The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI/World Air Sports Federation) completed its 117th General Conference, attended by representatives from more than 35 countries, last week.

Hosted by the National Aeronautical Association (NAA), the 117th conference took place in Dayton, Ohio, marking the first time in 40 years for it to be in the U.S. Activities included committee meetings, awards banquet, special drone event, and visit to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

“From aviation’s earliest days, FAI has taken a leading role in supporting and promoting the art, sport, and science of aviation,” said former NAA president and CEO Greg Principato. “As a founding member of FAI, the National Aeronautic Association is proud to welcome FAI, for the first time, to the ‘Birthplace of Aviation’: Dayton, Ohio. The Wright brothers themselves played key roles in both organizations, so it is natural that the aviation world should reconvene in Dayton.”

Among the awards highlighted at the conference was the inaugural FAI Aeromodeling Commission (CIAM) Legends Medal, which recognizes “pilots who have won the title of FAI world champion in any aeromodeling or spacemodeling competition at least three times.” For its first year, 59 recipients were identified by FAI from its records of almost 800 world championships dating to 1951. Over a dozen medals were presented at the event.

Also awarded at the conference was the Louis Bleriot medal for “the highest records for speed, altitude, and distance in a straight line established in the previous year by light aircraft.” This year’s medal went to Germany’s Klaus Ohlmann who, on April 20, 2022, set a world record for fastest speed in a powered airplane over a closed circuit of 500 kilometers. Ohlmann, 71, averaged 207.65 kph (112.12 knots) on the course in the electric e-Genius, an aircraft developed by the University of Stuttgart’s Institute of Aircraft Design.

The FAI General Conference is open to the organization’s  delegates, designated representatives of international affiliate members, FAI-elected officers, presidents of honor, honorary patrons, designated representatives of corporate patrons, companions of honor, and delegates appointed by presidents of commissions. 

The next conference is set for November 20-21, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) presented Jared Isaacman with the 2023 Meritorious Service to Aviation Award as part of the opening keynote at the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas on Tuesday. An entrepreneur and pilot, Isaacman led the first all-civilian orbital spaceflight mission, called Inspiration4, in September 2021.

At age 16, Isaacman founded payment processing company Shift4, which processes more than 200 billion annually. He went on to co-found the Black Diamond Jet Team, flying in airshows in an Aero L-39, and Draken International, a company that provides tactical fighter aircraft and operational readiness training on contract for military and defense customers. In addition, he set a record circumnavigating the globe in his Cessna Citation Mustang in 2009—a trip that raised funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Inspiration4 also included a fundraising component, bringing in over $250 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

• READ MORE: Inspiration4 Astronauts Splash Down

“Whether it’s starting his first business at 16, dazzling airshow crowds, flying higher in orbit than even the Hubble Space Telescope or championing humanitarian causes, Jared Isaacman has committed his life to reaching the highest pinnacles of human achievement and exploration,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “We are pleased to present Jared with our Meritorious Service to Aviation Award. His endless aspiration and commitment to inspiration and service truly exemplify the high standards of this prestigious honor.”

Following the presentation, Isaacman was interviewed by fellow Inspiration4 crew member Sian Proctor. He spoke of his lifelong fascination with aviation, including building his first computer as a child so he could play combat flight simulator Falcon 3.0 and search for meaningful challenges both on the ground and above it.

Isaacman has organized three additional flights—called the Polaris program—with SpaceX, aiming to return to space as commander of the Polaris Dawn mission. Polaris Dawn, which is tentatively planned for the first quarter of 2024, is expected to include the first extravehicular activity (EVA/spacewalk) by a private civilian. The third Polaris flight is intended to be the first crewed flight of SpaceX’s Starship.

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William Shatner, actor, writer, director, and philanthropist, will lead a 2023 class of five to be inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame on October 21 in San Diego.

Tickets are on sale for the annual gala at the San Diego Air & Space Museum’s Edwin D. McKellar Pavilion of Flight. Since 1963 the Hall of Fame has been recognizing the most significant contributors to the world of aerospace.

Shatner is best known for the role of Captain James T. Kirk of the starship Enterprise from the Star Trek franchise. Kirk and Star Trek have inspired several generations of aerospace professionals and innovators. In addition to Star Trek the original TV series, Shatner played Kirk in seven of the franchise’s movies, one of which he directed. His 70-year acting career also includes non-science fiction roles, including the police drama T.J. Hooker and television’s first reality-based series, Rescue 911. He won Emmys and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of eccentric lawyer Denny Crane on The Practice and Boston Legal. 

In October 2021 at the age of 90, Shatner became the oldest person to go into space on board the Blue Origin NS-18, traveling beyond the Kármán line. Shatner was visibly moved by the experience, saying it had given him a new perspective on life.

Joining Shatner in the 2023 Hall of Fame class are:

Royce Williams: decorated Naval aviator

On November 18, 1952, Williams was flying a Grumman F9F Panther with three other members of VF-781 from the USS Oriskany when they encountered seven Mig-15s. Williams’ flight leader and his wingman had to return to the Oriskany following a fuel pump issue, leaving Williams outmanned against aircraft considered to be superior to the Panther. Despite the odds against him, Williams engaged the seven Migs for 35 minutes, shooting down four in the longest dogfight in the history of the U.S. Navy.

Though his Panther was shot 263 times, he was able to make it back to the Oriskany and land safely. Williams received the Navy Cross, Silver Star, and two Distinguished Flying Crosses.

Jessica Meir: astronaut, scientist, Artemis program

Meir is a biologist, NASA astronaut, and a member of the Artemis program focused on landing the first woman and next man on the moon. She joined the space program as an astronaut in 2013, making history as part of the first all-female space walk in October 2019 alongside Christina Koch. Meir was a flight engineer on Expedition 61/62, logging 205 days in space. She holds a Ph.D. in marine biology and is renowned for touting the importance of the STEM curriculum in helping to develop the next generation of astronauts and inspiring a new generation of explorers.

Meier is currently training for the forthcoming Artemis missions, which will involve both lunar and Martian frontiers. It has been suggested she may be the first woman to walk on the moon.

