BIRMNGHAM AL- Alabama Northwest Florida District Office, FAASTeam Manager unveiled the General Aviation Award recipients for 2012.
The General Aviation Awards Program is a cooperative effort between the FAA and aviation industry sponsors to recognize annually outstanding individuals in the fields of Avionics, Flight Instruction, and Maintenance. In addition, the program recognizes outstanding individuals serving the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) as representatives.
The awards highlight the important roles these individuals play in promoting aviation safety, education, and professionalism. In addition, award winners recognized locally may be selected for recognition on a regional and a national level. Additional level award announcements will be issued in January.
District GA Awards Recipients:
CFI of the Year- Bert Mackentepe, Cullman, Alabama
Avionics Technician of the Year- Nora Sue Odom, Panama City, Florida
FAASTeam Representative of the Year- Betty Meyer, Birmingham, Alabama
-Bert Mackentepe, Alabama Northwest Florida 2012 CFI of the Year-
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Bert Mackentepe-CFI, a Cullman native, is the Wallace State Flight Technology Department Head. He has trained more than 1100 flight students at Wallace State Aviation since he joined the college in 1980. An FAA Wings program participant, he is an FAA Safety Team member, active in both the AOPA, EAA and is a former board member of the Cullman Airport and a Civil Air Patrol check airman. He is proficient in more than 60 types of aircraft and a candidate for the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame since logging more than 20,300 hours in his career. He is well known for his dedication to his students and meeting their individual training needs.
-Nora Sue Odom, Alabama Northwest Florida Avionics 2012 Techician of the Year-
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Nora Sue Odom-Avionics Technician, With decades of electrical expertise including Tomahawk Cruise Missile controllers, she now performs electrical installations in Hughes 269, 369, 500, Bell OH/58, UH-1 H, Soloy, Bell 47, 206, 206L, 407, and 214. In addition, she performs maintenance on FUR and TAMAN Camera Systems, Avalex Mapping Systems, Monitors, Digital Video Recorders, Microwave Downlink Systems, Communication/Navigation System, Searchlights, SLASS Systems, Agricultural Navigator and Spray Systems, External load Installations, Rescue Hoist, Bambi Bucket, and Cargo Hooks. Responsible for critical use aircraft, she has exhibited dedication to maintaining complex systems and working with pilots to ensure nominal operation where ever and when ever she was called upon. She is employed by Coastal Helicopters. Odom is selected for this award a second consecutive year.
-Betty Meyer, Alabama Northwest Florida FAASTeam 2012 Representative of the Year-
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Betty Meyer-FAASTeam Representative, With over 30 years of aviation experience including CFI ASME, Air Carrier Certificate holder, Commuter Airline, Corporate and State of Alabama Forestry Pilot, she has been a member of the FAASTeam since 1996. Contributions to aviation safety include efforts at both the Orlando FAA Production Studios and Alabama Northwest Florida District. Her interest in Alabama seaplane safety lead to the planning and execution of six regional seaplane safety splash in events including the introduction of the original SeaWings program. She actively supports and promotes FAASTeam events across the state through her articles, photography and videography in her publication and her participation. She is active in numerous national aviation associations and held leadership positions at the local and state level. -Staff Report