Tempe, Ariz. — April 8, 2005— Garrett Aviation/Piedmont Hawthorne/Associated Air Center, one of North America’s largest providers of comprehensive services for the business aviation industry, announced today that its Garrett Aviation-Springfield, Ill. repair station has been awarded the FAA Diamond Award—the highest level employer honors—for outstanding aviation maintenance training.
The Garrett Aviation-Springfield maintenance facility has participated in and received the FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician Award for the past 12 years. This is the 10th consecutive year it has received the prestigious Diamond Award and the 5th year it has earned the gold foil on the certificate, recognizing participation in the training program for five or more consecutive years. All 180 employees were awarded individual certificates of achievement with the accompanying FAA recognition pin (ruby, gold, or bronze).
“The FAA believes that the Diamond Award symbolizes the best of what the aviation maintenance industry has to offer,” said Kerry Gambrel, Airworthiness Safety Program manager for the Springfield IL Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). “Garrett-Springfield has consistently and aggressively provided outstanding training for their technicians and should be proud of their longstanding achievements.”
Kirk Sanderbeck, senior technician for Garrett-Springfield was also honored as the recipient of the FAA Avionics Technician of the Year award for the Springfield FSDO district and the Avionics Technician of the Year for the Great Lakes Region. The Great Lakes Region sent his nomination forward to the FAA headquarters for the national competition. His peers and customers nominated Sanderbeck in recognition of his outstanding achievements.
Dixie J. Norton, FAA manager in Springfield, Ill. stated that “It is an honor in itself to be nominated by your peers,” as she presented the local award to Sanderbeck. Rich Mileham, Safety Program manager for the Great Lakes Region, presented the regional award.
“These awards demonstrate our unyielding commitment to fostering the achievement of the highest technical and safety standards that customers have come to expect from us,” said Ed Green, Garrett-Springfield facility vice president and general manager. “We are extremely proud of our maintenance team and their dedication to professionalism and excellence.”
About Garrett/Piedmont Hawthorne/Associated
Garrett/Piedmont Hawthorne/Associated is one of North America’s largest providers of comprehensive services for the business aviation industry. With 40 locations in North America, the company offers a full range of fixed base operations, maintenance, repair and overhaul, aircraft charter, sales and management and large aircraft completions. Garrett/Piedmont Hawthorne/Associated is headquartered in Tempe, Ariz.