Robert DeLaurentis: record-setting aviator, businessman, and author 

DeLaurentis is perhaps best known for his solo, around-the-world flight in a Piper Malibu Mirage in 2015. It took approximately four months to cover the 26,000 nm, which included stops in 23 countries as part of a fundraising campaign to support aviation programs.

In 2019, DeLaurentis launched in a modified 1983 Turbine Commander 900 he named Citizen of the World for a 26,000-mile polar circumnavigation. The flight was planned for five months, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, turned into a nine-month journey.

DeLaurentis is also an author, with adult books including Flying Thru Life: How to Grow Your Business and Relationships with Applied Spirituality; Zen Pilot: Flight of Passion and the Journey Within; and children’s books The Little Plane That Could; and The Little Airplane That Could Let’s Fly!

General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI): remotely piloted aircraft systems

GA-ASI is a worldwide leader in the design, development, and production of remotely piloted aircraft systems, commonly referred to as drones.

General Atomics created the Predator and Reaper aircraft, and its designs have made a significant impact on military operations and helped foster developments in civilian and commercial drone applications. GA-ASI, founded in 1993, is a subsidiary of General Atomics, a diversified technology and defense company.

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It is said that helping others get ahead in life can be its own reward, but it’s also nice when your peers recognize you for your efforts. The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has announced that Sisters of the Skies, the organization created to promote and support future Black aviators, is the 2023 recipient of the Henderson Trophy.

The Henderson Trophy was founded in 1960 and named after Clifford W. Henderson, an enthusiastic aviation proponent during the so-called “Golden Age” of aviation. He was the managing director of the National Air Races from 1938 to 1939 and is credited with obtaining sponsors for races such as the Thompson closed course classic and transcontinental race that became known as the Bendix Trophy race.

• READ MORE: Seeing Yourself In the Left Seat

The Henderson award is given annually to a living individual, group of individuals, or an organization whose vision, leadership, or skill made a significant and lasting contribution to the promotion and advancement of aviation and aerospace. Nominees are proposed by the NAA president and must be approved by the NAA executive committee.

According to the NAA, Sisters of the Skies Inc is being honored for its commitment to increase awareness of the opportunities in aviation and efforts to increase the number of Black female pilots. The group conducts outreach programs and provides scholarships, mentoring, and opportunities for professional development.

• READ MORE: Tenacity Helped This C-130 Pilot Earn Her Wings

“The growth of aviation as an industry and as a career is threatened by the lack of a broad pipeline for talent,” said NAA president and CEO Greg Principato. “Sisters of the Skies makes an incredible contribution to solving that problem. They are building the future of aviation. It is exactly this kind of passion and commitment that we seek to honor with the Clifford Henderson Trophy, and it will be an honor to present the 2023 award to Sisters of the Skies.”

Sisters of the Skies History

Sisters of the Skies was created in 2016 by two pilots with the intent of helping the few Black female pilots flying for the military and in commercial aviation to make professional connections. Since its inception, the organization has grown to one that provides representation to new pilots and support to those already enjoying aviation careers.

• READ MORE: Founders of Sisters of the Skies Share a Colorful Vision of Aviation

“The Henderson Trophy holds profound significance for Sisters of the Skies, serving as a testament to our unwavering dedication and commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable industry,” said Sisters of the Skies co-founder Nia Gilliam-Wordlaw. “This prestigious award validates our mission, recognizes our accomplishments, and powerfully affirms the impact we are making in the field of aviation. We are honored to be a recipient.”

The award will be celebrated at the Sisters of the Skies Scholarship Gala on February 3.

The National Aeronautic Association is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to fostering aviation activities and promoting the importance of aviation and space flight to the general public. The NAA certifies all national aviation records set in the United States and is the caretaker of some of the many aviation awards in the world.

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On August 20, National Flight Instructor of the Year and co-founder of Ortega Aviation Services Kirby Ortega received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the FAA. In an event hosted at the DOC B-29 Superfortress Hangar in Wichita, Kansas, family, friends, and colleagues from around the industry gathered to celebrate Ortega’s 50 years of safe piloting and instruction—and the importance of nurturing those who want to take to the skies as pilots.

“Learning to fly has really been the foundation of our business,” said Russ Meyer, former chairman and CEO of Cessna Aircraft Co., in opening remarks at the event. “The base of our business has been learning to fly, and frankly will continue to be. We recognized that in the [19]60s and ’70s, when we created an instructional program called the Cessna Pilot Centers. At one point in the early ’70s, we had 1,100 Cessna Pilot Centers in five languages all over the world. A lot of us at Cessna were very proud to put a bumper sticker on our car that said, ‘We Teach the World to Fly.’”

Almost 4,000 of the 18,000 aircraft manufactured in 1977 and 1978 by the general aviation industry were Cessnas built primarily to teach people how to fly. “A guy who just joined us a little bit ago—who learned to fly in August of 1973—earned his CFI, joined Cessna, and has focused his career on teaching people to learn to fly over the years,” said Meyer, introducing Ortega to the audience. Ortega ran the Cessna Flying Club back when it had between 40 and 50 airplanes in its fleet, and he flew for Cessna’s transportation department. “But what he really wanted to do and loved to do was teach people to learn how to fly,” Meyer concluded. 

With more than 16,000 hours sitting in the right seat, Ortega has indeed put his focus on training and his role as a designated pilot examiner, though his logbook totals reflect a breadth of GA flying few pilots achieve. “Spending almost 28,000 hours flying around the world, no doubt I have had some global moments, but it was meeting others that created my most treasured memories,” said Ortega. “During my 50 years of aviation, I have met other pilots, business professionals, and those who now are part of my family—solid people with whom I have shared incredible experiences.” 

Many members of the aviation journalism world have flown with Ortega in a wide range of Cessna aircraft, from the 162 Skycatcher light sport airplane to the Cessna Citation X—at the time, the world’s fastest business jet—for pilot reports and photo shoots. Currently, at Ortega Aviation Services, where he serves as chief instructor, he specializes in Citation Mustang type rating training and mentorship. As a designated pilot examiner, he conducts practical tests for a number of certificates and ratings.

About the Wright Brothers Award

The FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award was created by the agency in 2003 to honor the first recognized pilots of powered, controllable aircraft, Wilbur and Orville Wright—on the centennial anniversary year marking their first sustained flight in the Wright Flyer at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903.

