Recipients to Be Recognized at AirVenture 2024

For more than half a century the FAA and the General Aviation Awards program have recognized professionals for their contributions to the world of aviation safety, instruction, and maintenance.

This year, the CFI of the year is Adam Magee of Swisher, Iowa, an instructor that has overseen the training of thousands of candidates on their way to the Lighter-Than-Air certification. Magee administers an eye-popping 10.5% of all LTA-Balloon practical exams as a Designated Pilot Examiner. He's taught more than 200 CFIs in his own aerial niche, too, further bolstering the numbers of balloon trainers around the country. Magee has been highly active in the biz, creating new instructional curricula, weighing in on LTA, and bolstering the strength of stakeholder bodies like the National Association of Flight Instructors.

“It is an honor to announce the names of the 2024 General Aviation Awards National Honorees” says GA Awards Board Chair Sandya Narayanswami, “These important, historic awards highlight the critical role played by accomplished individuals in building a culture solidly based on aviation safety and education,” she added, “The Board and our many sponsors are pleased that these outstanding aviation professionals will receive public recognition before their peers at AirVenture.”

The Aviation Technician of the Year award goes to Marty King of Elkhart, Indiana. He's been extremely involved with the classic piper scene for years, restoring a 1940 J4A-65 and '46 J3C-85 in his shop. Since gaining his A&P in '91, followed later by his IA, King has headed up his own restoration and fabric shop, King Aero, Inc. In 2017 he started an A&P internship program with Andrews University of Michigan. That program found its footing quickly, being followed up by similar intern training opportunities from Lansing Community College, Western Michigan University and Purdue University.

Lastly the FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year, Cary Grant, will round out the bunch. Grant has been a member of FAAST, a safety advisor, WINGSPro, professor, and flight instructor. Grant acts as the president of the Arizona Aviation Safety Advisory Group a 50-year veteran of the local flight training and general aviation community.a 50-year-old charitable organization dedicated to aviation safety in Arizona and working with organizations throughout southern California and Nevada. ASAG’s mission is to identify, highlight, and educate aviators throughout the Southwestern United States on safety issues in Arizona’s airspace and host the state’s annual General Aviation Awards Banquet.

“It is an honor to announce the names of the 2024 General Aviation Awards National Honorees” says GA Awards Board Chair Sandya Narayanswami, “These important, historic awards highlight the critical role played by accomplished individuals in building a culture solidly based on aviation safety and education,” she added, “The Board and our many sponsors are pleased that these outstanding aviation professionals will receive public recognition before their peers at AirVenture.”

FMI: www.generalaviationawards.com