Every year for more than 50 years, the General Aviation Awards program and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have recognized aviation professionals for their contributions to general aviation in the fields of flight instruction, aviation maintenance/avionics, and safety.
These awards highlight the important leadership roles these individuals play in promoting safety, education, and professionalism throughout the aviation industry.
Recipients of the 2022 National General Aviation Awards are:
- Amy Hoover of Ellensburg, Washington—2022 Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year
- Michael Everhart of Charlotte, North Carolina—2022 Aviation Technician of the Year
- Laura Hermann of St. Bonifacius, Minnesota—2022 FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year
The FAA will present individual awards to each National Honoree in July during EAA AirVenture 2022 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and their names will be added to the large perpetual plaque located in the lobby of the EAA AirVenture Museum. In addition to being recognized at AirVenture and highlighted in the aviation media, National Honorees also receive gifts provided by sponsors and contributors.
Michael Everhart of Charlotte, North Carolina has been named the 2022 National Aviation Technician of the Year. Michael’s professional aviation maintenance career began in 1981 as an aviation machinist mate while serving in the United States Navy. However, Mike’s passion started at an early age while watching his father, an engineer, fix anything and everything around the house. At an early age, Mike’s father taught him how to disassemble and reassemble items such as his bicycle. Sadly, Mike’s father passed when he was only 11, but the passion had already been passed from father to son.
While still a teen, Mike began restoring cars and after high school decided to join the United States Navy. While on active duty stationed in Sicily, Mike had the opportunity to work on various airframes including the Grumman C-2A, the Rockwell T-39, and the Sikorsky RH-63D. After active duty, and while still serving in the reserves, Mike looked to his long-time mentor and friend Dave Harmon for his first civilian role in aviation maintenance. Mike later received his A&P Certification in 1989 and his Inspection Authorization in 1994. Over this time, Mike had the chance to work with and on a variety of civilian use aircraft including airliners, the EAA’s Ford Tri-Motor, and even a 1946 Funk.
In 2010, Mike and his family relocated to Hendersonville, North Carolina after he accepted a job with Belle Aircraft Maintenance. A year later, Mike was promoted to Director of Maintenance, a position which he held for just shy of 11 years before accepting a new role as the Director of Maintenance with Fenix Air Charter in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Mike is currently part of the team at Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems where he performs maintenance on the Beechcraft King Air.
Mike is described as a “hands-on” Director of Maintenance as he oversees maintenance scheduling, the other technicians on staff, running a professional and smooth shop, and ensuring the fleet of Beechcraft Barons, Cessna 402s, and King Airs are all in airworthy condition at a moment’s notice.
Outside the workplace, Mike has represented his trade and the industry well. Mike currently serves as a FAASTeam Lead Representative who conducts in-person and virtual training events for the aviation community. He provides mentorship for newly licensed A&Ps and also serves as the maintenance liaison for the Western North Carolina Pilots Association where he provides crucial advice and updates on what’s happening in the aviation maintenance sector of our industry. In addition to all of this, Mike also makes hangar space available to local middle school and high school students to discuss career opportunities in the aviation industry. Mike is also a Merit Badge Counselor for the Wester North Carolina Council and assets the scouts in achieving their “Aviation Merit Badge”.
For the last three years, Mike has been awarded Regional Aviation Technician of the Year and in 2018 he received the FAASTeam “Rising Star Representative” award.
At the time of this release, Mike has worked on over 30+ aircraft including popular GAA aircraft such as the Cessna 172, Piper J-3, and the Cirrus SR20, while also having worked with airframes such as the YAK 52TW, ERJ-170, and the CRJ 200/700/900 series aircraft.
Mike is an avid volunteer and supporter of the Western North Carolina Air Museum in Henderson, the Western North Carolina Pilot’s Association, and is President of the local Volkswagen club. Mike is described in his letters of recommendation as being a safety-conscious aviation professional with a deep dedication to aviation education, mentorship, and excellence.