To be eligible for the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, nominees must meet the following criteria: 

• Hold a U.S. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or FAA pilot certificate 
• Have 50 or more years of civil and military piloting experience or 50 or more years combined experience in both piloting and aircraft operations 
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Have NOT had any airman certificate revoked

The effective start date for the 50 years coincides with the nominee’s first solo flight or military equivalent. The 50 years may be computed consecutively or nonconsecutively. Up to 20 years of the required 50 may be U.S. military experience.

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The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has named the class of 2023 for its Sport Aviation Hall of Fame.

The five inductees represent different facets of aviation from aerobatics to vintage. Those set for induction are selected by their peers as recognition for the many contributions they have made to their respective areas of aviation in support of the EAA spirit and community.

The class of 2023 includes Lew Shattuck, the 1978 International Aerobatic Club national champion in the Unlimited category. Shattuck, who flew in regional and national competitions until the age of 85, represents the International Aerobatic Club Hall of Fame.

Neal Loving, a pioneer Black aviator, aerospace engineer, aircraft designer, and homebuilder known for the design of the WR-1 midget racer known as Loving’s Love gets the nod for the EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame. Built in 1950, the “Love” is constructed of wood and features an inverted gull wing. Loving flew the homebuilt midget racer from Detroit to Kingston, Jamaica, a distance of 2,200 miles. Loving donated the aircraft to the EAA Aviation Museum, where it is now displayed. His induction is posthumous as he died in 1998 at 82.

EAA Ultralights Hall of Fame will be represented by Paul Mather, president of M-Squared Aircraft, creator of the Breese XL ultralight. Mather has more than 40 years of experience in the industry building aircraft now known as light sport and ultralight. In 1996, he founded M-Squared Aircraft with the intention of building an airplane that was both fun and safe.

The Vintage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame is represented by John Parish Sr., the co-founder of the Beechcraft Heritage Museum in Tullahoma, Tennessee. Today, he serves as the museum’s executive committee  chairman. The museum began to take shape in 1973 under the Beechcraft Staggerwing Club. It grew and evolved, and in 2007 the Beechcraft Heritage Museum was established to preserve and feature Beechcraft models from 1932 to the present.

The Warbirds of America Hall of Fame will recognize Charles “Chuck” Greenhill, the famed restorer of many warbird aircraft, including the only surviving Grumman J2F-4 Duck that was present at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attack drew the U.S. into World War II.

Among his other projects, Greenhill funded the recovery of a Grumman FM-2 Wildcat from the bottom of Lake Michigan in 2012. The aircraft had been lost in the lake since 1944 when a training exercise went bad. Greenhill moved the waterlogged aircraft to his hangar at Kenosha Regional Airport (KENW) while arrangements were made to transport it to the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, for restoration. Greenhill, who died in April 2022 at 87, is being honored posthumously.

This year’s honorees will be officially inducted at a dinner ceremony on November 9 in the Eagle Hangar of the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

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The Board of Trustees of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, or NAHF, named Tyson Weihs, co-founder and former CEO of ForeFlight, winner of its 2023 Armstrong Award.

The award recognizes Weihs for his “innovative spirit, commitment to safety, and service to the aviation community,” the NAHF said. Many pilots are using ForeFlight every day who would agree that the platform represents a game-changer in general aviation.

• READ MORE: Astronaut, Aviation Pioneers Inducted into NAHF Class of 2023

“This award publicly acknowledges Tyson’s dedication to leadership in promoting aviation and the values of innovation, integrity, and service,” explained NAHF president and CEO Aimee Maruyama. “Tyson’s story is an inspiration for future generations of aviation innovators and entrepreneurs.”

ForeFlight has become a standard part of the flight bag for many pilots by combining airport information, search functions, and aviation weather imagery. The company was purchased by Boeing in March 2019.

“Receiving the Armstrong Award is deeply humbling,” Weihs said. “I am truly honored to be part of the distinguished legacy of aviation, and I believe this award underscores the limitless possibilities that aviation holds for those who dare to dream and push boundaries.”

• READ MORE: NAHF Releases Free STEAM Curriculum for Grades 1-6

“Not only has Tyson left an indelible mark on aviation by co-founding ForeFlight,” said NAHF chair Jim Cooling. “He is also a valuable member of the aviation community, giving generously with his leadership, time, and expertise to support numerous aviation organizations.”

Weihs will receive the award on September 21, 2023, at the President’s Reception as part of the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s 59th Enshrinement events. More than 600 people are expected to attend, as are several returning Enshrinees, including former NASA astronauts Charlie Bolden, Eileen Collins, Bob Crippen, and Hoot Gibson, aviation visionary Joan Sullivan Garrett, general aviation titans Dale Klapmeier and Russ Meyer, and world champion aerobatic pilot Sean D. Tucker.

The NAHF Enshrinee Class of 2023 includes Velta Benn, Cornelius Coffey, Angela Gittens, Ed Stimpson, Fred Haise, and Kathryn Sullivan.

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At FLYING, we’re constantly impressed by the amazing drive toward innovative solutions exemplified by the aerospace industry—and general aviation in particular. The light end of aviation often incubates in the rich humus of inspiration and efforts the seeds of development that lead to game-changing—and life-changing—new ways of experiencing the world. We celebrate those who propel us forward with our annual awards program.

In 2022, we introduced the Readers’ Choice Award to recognize a product or development in the GA space that resonates most with our audience—and we continue that honor this year. 

But there’s more. We also felt there was a gap—an emphasis on things—and a place we needed to make to salute a person who has contributed in a comprehensive way to the aviation community with years of commitment, expertise, and spirit. 

A New Award

That’s why for 2023 we’re inaugurating the Sean D. Tucker Award, to do just that. And for the initial award, we’re presenting it to the legend himself, Tucker.

Tucker’s resumé as an aerobatic star and air show performer is well known, and perhaps, too, his propensity to give back to the industry that has nurtured him from his modest beginnings and early struggles to the success he is today. But Tucker is a person who measures himself not by the scores on a championship run, but by the lives he’s touched through the Experimental Aviation Association’s Young Eagles program, and most recently, the Bob Hoover Academy in his hometown of Salinas, California. At BHA, he and his fellow volunteers not only introduce disadvantaged area youth to the magic of flight but also help them achieve a pilot certificate and follow-on goals.

