|
PAMA provides scholarships and awards to aviation maintenance professionals.
Applications for the 2026 season are due in 7 days! The deadline to apply is March 2, 2026. Eligibility requirements are as follows unless otherwise indicated in specific award descriptions, below:
Scholarship applications must include:
The number of awards available is dependent on funds received. For more information on supporting the maintenance professional awards and scholarships, email [email protected] or contact PAMA scholarship chair Ron Zilberbrand. Please note: relatives of PAMA directors are not eligible for scholarship awards. Jack D. Prewitt Memorial Scholarship, provided by PistonPower, Inc. Two $1,000 awards. JSFirm.com Aviation Mechanic Student Award One $1500 award The awards are provided to current or recent aviation maintenance students. Monetary Awards may be used towards the purchase of tools, tuition or other education-related expenses.
0 Comments
At the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA), we believe in celebrating the foundational work that keeps our industry soaring. There is no higher tribute to the dedication and expertise of senior mechanics than the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.
Named in honor of Charles E. Taylor—the Wright brothers' mechanic and the first aviation mechanic in powered flight—this prestigious award recognizes those who have spent half a century ensuring the safety and reliability of aircraft. Who was Charles Taylor? Mr. Taylor was a visionary machinist who built the aluminum-copper, four-cylinder engine for the Wright brothers' first successful flight in just six weeks. Today, his legacy lives on not only through this award but also through his image on FAA mechanic certificates and the celebration of Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Day on his birthday, May 24. Eligibility Requirements This award is the FAA's most prestigious honor for individuals certificated under Title 14 CFR Part 65. To be considered for the "Roll of Honor," nominees must meet these rigorous criteria:
How to Apply Recognition of such a milestone is a significant event for both the recipient and the aviation community. If you or someone you know meets these milestones:
Celebrate the Masters Recipients of this award receive a distinctive certificate and are added to the official Roll of Honor on FAASafety.gov. As of early 2026, over 3,500 dedicated professionals have been honored with this distinction. "The award is very important for the mechanics because it is one of the few forms of recognition that you have for a career—an unblemished career." — John Goglia, PAMA Contributor and Award Recipient  The NTSB report of a fatal Piper Navajo crash in Medford, Oregon in December 2021 leaves important aviation safety questions unanswered. This fatal crash is attributed to spatial disorientation but facts available lead to serious questions about the fuel tanks and more.
The pilot had flown from his home in Nevada to Medford but had to have the fuel system repaired. Days later when the repairs were complete, the pilot took off in low ceiling conditions. The aircraft made a sharp right turn, entered the clouds, and then descended sharply, with the pilot pulling up shortly before hitting the ground After reentering the clouds, the aircraft made an inverted loop and crashed into the ground in a near vertical attitude. The NTSB identified the probable cause as spatial disorientation followed by an uncontrolled descent, with flicker vertigo as a possible factor in the crash. John Goglia and Todd Curtis discuss how the sharp right-hand turn just after takeoff could have been caused by the pilot attempting an immediate emergency landing, possibly due to fuel system issues related to the recent repairs. They also look at the timing of the pilot’s travels to pick up his airplane. The time from his home to the airport was about eight hours. The NTSB noted that the pilot turned in his rental car less than 45 minutes before the accident. Did he do sufficient preflight checks? Was he sufficiently rested? We are only 2 weeks away from the
23rd Annual PAMA DVBAA Maintenance Symposium & IA Renewal Saturday, February 28, 2026 from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm FREE EVENT TO ALL ATTENDEES Attendee & Sponsorship Registration now Open on DVBAA Web site, link below: Note: Several people reached out about issues with the previous link, the new link below shouldn't be blocked by Apple devices 23rd Annual PAMA DVBAA Maintenance Symposium & IA Renewal Registration Link not working? Visit https://dvbaa.wildapricot.org/event-6410659Deerfield Golf & Tennis Club 507 Thompson Station Rd Newark, Delaware 19711 Event Includes: 8 Hours of IA Approved Training Food and drink included. All Free 2026 Sponsor & Vendor Registration NOW OPEN! Thank you to all of the sponsors below who's support made this years event possible Gold West Star Aviation Lunch Sponsor GoGo Silver Duncan Aviation Concorde Battery Aircraft Specialties TBX (airworthy.com) RealClean Aircraft Detailing Hartzell McFarlane Aviation Goodyear Aerospace Turbine Rotables Polytech School of Aviation Maintenance Engine Assurance Program Aircraft Lighting International Honeywell Velocity Maintenance Solutions Cosgrove Aircraft Service Sierra Nevada Corporation Bronze Solairus Aviation Satys Aerospace Contact Thomas J. Smith President First State Chapter - PAMA 302-256-8695  Calling all future aircraft mechanics! If you're looking to fuel your aviation career without emptying your wallet, the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) is officially accepting applications for its 2026 scholarship season. This is a massive opportunity for students or recent grads from FAA Part 147 schools to get some extra cash and recognition for all that hard work you're putting in on the hangar floor.
