Recognizes Professionalism, Skill And Aviation Expertise Over A Flying Career

The FAA has presented its Wright Brothers "Master Pilot" Award to Louis C. Seno, Jet Support Services, Inc. Chairman Emeritus and member of the Board of Directors. The award was presented by the FAA at a ceremony on August 28th, 2016.

Deemed by many as the most prestigious aviation award, the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot designation recognizes individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while actively piloting aircraft.  The award was presented to Mr. Seno by Patrick M. Ryan, FAA Safety Team Program Manager-Operations, for the FAA Great Lakes Region Flight Standards Division, at a ceremony recently conducted at the Pentastar Aviation facility at Oakland County International Airport (KPTK) in Pontiac, Michigan.

Louis “Lou” C. Seno is a life-long aviation enthusiast, aircraft owner, and advocate for general aviation. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate along with a Cessna Citation Jet type rating, including single pilot endorsement.  Accomplishing his first solo at age 16, Seno has accrued more than 6,500 hours of flying time in numerous piston and turbine aircraft and currently owns and operates a Beechcraft Bonanza Model F33A and Aviat Husky Model A-1B on amphibious floats.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the FAA for this Master Pilot award and I am thrilled to join this outstanding group of aviators that represent the first pilots in the United States, the Wright Brothers,” commented Seno. “Aviation and the spirit of flying have always been an important part of my life and always will be. I would like to thank my family, my wife, and all my colleagues and friends in the aviation community that have supported me and my passion for flying all these years.”

“All of us at JSSI are so honored to call Lou a colleague, friend, and mentor.  His influence on this business and the aviation industry at large has been immense, and we congratulate him on receiving this Master Pilot award,” remarked Neil Book, President and CEO for JSSI.

Active in many aviation associations during his flying career, Lou is a lifetime member of American Bonanza Society (#31923), the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA #00649455), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA# 31489) and currently serves on the EAA Board of Directors. As a member of the General Aircraft Manufacturing Association (GAMA), Lou serves on the GAMA Board of Directors and is a member of their Communications Committee. Lou is also an active member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), National Aircraft Resellers Association (NARA), National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA), and is an Accredited Aircraft Appraiser certified through the American Society of Appraisers. In support of the diversity of women in aviation and aerospace, Lou is currently serving on the Board of Directors for Dreams Soar, an organization encouraging women worldwide to allow their dreams to soar and seek careers in the aviation. 

Lou’s original aviation roots go back to when he was a young boy growing up in a Chicago suburb. Lou and his father began assembling their first homebuilt aircraft in 1956, a Corben Baby Ace Model “D” open cockpit, high wing parasol with a Continental C-85-12 engine in the basement of his childhood home. Years later, they would build several more homebuilt aircraft and successfully compete for awards at the annual EAA event. Lou has attended 62 consecutive EAA AirVenture events since he first went with his father as a 6-year old boy, only missing the first two events in its long 64-year history. Lou’s fascination with flying led to his ownership of several aircraft over the years and an extensive career in business aviation with Boeing Capital, GE Capital, JSSI, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

(Images provided with JSSI news release. Top: (L-R) Louis Seno, Patrick Ryan. Lower: Seno departing Oshkosh in a Junior Ace circa 1965)

RMI: www.jetsupport.com