For those contributions ongoing to improve the lives of those around him with his joy, FLYING is thrilled to launch this award in his honor.

Innovation Award: Swift Fuels UL94

While the spark of inspiration may transpire in a moment, transforming an innovative creation to a market-ready and delivered product takes time, money, and persistence. There are no shortcuts to enduring success. In the current environment where so much attention is focused on cleaner solutions for GA, the critical element of bringing a viable unleaded fuel to aviation consumers must be recognized—because it has taken more than a decade to accomplish and realize in full.

For accomplishing this with its UL94 aviation gasoline, we’re proud to bestow the 2023 FLYING Innovation Award upon the team at Swift Fuels. The company’s “mission every day for the last 10 years,” according to founder and CEO Chris D’Acosta, has been to develop “a solution to the 100LL problem” and drive that progress in a tiered approach. 

Swift debuted a lower octane unleaded fuel, UL94, in 2015. It serves as a drop-in solution for more than 130,000 aircraft on the FAA registry that can operate on a 94-octane or lower fuel. Swift accomplishes this through a supplemental type certificate that will be good for any unleaded avgas it produces in the future. 

And UL94 is not just avgas with the lead out—it’s a better fuel in many ways, according to D’Acosta. “There is a market draw to our fuel,” he says, because all Swift fuels burn cleaner, with lower toxicity overall. The need to clean lead from the engine every 50 hours no longer exists, for example.

But announcing the availability of a product, and getting it to the customer are two different things. Swift has done the legwork to ensure pilots can trust the fuel—that it meets the ASTM unleaded avgas specification—and that it reaches them in a geographically distributed way, direct to the airfield. With roughly 81 airports, universities, and private users on the U.S. map—and distribution at events like EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin—Swift continues to expand its reach.

And that’s important, because the company is far from finished. Its UL100 fuel is in the confirmation and approval process via ASTM and STC to serve the remainder of the piston market requiring a higher octane level. 

Readers’ Choice: Garmin’s Smart Glide

When we posed the question earlier this year to FLYING’s audience as to what innovation made the most impact on the community, the choice was clear among the contenders.

Garmin’s Smart Glide functionality was introduced in late 2021 and expanded through the STC process to dozens of additional single- and multiengine airplanes. Smart Glide builds upon other aftermarket GTN Xi navigator features, and the GFC 500 or 600 digital autopilot, in a wide range of airplanes. Smart Glide includes the GTN’s range ring optimized for an engine-out situation. It aviates, navigates, and communicates for the pilot—partially—and gives the option to squawk 7700, for example. If the autopilot is engaged, the sequence begins by pitching for best glide speed.

An airport glide indicator helps the pilot determine which airport to go to, setting up a direct-to course to the nearest, if one is in range, and putting the CTAF or tower frequency in the standby—or the emergency frequency of 121.5 if not within gliding distance of anything in the database. It will also tell pilots if the destination becomes unreachable according to the data. If the airplane is less than 2 nm from the airport, the autopilot will not couple, anticipating the pilot’s prompt action instead.

It’s all in the service of assisting pilots—not flying the airplane for them. With the host of “helping hands” that Smart Glide provides adding significantly to safety of flight, pilots who read FLYING confirmed Garmin’s latest tech made the best choice for innovation of the year.

Editors’ Choice Awards

Aircraft: Daher Kodiak 900

Merging two “aviation families” into one cohesive aircraft manufacturer—as Daher and Kodiak have accomplished over the past four years—deserves a round of applause. To bring forth as its first consolidated effort a backcountry beauty like the Daher Kodiak 900 within that time frame is impressive indeed—and we won’t even mention the pandemic. 

The 900 began as a Kodiak 2.0 vision years ago within the original Quest team. Daher’s horsepower in advanced aircraft design and manufacturing propelled the project into FAA type certification in July 2022. The new model took the high-performing, short-field wing of the 100 series, stretched the fuselage, incorporated the cargo pod cohesively into the belly, powered it with a new Pratt & Whitney PT6A-140A turboprop, and streamlined it all behind a cowl that performs wonders in reducing drag.

The answer to the question, “What’s next in town-and-country flying?” has been firmly answered with the Kodiak 900, which is why we gave it our Editors’ Choice Award this year. With the 900, Daher has opened up a new market segment—and kept the good habits of the series from which it has been born.

Avionics and Apps: ForeFlight Terrain Awareness

It’s common to chase “feature fever” in app development, adding gee-whiz elements to already robust programs that do little more than clog up the works. Not so with the folks at ForeFlight, who continue to evolve their flight planning and navigation app in ways that truly add safety and efficiency benefits.

In our estimation, one feature added last year to ForeFlight’s palette is the Hazard Advisor suite, which takes terrain and obstacle data it first launched 10 years ago and repackages it in a way that truly adds to the pilot’s situational awareness. For those using ForeFlight Pro Plus, Hazard Advisor altitude preview allows them to manually control Hazard Advisor’s altitude before flight, and Auto Hazard Advisor, which transitions HA into auto mode after takeoff, following the current altitude for a view of the surrounding terrain. 

Combined with per leg altitude planning—giving pilots the ability to select multiple attitudes within a flight plan—ForeFlight starts situational awareness early during the flight planning process. The upshot? We feel it makes a bold move toward combating a perennial cause of GA accidents, controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). 

Gear: Lightspeed Delta Zulu

Our editors do a lot of their own flying, both in aircraft they own as well as rent or use for instruction, and the investment in a headset is a real debate amongst the team. But for the last year one option has stood head and shoulders—intended—above the rest, and that’s the latest from Lightspeed Aviation, the Delta Zulu.

The active noise reduction (ANR) Bluetooth-enabled headset gives the pilot the ability to customize its auditory acuity with the help of an app, and it also has a built-in carbon monoxide detector that provides an auditory warning if there is CO present in the cockpit. The free Lightspeed app allows the pilot to check the CO sensor data visually during flight and review it later. The app also makes it possible for the user of the headset to fine-tune the device to meet the wearer’s hearing needs. 

