Midwest aviation professionals have fared well in receiving General Aviation awards in 2012 for their contributions to aviation, education, and flight safety. The GA Awards program is a cooperative effort between more than 17 general aviation industry sponsors and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Local, state, and regional judging has been completed, with national award recipients to be announced by March 1, 2012.
The 2012 Regional Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) of the Year Award recipients from the Midwest are Marvin Hornbostel of Junction City, Kansas, and Janese Valerie Thatcher-Buzzell of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. Hornbostel owns Raven Aero Services. Thatcher-Buzzell is employed with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Office of Aeronautics.
Receiving the 2012 Regional Avionics Technician of the Year Award was Eric Christopher “Rick” Ochs of Gahanna, Ohio. Ochs is president and chief inspector for Spirit Avionics in Columbus.
Receiving the 2012 Regional Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) of the Year Award was MCFI Lynnwood Karl “Woody” Minar of Dresser, Wisconsin, and Dave William Pressy of Saint Louis, Missouri. Pressy is the chief flight instructor at the Saint Charles Flying Service in Portage Des Sioux. A three-time master flight instructor, Minar is an independent contractor at Osceola Aerosport.
Receiving the 2012 Regional FAASTeam Representative of the Year Award were Mark Alan Mordechai of Richmond, Illinois, and Jeanne Carole Willerth from Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Willerth is a former two-time Master CFI. Willerth is a flight and ground instructor at Air Associates of Kansas, a Cessna Pilot Center in Olathe, Kansas.
Support and sponsorship for the General Aviation Awards program is provided by Women in Aviation International (WAI), the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), Professional Aviation Maintenance Ass’n (PAMA), National Business Aviation Ass’n (NBAA), National Ass’n of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), National Air Transportation Ass’n (NATA), Ninety-Nines International (The 99s), General Aviation Manufacturers Ass’n (GAMA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Experimental Aircraft Ass’n (EAA), Aircraft Maintenance Technology Society (AMT Society), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Ass’n (AOPA), and the Aeronautical Repair Station Ass’n (ARSA).
