2020 National GA Award Honorees, Wolter Named Technician of the Year

Every year for more than 50 years, the General Aviation Awards program and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have recognized aviation professionals for their contributions to general aviation in the fields of flight instruction, aviation maintenance/avionics, and safety.

Recipients of the 2020 National General Aviation Awards included Dennis Robert Wolter of Cincinnati, Ohio, who was named 2020 Aviation Technician of the Year.

Dennis graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Design. After graduation, he taught engineering and aviation maintenance at Cincinnati State Technical College from 1970 to 1973. He received his mechanic airframe rating in 1972, his powerplant rating in 1984, and inspection authorization in 1999.

In 1973, Dennis founded Air Mod with the goal of designing, fabricating and installing interiors in general aviation piston aircraft. His company became known throughout the country as a premier aircraft renovation facility, bringing old-school craftsmanship and innovative design to every project. State of the art interiors, custom instrument panels, improved soundproofing, ventilation and lighting upgrades, ergonomic comfort, safety enhancements, and other modifications are all executed to the highest standards.

Dennis served on the board of the Great Oaks career and technical education school system in Wilmington, Ohio, serving on their aviation program development committee. Over the past four decades, he has presented numerous seminars about interior renovation, corrosion, aging aircraft issues and compliance with FAA regulations at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and at Sun 'n Fun. He has given similar presentations at AOPA and American Bonanza Society (ABS) conventions and Cessna Pilots Association (CPA) fly-ins. In 2019, at the request of the ABS Air Safety Foundation, Dennis gave a three-hour presentation on aging aircraft issues that was videotaped and placed on the ABS website as a tool to educate Beech owners how to keep their airplanes in airworthy condition.

The FAA will present individual awards to each National Honoree in July during EAA AirVenture 2020 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and their names will be added to the large perpetual plaque located in the lobby of the EAA AirVenture Museum. Also included in the prize package for each National Honoree is an all-expenses-paid trip to Oshkosh to attend the awards presentation and other special GA Awards activities.

“I am very excited to announce the selection of the National Honorees for the 2020 General Aviation Awards,” said GA Awards board chairman Sandya Narayanswami, “These awards highlight the important role played by these individuals in promoting aviation education and flight safety,” she added, “The awards program sponsors are pleased that these outstanding aviation professionals will receive the recognition they so richly deserve before their peers in Oshkosh.”

This awards program is a partnership and a cooperative effort between the FAA and more than a dozen sponsoring organizations from the aviation industry, including PAMA. The selection process begins with local offices. Panels of aviation professionals from within those four fields then select national winners from the pool of regional winners. 

For more information, visit ​https://mailchi.mp/1083da19cd6a/2019-regional-ga-award-honorees-named-3900262?e=e17da5bca4 

---