And how does it wear? According to our testers, it’s one of the lightest-feeling ANR headsets out there, with ear seals comfortable enough that one tester noted she “forgot it was there.” That’s awesome praise for a vital pilot tool.

Training: Redbird Flight Simulations for Redbird Pro 

Known for its low-cost, full-motion flight training devices, Redbird Flight Simulations expanded its remit in the training arena last year with the launch of a pilot proficiency app called Redbird Pro. The app is designed to assess pilot knowledge and tailor training options through artificial intelligence to help them improve their weak points. The app utilizes articles, simulator scenarios, and quizzes as training tools. 

Many of the training scenarios are drawn from I.L.A.F.F.T. and Chart Wise content from FLYING, as well as content from the AOPA Air Safety Institute. Yes, Redbird Pro is aimed directly at those GA pilots who don’t typically spend the hours logged between flight reviews practicing toward proficiency. The gist? We’re really not as good at retaining that proficiency as we could be. Just as an app such as Duolingo encourages you to daily practice a language, Redbird Pro gamifies the proficiency quest and rewards you for frequent engagement. 

For giving shape and life to that practice—and making it fun—Redbird deserves a nod for making real strides toward improving pilot competence and confidence.

The post FLYING Reveals Innovation Award Series for 2023 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The 2023 Aerospace Media Awards were held on Sunday, June 18, at the Aéro-Club de France to recognize excellence in aviation journalism, with top nods going to reporting in sustainability, advanced air mobility, and global industry concerns.

From the best young journalist to lifetime achievement awards in reporting and photography, the event feted those who have committed their careers to reporting on a wide-ranging remit that continues to expand.

Notable winners included:

• Best Aviation Image, Giovanni Colla
• Best Digital Submission, Aviation Week Check 6 Podcast
• Best Young Journalist, Lucy Powell
• Best Safety, Training & Simulation Submission, Elan Head’s “What’s missing from the debate over the 1,500-hour rule” in The Air Current
• Best Passenger & Crew Wellbeing Submission, James Wynbrandt’s “Mental wellness gets post-Covid safety focus” in Aviation International News
• Best In-Depth Feature, Judges Commendation, Jon Ostrower’s “A different way to think about the future of flying in China”; and winner Guy Norris’s “Mind the Gap” in Aviation Week & Space Technology
• Bill Gunston Technology Writer of the Year, Patrick Veillette
• Aerospace Reporter of the Year, Greg Waldron
• Outstanding Achievement in Aviation Photography, Katsuhiko Tokunaga
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Jacques Callies, Aviation et Pilote

Held for the first time at Paris Air Show since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic paused the venerable convention, the tenth-anniversary event also gave all in attendance—led by organizer Peter Branfield of Branfield & Associates—the chance to honor fellow journalist Jerry Siebenmark, of Aviation International News, posthumously, with a raise of their watches in his memory. FLYING contributor Fred George was recognized by a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.

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The Robert J. Collier Trophy, the highest honor in aviation, was presented to the James Webb Space Telescope industry team Thursday night in Washington.

Kathy Warden, chair, president, and chief executive officer of Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC) accepted the 2022 award on behalf of the company at the annual National Aeronautic Association (NAA) Collier Dinner.

“The James Webb Space Telescope is an act of collective genius,” said Warden. “Running towards the hardest challenges—proving what we can do together—is what we do every day. Webb has ushered in a new era in human discovery, and it is my privilege to accept this prestigious award tonight on behalf of our Northrop Grumman team.”

The telescope was launched aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket on Christmas morning in 2021. Over the next several weeks, the team made the Webb operational, unfolding its sunshield and mirrors in a series of complex deployments and maneuvers. According to the team, this was a first-of-its-kind event ever attempted in space, After achieving its final configuration, the team made a series of adjustments to bring the telescope’s optical train into precise alignment. The team then tested the scientific instruments, bringing them to operational temperature to begin Webb’s science mission.

The successful deployment was years in the making.

Since 1911, the Collier Trophy has been recognized as the highest achievement in aerospace and astronautics in America, recognizing the work of a team or individual for the previous year. Past recipients of the trophy include Orville Wright (1911), Howard Hughes (1938), Neil Armstrong (1969), the B-2 (1991), Global Hawk (2000), SpaceShipOne (2004), and the X-47B (2013).

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Actor William Shatner is set to receive recognition as an aviation inspiration at the upcoming 20th Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards honoring those who have made significant contributions to the world of aviation and aerospace.

The event, which will be hosted by aviator and actor John Travolta, will be held on Friday January 20, 2023, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. 

Living Legends of Aviation are described as “remarkable people of extraordinary accomplishment in aviation and aerospace. Among their ranks are entrepreneurs, innovators, industry leaders, astronauts, record breakers, pilots who have become celebrities and celebrities who have become pilots.

Event Highlights

Among those to be recognized at the event is actor William Shatner, who will receive the Aviation Inspiration and Patriotism Award. Shatner, 91, is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk from the Star Trek franchise and for being the oldest person to go to space. 

• READ MORE: Beam Me Up, Scotty! William Shatner’s Heading to Space

In October 2021,  Shatner—then 90—was one of four crew members aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Rocket. The flight, which lasted 10 minutes 17 seconds, had a profound impact on Shatner, who, after landing, was very emotional as he struggled to put his feelings into words. In a subsequently released book, “Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder,” Shatner explained how the view of the earth from the edge of space made the actor realize how fragile the planet is.

Other Award Winners

Other Legends honorees include:

• Mike Silvestro, the CEO of Flexjet, who receives the “Lifetime Aviation Industry Leader Award” for his work in the fractional private jet industry.
• Tim Ellis, who received the “Eren Ozmen Entrepreneur of the Year Award” for the founding of Relativity Space, a company that invented a new approach to design, print and fly its own rockets, starting with the world’s first 3D printed rocket.
• Daniel Drohan, the owner of several aviation companies and the founder of Solairus, private jet and aircraft management, will receive the “Kenn Ricci Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award.’’
• Max Lyons, philanthropist and dual rated pilot in both helicopters and airplanes and the owner of Hillsboro Aviation will receive the “Elling Halvorson Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award.” 
• Mack Rutherford, who holds the Guinness Book of World Record for being the youngest person to fly solo around the world in a small aircraft, will receive the “Barron Hilton Aviation Inspiration Award.” Rutherford completed the flight in August of 2022 at the age of 17. His sister, Zara, did her own global flight in January at age 19, and currently holds the record for the youngest female to fly solo around the world.