Ready to apply? It’s pretty straightforward. First, make sure you're an active PAMA member (if you aren't yet, now is the perfect time to join the crew! For free!). Then, head over to the PAMA Scholarship Page to grab the application form. You’ll need to pull together your proof of enrollment or graduation, and don't forget to ask for those letters of recommendation early—those usually take the most time! Don't let the clock run out! The hard deadline for all your materials is March 2, 2026. Whether you're just starting your training or finishing up your certs, this is your chance to get a head start on your career. Check out the full list of rules and get your packet submitted at the PAMA Scholarship Page before time flies by!  This episode looks at two aviation accident investigations that were highly complex for very different reasons. One is the well-known TWA Flight 800 investigation where John Goglia and Todd Curtis were both directly involved. The other is a lesser-known 2002 crash of a Cessna 208B aircraft that is the subject of a book by author Leslie Kean.
John and Todd review the crash of TWA Flight 800, an investigation where John was involved as an NTSB Board Member and Todd as support for Boeing. They explore the complexity of the investigation and the efforts made to understand the accident. They highlight the massive amount of data in the NTSB Public Docket. A different kind of complexity was involved in the investigation of a Cessna 208B aircraft that lost control and crashed shortly after takeoff from Mobile, Alabama. Leslie Kean covers this investigation in her 2010 book “UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go on the Record.” She calls the accident a UAP event AND Todd agrees. John was also involved in the investigation as a NTSB board member. The NTSB identified the probable cause as spatial disorientation followed by a loss of control. However, one aspect of the accident remains unresolved. Several pieces of the wreckage have red streaks that could not be matched to aviation paint used on civilian or military aircraft. Several organizations were involved in this investigation. Despite multiple analyses of the red streaks, they could not be explained. Ready to meet the folks steering the ship?
SoCal PAMA (Professional Aviation Maintenance Association) has officially locked in its leadership lineup for 2026. It’s an exciting year ahead for the Southern California chapter as they continue to support the aviation maintenance community with fresh energy and experienced hands at the helm. Meet Your 2026 SoCal PAMA Board
What’s Next? With this new board in place, SoCal PAMA is doubling down on its mission to provide top-tier networking, educational resources, and advocacy for aviation professionals across the region. Whether you're a veteran mechanic or a student just starting your journey, these are the leaders dedicated to helping you soar. Stay tuned for the 2026 event calendar—we’ve got some big things in the hangar! Email inquiries: [email protected]  In a live episode for members recorded on Jan 26, John Goglia and Greg Feith talk about their first findings related to Sunday’s crash a Bombardier Challenger 600.
Both are familiar with the plane and share the issues that need investigating and the steps the NTSB is likely to take on scene. Investigators need to talk to people present that day and learn what happened leading up to the flight. They also will need to look into whether the plane was deiced, when and what fluid was used. Runway conditions could have been a factor in aircraft and engine performance. |
pama newsGet the latest trade association news. Got something to contribute? Email [email protected]. Archives
March 2026
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
