Former American Air Campers Association (AACA) Founder and President Don Abbott has received the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.
The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award recognizes pilots who have demonstrated professionalism, skill and aviation expertise by maintaining safe operations for 50 or more years. Recipients are recognized in the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award Roll of Honor.
Abbott is an instrument rated single and multi-engine commercial pilot, and regularly flies his Beechcraft Bonanza for business and pleasure. He has made a number of contributions to the field of aviation. He founded American Air Campers Association, Inc. in 2010 to create a gathering and communications forum for pilots who enjoy camping with their planes, and developed an on-airport camping guide for members. He also developed the “Pulselite,” a recognition light controller used on fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters worldwide.
Abbott and his wife Betty have been full time residents of Sanibel Island, Florida, for the past 32 years. Their daughter, Liz Ayn and her husband Greg Longenhagen now own and operate Abbott Productions, the marketing and audio-visual production company Abbott founded in 1965. Abbott continues to be active with the company as a writer, producer, director and innovator. His most recent innovation is the Offline Switch, a new software that helps stop computer hackers. For information on Offline Switch™ visit www.offlineswitch.com. His non-business activities include travel, enjoying family and friends and, especially, having fun with his two grandchildren, Liza Jayne and Jack.