New Living Legends

The Living Legends will also welcome new inductees to their ranks:

• Greg Evans, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and lifetime advocate for the business aviation industry. He is the Chairman of the Board of Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., the first company providing complete mission management services for business aviation.
• Alan Eustace, a pilot and Google executive who performed the highest human free-fall, jumping from 135,890 feet up in the stratosphere.
• Tom Haines, former editor-in-chief with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. He has flown more than 100 models of general aviation airplanes.
• Jared Isaacman, American entrepreneur, pilot, philanthropist, and commercial astronaut who led the first all-private citizen crew into orbit. He is also the founder of Draken International, a private air force provider and Shift4 Payments, a payment processor.
• HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman is a former Royal Saudi Air Force pilot who flew aboard the American STS-51-G Space Shuttle as a payload specialist. He is the first member of a royal family to fly in space and the youngest person ever to fly on the Space Shuttle. In 2018, he was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Space Commission at the rank of minister.

Remembering Those No Longer With Us

As is tradition, the Legends will also pay tribute to seven Legends who have “flown west” since the Legends’ last gathering. These include:

• Sigi Angerer, the chief pilot of The Flying Bulls, a vintage aircraft fleet based in Europe.
• Joe Kittinger, who as a U.S. Air Force Captain set the record for the highest parachute jump and longest free fall when he ascended to 102,800 feet above earth in a helium-balloon-tethered gondola and jumped, free falling for 4 minutes and 36 seconds
• Dietrich Mateschitz, Global businessman and Red Bull co-owner who created the Formula One team.
• Major General Carl McNair, who served for 32 years with the U.S. Army. McNair was the first Branch Chief of Army Aviation. He also held many leadership roles in the aviation community, including the American Helicopter Society.
• Frank Robinson, aeronautical engineer and founder of Robinson Helicopter Company.
• Lou Turpen, who spent his life in aviation and is known for his development of San Francisco International Airport (KSFO), which became a blueprint for other airports across the world.
• Tom Poberezny, champion aerobatics pilot and long-time leader of the Experimental Aircraft Association.

The event is sponsored by Ducommun, a global provider of manufacturing solutions for the aerospace and defense industries, Sierra Nevada, focused on technology and engineering for the aerospace industry, and Williams International, a world leader in the development, manufacture, and support of gas turbine engines used by the aerospace industry.

Details

The “Living Legends of Aviation Awards” are produced by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to educate children about and spark their interest in aviation.

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The aviation industry propels forward—driven by the lift created by innovation—that’s why FLYING honors the best in disruptive, creative effort each year as part of its awards program. We recognize outstanding contributions to GA, as well as those within the greater aerospace industry with our Editors’ Choice Awards. This year, for the first time, our readers had the chance to weigh in as well—and they gave the nod to a milestone flight in space—on another planet—for our inaugural Readers’ Choice Award for 2022.

FLYING’s Innovation Award

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)

For the association’s ability to guide a broad range of constituents to deliver and use a game-changing way to power our aircraft, we present this year’s Innovation Award to NBAA in acknowledgment of its efforts to lead the industry both vocally and behind the scenes in the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

NBAA has joined with other associations (such as IBAC, GAMA, and NATA), and aircraft manufacturers, such as Embraer, Gulfstream, Textron Aviation, Daher, and many others, to make SAF—made by producers like Gevo and Neste, and distributed by AvFuel, World Fuel Services, and others serving FBOs around the world—a viable and timely fuel for the GA marketplace.

Readers’ Choice Award

NASA Ingenuity

To execute a first flight of a new aircraft marks a significant milestone for any organization. But to achieve a first flight of a tiny rotorcraft on a distant planet—and have it go far beyond its original mission—that’s what set NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter team apart in 2021.

Our audience agreed with the National Aeronautic Association, which bestowed upon those responsible for its design, development, and execution the Robert J. Collier Trophy, awarded annually for the “greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America.” And at FLYING, we too watched in high anticipation on April 19, 2021, as the diminutive craft—just 19.3 inches tall—lifted off the dusty surface on what would become the first of its 29 missions… and counting.

Editors’ Choice Awards

Best New Aircraft

Cessna SkyCourier

A clean-sheet design created through a collaborative effort between Textron Aviation and launch customer FedEx Express, the Cessna SkyCourier represents one of the few aircraft to cross the FAA type certification finish line in 2021 and early 2022. But it’s certainly big enough to carry the honor well, as the company made its first deliveries this spring and through the summer of 2022. 

Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65SC engines driving four-blade McCauley aluminum props, the Cessna Model 408 comes in two standard configurations. In its freighter role, it can carry a payload of 6,000 pounds, and take off in a distance as short as 2,700 feet. In the passenger layout, up to 19 people can ride along to a range of 920 nm and at a max cruise speed of 210 ktas.

Best New Avionics

Garmin GI 275

When Garmin passed the milestone this summer of 25,000 integrated flight decks installed, the company had not been riding merely on the wave of its success in revolutionizing the instrument panels of GA aircraft. Its next grace note is a small, unassuming replacement instrument first introduced in 2020 that appears to be on its way to becoming as ubiquitous as the G1000 series avionics suite.

The GI 275 slides neatly into the round dial cutout left when a traditional analog instrument is removed from the instrument panel—and what it does from there is left up to the pilot’s desires. As a backup electronic flight instrument, it can take the place of an attitude indicator, airspeed indicator, and altimeter with its primary flight display function. Or it can segue into a multifunction display, with traffic, weather, and engine information system options, depending on the airplane.

Best New Gear

Flight Outfitters

A bag for every pilot—created by pilots and tested thoroughly by FLYING staff throughout the past three years. That’s what Flight Outfitters has developed over its lifetime, and we’ve found their flight bags, backpacks, duffels, luggage, and kneeboards to be some of the most durable and well thought-out designs on the market.

The brand encompasses an entire aviator’s lifestyle, but this is serious equipment that doesn’t just look good. With the tagline “Pilot Your Own Adventure,” the folks behind the company practice what they preach…which is likely why their products have hit the mark so solidly for pilots of all stripes.

