FAA Recognizes Aviation Professionals For Contributions In Their Fields

In each of the past 48 years, the General Aviation Awards program and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have recognized a small group of aviation professionals in the fields of flight instruction, aviation maintenance, avionics, and safety for their contributions to aviation, education, and flight safety.

This awards program is a cooperative effort between the FAA and more than a dozen industry sponsors. The selection process begins with local FAA Safety Team managers at Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs) and then moves on to the eight regional FAA offices. Previous national awards winners from each of those four fields then select national winners from the pool of regional winners.
 
Recipients of this year's national awards are Joseph "Joe" Morales of Lakewood, Colorado, Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) of the Year; Russell John "Russ" Callender of Houlton, Wisconsin, Avionics Technician of the Year; MCFI-Aerobatic Judy Ann Phelps of Santa Paula, California, Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) of the Year; and MCFI Vicki Lynn Sherman of DeLand, Florida, FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year. Previously, this award was the Aviation Safety Counselor (ASC) of the Year.

The FAA administrator will present the national awards in July during a "Theater in the Woods" program at EAA AirVenture 2011 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Included in the prize package for all four national winners is an all expense paid trip to Oshkosh for the recipient and a guest to attend the awards presentation and other GA Awards activities. 

"These awards highlight the important role played by these individuals in promoting aviation education and flight safety," said JoAnn Hill, General Aviation Awards Committee chairperson. "The awards program sponsors and supporters are pleased that these outstanding aviation professionals will receive the recognition they so richly deserve before their peers in Oshkosh."

2011 National AMT Of The Year
Joe Morales of Lakewood, Colorado, has been an airframe and powerplant (A&P) technician for 31 years and has held inspection authorization (IA) for 18 of those years. Joe works at the US Air Force Academy for Doss Aviation Inc performing contract maintenance on aircraft used in the academy's soaring and skydiving programs. Joe is also a CFI and provides flight training at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC) in Broomfield, Colorado, on a part time basis.

Joe Morales

He currently serves as chief inspector at two repair stations operated by Doss Aviation. A single parent and the father of two young daughters who are the love of his life, Joe carefully divides his time between his two passions, family and aviation. A member of the AMT Society and AOPA, he is a FAASTeam representative and a captain in the Civil Air Patrol.

Morales represented the Denver FSDO area as well as the FAA's Northwest Mountain Region.

2011 National Avionics Technician Of The Year
Russ Callender has been selected by the General Aviation Awards program as the 2011 National Avionics Technician of the Year. He holds an FAA repairman certificate and is a certificated private pilot with over 32 years of avionics maintenance and repair experience ranging from a light sport aircraft through cabin class business jets.

Russ Callender

He is president of RC Avionics with the main facility on Anoka County Airport (ANE) in Blaine, Minnesota. Additional servicing facilities are located at Crystal Airport (MIC) in Minneapolis, Saint Paul Downtown (STP) in Saint Paul, and New Richmond Regional Airport (RNH) in New Richmond, Wisconsin.

RC Avionics, a part 145 operation, has recently expanded its facility to add electronic flight simulation. Russ's philosophy is with today's aircraft panel instrumentation, pilot training is an essential ingredient of every sale. RC Avionics has teamed up with SimFlite Minnesota, to provide 'niche' training for pilots with new avionics. Customers now have access to flight training and glass cockpit simulators while their aircraft are being up-graded or their panels redesigned with state-of-the-art avionics thereby enhancing pilot proficiency and aviation safety.

A US Army veteran, he is a member of AEA, AOPA, EAA, and NATA.
 
2011 National CFI Of The Year
Master CFI-Aerobatic Judy Phelps of Santa Paula, California has been named the 2011 National Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) of the Year. Bringing a rare but effective feminine perspective to aviation education, she has provided more than 5,000 hours of flight training ranging from primary, instrument, and commercial instruction to tailwheel endorsements, experimental aircraft checkouts, emergency maneuver, spin, and aerobatic training.

Judy Phelps

 
Judy and her husband Clay, also a CFI, own and operate the popular and well-known CP Aviation at Santa Paula Airport (KSZP). She runs the flight school side of their business, while he oversees the maintenance side. Their FBO averages approximately 6,000 flight hours per year with pilots coming from around the world to train there.

Judy sponsors an annual EMT Program scholarship worth more than $2,000 as well as tailwheel training scholarships. She has also hosted an annual judge's school for the International Aerobatic Club (IAC). In addition, she leads FAA safety seminars throughout California.

Women comprise less than ten percent of the pilot population. But as a role model and advocate for women in aviation, Judy has had a noticeable effect on the number of women learning to fly. Counting Judy, CP Aviation currently has three female instructors on staff, and it's not uncommon for female voices to outnumber male voices on the radio in the pattern.

A 3-time Master CFI-Aerobatic -- the country's first and only woman to earn that accreditation --  Judy's involvement reaches well beyond the cockpit and classroom. She is a proactive member of organizations such as the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), the Ninety-Nines, AOPA, EAA, International Aerobatic Club (IAC), Women in Aviation, and Rotary. Judy has also competed in aerobatic contests in a Pitts and is an IAC regional judge. She currently serves as president of the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula and is a FAASTeam representative.

2011 National FAA Safety Team Representative Of The Year
Master CFI Vicki Lynn Sherman is a teacher, mentor, and aviation safety advocate. As an Aviation Safety Counselor and FAASTeam Representative, she has been involved in the FAA's safety program since 1992. She works at the FAASTeam's National Resource Center in Lakeland, Florida, as a video production crewmember, presentation developer, and presenter for the North Florida FSDO and the FAA Production Studios. She is also the owner and president of Aero Supplies & Express, Inc located in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Vicki Lynn Sherman

During the year as a FAASTeam Lead Representative, Vicki conducts monthly safety programs. She arranges for a wide variety of aviation experts to speak to local pilots. She is a member of the Safety Program Speakers Bureau for north Florida. During the week of the annual Sun 'n Fun International Fly In and Expo in Lakeland, she serves as a crewmember for the FAA Production Studios.

Vicki has been a lifelong supporter and member of The Ninety-Nines having served at every level of the organization from chapter chairperson to International President. Currently, she is a permanent member of the Board of Trustees for The Bonnie & Archie Gann Scholarship for flight instructor applicants. Representing The Ninety Nines, she has contributed to Sun 'n Fun, the NASA Aerospace Education Program, and the National Intercollegiate Flying Association. 

An advisor for Women in Aviation-Florida First Coast Chapter, she shares the goals of the organization. Vicki mentors other women to attain their objectives in aviation and works to educate young women in the important roles women play in the aviation industry. Numerous boards of directors benefit from her experience including the Florida Association of Flight Instructors, the National Aviation Safety Foundation, the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Board of Visitors, and the National Silver Wings Fraternity. She is a member of AOPA, EAA, SAFE, and Women in Aviation while also serving in the Civil Air Patrol.

FMI: www.GeneralAviationAwards.org