyen by FAA Aircraft Maintenance Division Manager Kevin Morgan.

Dyen has more than 50 years of service as an FAA-certified mechanic and has been a zealous advocate for aviation technician education. Dyen has served decades as an ATEC director and committee member and has been steadfast in his pursuit of common-sense FAA regulatory oversight. He led the charge for FAA approval of distance learning for aviation maintenance education and was the first to achieve approval for his A&P program under the old part 147. Dyen was intimately involved in ATEC’s pursuit of regulatory reform and was instrumental to the council’s legislative efforts to promulgate a new part 147. Read more here.

Master Mechanic John Bishop

3/23/2023

John Bishop was awarded the very prestigious Charles Tayler award, by the FAA, for his 50 years of outstanding service and safety record. 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. Read more here.

Master Mechanic Ed Libassi

1/1/2023

The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award was given to Ed Libassi. In recognition for more than 50 years of aviation service, the award honors an individual’s lifetime accomplishments and dedication to the aviation industry.

Libassi started his career as an aircraft mechanic at Eastern Airlines, Kennedy Airport, and worked there for 16 years until Eastern went out of business in 1991. He then opened the doors to A&P Aircraft Maintenance at age 19. Dedicated to Long Island; as the business grew, he moved his general aviation repair shop from Bayport, Brookhaven, to MacArthur Airport. He handled the emergency maintenance for all LI MacArthur airlines from 2003 to 2018.

The aircraft mechanic has recovered airplanes that crashed on beaches, residential properties, and so much more. He opened A&P Aviation Consulting in 2011, to provide investigation services in accidents related to aircraft and engine maintenance. Libassi is a licensed FAA Aircraft and Powerplant mechanic with Inspection Authority (IA); a certified DAR-T; a Director of Maintenance for 135 and 141 operators. Read more here.