Prestigious award only given to mechanics with minimum 50 years in aviation, 30 years as A&P or repairman

A Raytheon Aircraft Company employee has received the FAA’s prestigious Charles Taylor Award recognizing lifetime accomplishments of senior aircraft mechanics.

Karl Stuhmer, Raytheon Aircraft’s Field Representative in the Rocky Mountain region, received the award in recognition of his vast contributions to the aviation community by helping and teaching both customers and fellow technicians.

The award is named in honor of Mr. Charles Taylor, who served as the Wright brothers' mechanic and is credited with designing and building the engine for their first successful aircraft.

“Karl’s contributions to aviation reflect the aspirations of our entire organization,” said Ed Dolanski, Vice President – Customer Support at Raytheon Aircraft. “Karl puts the customer first in everything he does.  This award is a very fitting tribute to an extraordinary man.”

Stuhmer currently holds both an Airframe & Powerplant and Inspection Authorization certificates.  He began his aviation career in high school, helping his father at Stuhmer Flying Service, a family-owned flight training school in Dowagiac, Mich.  He has worked as a mechanic at Cutter Aviation and Diamond M Aviation in New Mexico, and joined Denver Beechcraft in 1970 as service manager and operations manager.  He accepted the Field Service Representative position in 1993.

To qualify for the Charles Taylor award, a mechanic must have 50 years of service in the aviation maintenance field and a minimum of 30 years as an FAA certified mechanic or repairman. A selection committee comprised of the FSDO airworthiness safety program manager, an airworthiness supervisor and airworthiness safety inspector review the application letters and select qualified individuals for this award.  Stuhmer’s name and certificate number will appear in a “Role of Honor” at the Federal Aviation Building in Washington, D.C.

FMI: www.raytheon.com, www.faa.gov