Nominations are open for the General Aviation (GA) Awards Program. Help an outstanding colleague gain the recognition they richly deserve. Download a nomination form at www.generalaviationawards.com/nominations, complete and submit it to your local FSDO office by September 30.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and industry sponsors began the GA Awards Program in 1963 to recognize outstanding Aviation Maintenance Technicians. Each year, the program recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to aviation safety, education and professionalism at local, regional, and national levels. “These awards highlight the important role played by these individuals in promoting aviation education and flight safety,” said JoAnn Hill, National GA Awards Committee co-chair. “The awards program sponsors and supporters are pleased that these outstanding aviation professionals are receiving the recognition they so richly deserve.”

On March 16, 2014 the program announced the recipients of the 2014 national awards, including Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year Max Lloyd Burnette of Rockvale, Tenn. (featured in the July hotline).

The annual GA Awards nomination and judging process takes place over a nine-month period. All nominees must have worked in their respective fields for at least five years and hold valid FAA airman certificates, if required. Aviation Maintenance Technician candidates must be actively working within the United States under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 65. After the FSDOs choose local winners, FAA Regional Offices select regional recipients from the local winner pools. Finally, panels comprised of previous national winners choose the national recipients. The national award winners are announced in early March and formally recognized at Experimental Aircraft Association Airventure in Oshkosh, Wis., in July.

The general timeline for the GA Awards nomination and selection process is as follows:

• 7/1–9/30: Nomination packets accepted at FAA FSDOs
• 10/1–11/14: FSDO judges select local winners
• 11/15: Local winners announced
• 11/16–12/31: FAA Regional Office judges select regional winners
• 1/1: Regional winners announced
• 1/2–2/28: Industry peer judges select national winners
• 3/1: National winners announced

To learn more about the General Aviation Awards Program, visit www.generalaviationawards.com.

If you submit a nomination, let ARSA know.

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