Best New Training Innovation

Pipistrel Velis Electro

With so many great ways to train—and many tried-and-true airplanes in which to learn to fly—it takes a big disruptor to truly bring us a new way to fly through the standard syllabus. Enter Pipistrel’s Velis Electro. Now type certificated under the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Velis Electro takes the tested Virus single—powered by a Rotax 912—and electrifies it with two battery packs onboard for an endurance of around 45 minutes, plus VFR reserves. 

While not yet enough to complete a full private pilot course without supplementing with traditionally powered aircraft, the Velis Electro can seriously drive down the cost and environmental footprint of initial training—when charged using a renewable energy source. With aircraft in testing at a handful of flight schools and universities in the U.S., it’s only a matter of time before the Velis Electro goes all the way. 

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“I feel like I got caught with my hand in the cookie jar,” says John Lunseth, a pilot and longtime volunteer for Angel Flight Central, based in Kansas City, Missouri. “I do what I do because I enjoy it.”

Lunseth was recently surprised to learn that the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), in partnership with the Air Care Alliance (ACA), will be honoring him as a Distinguished Volunteer Pilot. The organizations’ 2022 Public Benefit Flying Awards recognize volunteer pilots, as well as other volunteers and organizations engaged in flying to help others—and those who support this work.  

For Lunseth, there’s more than one cookie in this jar.

On November 18, Angel Flight Central will honor the pilot—who is also a practicing intellectual property attorney—with its Lewis Young Pilot of the Year Award. According to the NAA, since 2011, Lunseth has flown more than 93 Angel Flight missions, donating the use of his aircraft—and fuel costs totaling more than $61,000—to provide non-emergency medical flights for health care and humanitarian purposes. 

Lunseth says as soon as he had logged the minimum 500 hours that Angel Flight requires to volunteer as a pilot, he signed up. “It looked like a fun thing to do as a way to help,” he says.

In his Mooney M20K 231, he says he has “hauled hundreds of pounds of donated blood and bone marrow,” breast milk to medically fragile babies, children with HIV to special summer camps, and patients. 

According to Lunseth, the relationships, albeit temporary, that he forms with his passengers are one of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering. 

“In most cases, the patients are anxious, not so much about the flying, but about what’s going on with them,” he says. Many of the patients he’s transported are fighting cancer and going back and forth to chemotherapy treatments. “It’s a real ordeal for them and you see them slowly sinking, and we don’t win every time,” he says. “[But] you start a conversation and you spend two hours with them. And you hope that by the end of the flight, that they’re feeling a little bit better and they have a little more hope, and they have the feeling that there’s someone else on their side.”

Another thing Lunseth finds rewarding is knowing that the donation of his aircraft and his time goes 100 percent to the beneficiaries. For most nonprofit organizations, only a percentage of donations go directly to programs—and the other percentage pays for administrative and fundraising costs. “The real thrill of it is the gift goes directly to the person sitting in the right seat,” he says. 

Lunseth isn’t the only Angel Flight volunteer the NAA and ACA will recognize with a 2022 Public Benefit Flying Award. 

Turning the $100 Hamburger on Its Head

David Knies has also volunteered for Angel Flight. In his 20s, he chaired the Angel Flight Southeast Board. He’s also volunteered for Angel Flight Soars, Vital Flight, FlyQuest (a STEM education organization), and the ACA. The latter, a partner in the Public Benefit Flying Awards, helps refer patients and volunteer pilots to nonprofit flying organizations that provide free flights for medical and humanitarian purposes and lobbies for legislative support for their activities. Knies will receive the NAA/ACA award for Outstanding Achievement in Advancement of Public Benefit Flying.

According to the NAA, Knies, has dedicated over half his life to flying patients for gratis and supporting the organizations that facilitate these flights. He owns a travel agency, a Cessna 210, and works as an office manager for Air Comfort Control, a residential air conditioning business in Huntsville, Alabama.

Knies says at one time he wanted to be a commercial airline pilot. While trying to build his flight hours in the late 1990s, he discovered Angel Flight Georgia and Angel Flight Southeast were looking for pilots. He was hooked. 

He says he most enjoys the flights that are difficult to schedule, whether because of the weight of the passengers and cargo, the range, or the route. “I view them as missed opportunities,” he says. “My fallback mission is to use my travel agency business and buy them an airline ticket.” 

Knies encourages other pilots to volunteer for public benefit flying organizations.

• READ MORE: Angel Flight Needs Pilots

“There seems to never be an end to the number of people who need help, but there always seems to be this finite number of people willing or able to help them,” he says. “I can’t be the only one that set out and said, ‘The $100 hamburger is getting old, I need to do something useful.’”

Knies, who serves on the ACA Board, says his desire to create more awareness surrounding the services offered by public benefit flying organizations—and the opportunities available for pilots to help—led to his involvement with the ACA. He suggests that those who need a non-emergency medical flight, and pilots who are willing to fly them, reach out to the ACA. 

Other 2022 Public Benefit Flying Awardees

In addition to Lunseth and Knies, the NAA and ACA will recognize:

Wayne Maynard – Distinguished Volunteer Pilot

Maynard, who has served as chair of the Angel Flight South Central Board of Directors since 2019, and is a CPA and a certified financial planner, “epitomizes selflessness in his unwavering commitment to charitable flying and helping others,” according to the NAA. “His devotion to taking on as many missions as possible, even during the most challenging of times, while offering compassionate care to his passengers, is inspirational.”  

Master Sgt. Michael Fontaine – Distinguished Volunteer 

An active-duty military liaison for Honor Flight San Antonio, Fontaine coordinated complete logistical support for two complimentary flights that provided war veterans all expenses-paid trips to visit their memorials in Washington, D.C., the NAA says. Fontaine also worked to secure funding for special events and honoree travel, planned and executed fundraising events, briefed personnel from various airlines and security agencies to promote and garner support for Honor Flight San Antonio’s mission, and established a recognition program for active duty military volunteers who dedicated time to honor our nation’s heroes, according to the NAA.

