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Air Evac Lifeteam Receives FAA’s Highest Training Award
West Plains, MO - Air Evac Lifeteam, a rural provider of air ambulance services with national headquarters in West Plains, was recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its dedication to maintenance and safety.
The Diamond Certificate of Excellence, the aviation maintenance highest training award, was presented by the FFA at a special recognition luncheon Thursday, May 17. Air Evac President and CEO Colin Collins accepted the award.
The FAA also honored 41 Air Evac Aviation Maintenance Technicians for training hours accumulated in 2006. Silver Awards were given for 12 hours, Gold, 26 hours, Ruby, 60 hours, and Diamond for 100 hours.
Air Evac’s participation in the FAA Aviation Maintenance Training Program began in January 2006, according to AMT trainer Philip Morrissey. Training for new technicians starts the day they are hired, he said, adding technicians hired before 2006 also have the opportunity to take the classes.
“I believe the commitment this company makes to safety is outstanding,” Morrissey said. “Safety is a word we live by. Through this training program we are able to bring that to each mechanic and pilot hired employed by this company. We have classes for every new hire mechanic and pilot and recurrent training on an annual basis to both.”
To accommodate the program, the company has a dedicated maintenance training facility located at the airport in Pomona, Morrissey said. Air Evac conducts all maintenance training at that location, with some new hire pilot training and all flight operations for pilot flight training.
“This training includes company policies and procedures, regulatory issues as mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration, and specific training on our type aircraft, and the companies Approved Aircraft Inspection Program,” Morrissey said. “This training brings together mechanics from across the company and we are able to learn from each other and share our experiences that we all may benefit from. This information would be lost with out this forum. This commitment from Air Evac truly indicates ‘Safety Always’ as a way of life and only aircraft that are properly maintained and 100 percent airworthy will be used in support of our mission.”
In 2006, Air Evac built a 50,000-square-foot Completion Center in West Plains. It employs more than 50 aviation professionals proficient in mechanics, avionics, sheet metal fabrication and aircraft painting, with technical expertise developed over years of specialized experience with the Bell 206 Long Ranger helicopter. The center is capable of an annual throughput of about 24 aircraft.
Diamond Awards went to John Branson and Hope Pijanowski.
Ruby Awards went to Brent Barnes, Jerry Chavers, Gary Cooper, Ricky Dunnihoo, Barry Foote, Alvin French, Kevin Girdley, David Granowski, Douglas Hart, Jason Hodges, Brian Hoyle, Michael Lunn, Curtis Miles, Chris Murray, Lorri Orlowski, John Searcy, Michael Seeley, Kenneth Stapleton, Jim Stephens, Bradley Taylor, John Vest and Marvin Wake.
Gold Awards went to Mike Butler, Keith Collins, Dustin Hambleton, Brandon Heathman, Kevin Jenkins, James Lane, Ben Malkowski, Philip Morrissey, Daniel Neal, Larry Norland, Ben Rhoads jr., Ben Rhoads, Shane Shelley and David Warren.
Silver Awards went to Christopher Patterson, Curtis Rodgers and Bruce Sims.
Air Evac is a membership-supported air ambulance company that serves rural communities throughout the central United States. For more information about Air Evac Lifeteam, call 1-800-793-0010 or visit www.lifeteam.net.
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