The National Business Aviation Association – Champion of Public Benefit Flying

“NBAA has long supported charitable aviation’s work by helping individuals and communities in need through business aviation and by telling the stories of volunteer pilots and other charitable aviation organizations,” the NAA says. Additionally, NBAA’s people give of their time, effort, and personal involvement to engage in public benefit flying, and have provided their facilities, publications, and other resources to substantially further all groups’ missions, the NAA says.

The 2022 Public Benefit Flying Awards will be presented on a date and location to be determined. For more information: www.naa.aero. 

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The National Association of Flight Instructors has named Boots the winner of the Greg J. Laslo Excellence in Writing Award. If you aren’t familiar with his work in NAFI’s Mentor magazine, Boots is not a nickname, it’s his full name. “It’s the only name on my driver’s license, FAA certificates, and passport,” Boots wrote in his Mentor bio. 

Boots, who also contributes to FLYING, told NAFI, “The most important thing I have learned as a CFI is how little I knew before I started instructing.”

Boots was born and raised in Hollywood—which he says offers enough of an explanation for his singular name. He’s been a private pilot since 1968 and has gone on to earn his commercial pilot certificate, with instrument and multiengine ratings, which was followed by obtaining his initial CFI, followed by instrument and multiengine instructor ratings. Boots also has been an A&P/IA technician for about 25 years. Most of his flight time has been out of California’s Van Nuys Airport (KVNY), but he’s also flown in many other regions of the world, including Central America, Africa, and Europe.

In addition to airplanes, Boots raced motorcycles as an AMA professional road racer and has built several companies. At the Reno National Championship Air Races, Boots was a member of the Rare Bear racing team. 

Despite accumulating all this knowledge and experience, Boots—still an active CFI--has never flown or worked on airplanes for a living. 

Instead—from his current home in Knoxville, Tennessee—he shares his expertise through the written word, crafting articles for Mentor magazine on topics such as flight maneuvers, the teaching process, and the responsibilities of flight instructors. 

“Boots is an incredibly prolific writer who has a passion for sharing his stories, experiences, and expertise with fellow flight instructors,” said Beth Stanton, NAFI director of publications and editor in a news release. “NAFI members have greatly benefited  from his engagement and dedication to sharing his tribal knowledge with the NAFI community.”

• READ MORE: Ned Parks Honored with NAFI Service Award

In his work Boots displays a no-nonsense and straightforward writing style. Last year in a Mentor article titled, “It’s Tough To Teach New CFIs,” Boots wrote: “What is learned first is retained best. If an instructor teaches incorrect information and does not immediately correct their own errors to the student, the student will retain the wrong knowledge learned first, even if shown the correct information at a later date. The quickest and easiest way for an instructor to understand this is to always admit your own mistakes, immediately. Explain to the student that it was your mistake and immediately either correct the mistake or, at the very least, explain that you don’t know and will look it up and explain it later. Never try to fake an answer or an explanation! That will always violate the rule of primacy.”

Summing it up, Boots wrote: “You truly do have to become a mentor rather than just an instructor when teaching initial CFIs.”

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Ned Parks is the winner of the Jack J. Eggspuehler Service Award by the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI). 

Since its launch in 1967, NAFI has become the largest and oldest association dedicated to representing flight instructors worldwide. NAFI members work independently as instructors at flight schools, universities, FBOs, corporate flight departments, and even the military.

Parks Joins Iconic Recipients

The service award to Parks was presented at the NAFI annual member breakfast on July 28 at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and recognized individuals or organizations that have contributed significantly to the flight training industry. 

The award is named after NAFI’s founder, Jack J. Eggspuehler, a member of the Flight Instructor Hall of Fame who has served the association for more than 30 years. To receive the award, at least two-thirds of NAFI’s board of directors must favor the selected person or organization.

In a statement, NAFI president Paul Preidecker called Parks “a friend and colleague of the industry,” and said, “When I think of role models, Ned is at the top of the list.” 

Parks follows other well-known recipients, including FLYING contributors John and Martha King in 2019 and companies such as Avemco Insurance in 2015 for its role in insuring CFIs. This year, the group selected Parks because of what they described as his long-standing contribution to education, safety, and mentoring of other instructors, which NAFI described as “commendable.”

“He blends his passion for flying with his ability to communicate in many different settings and formats to demonstrate his dedication to flight training,” the association said in the statement.

A Rich Aviation Background

Parks attended The University of Akron and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. With more than 4,800 flight hours, Parks is rated in both fixed- and rotor-wing aircraft, with multiple certifications, including his ATP and CFII. 

While in the Army, Parks flew Bell UH-1 “Huey” helicopters and served as a ground and flight instructor. After his military career, Parks launched a business strategy and consulting firm. 

Parks hasn’t allowed his flight experience to lapse, and he’s been a member of the FAA FAASTeam, as well. He has also owned and operated many general aviation businesses, including FBOs, charter operations, and flight schools, and has led corporate flight departments.

In demonstrating why Parks earned the NAFI award, the group highlighted his wide-ranging contributions as a member. They include:

• Presenting at the NAFI Professional Development Center, MentorLIVE, and other forums
• Volunteering on the Membership Engagement and Recruitment Committee
• Launching the Member Ambassador program to welcome new members to NAFI
• Hosting the monthly Rotor Instructor Special Interest Group

‘Stay Laser-Focused on Quality Instruction’

Despite his many contributions, Parks said he didn’t see the honor coming. 

“To say I was surprised would be an understatement. To say I am honored is a bigger understatement,” Parks said. “As always, I support NAFI and flight instruction.” During his speech at the award ceremony, He called on NAFI members to “stay laser-focused on quality instruction” and said, “Whether there is a pilot shortage or not does not matter; what matters is quality instruction.”

In addition to his volunteer efforts for NAFI, he is an active volunteer in the East Central Ohio Pilots Association. He has also presented at the Helicopter Association International conference.  

• READ MORE: FLYING’s Coverage of the Pilot Shortage 

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At FLYING we see so many cool new advances in aviation every day—it’s why we love the industry we’re in. While we report on them all, we want to know what you think took the top prize for the Coolest Innovation of the Year. We’re looking at Q1 2021 through the end of Q1 2022 to capture as much new stuff as possible, and we came up with the following options. What gets your vote? The winner will take the new FLYING Readers’ Choice Award for 2022.

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