The Houston chapter of the Ninety-Nines, along with the West Houston Airport and the FAA, recognized 16 pilots on June 25, 2024, with the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.
The pilots have a combined total of more than 800 years of flying experience with backgrounds from private pilots to airline pilots and more, according to airport officials.
“These pilots represent tens of thousands of accident-free flying hours with both national and international experience, including aircraft from the Piper J-3 Cub to the Boeing 767,” airport officials added.
During the presentation by Lance Little of the FAA FAASTeam program, which brought together more than 150 friends, family, and flying buddies, each pilot spoke about a small part of their story and journey. Stories ranged from crop dusting to military service and more.
“All of us are extremely fortunate to have had these individuals making history in the realm of our skies,” said Woody Lesikar, West Houston Airport Director.
According to the FAA’s Little, “there have been 8,737 Master Pilots awarded in the US. With over 1 million pilots in the world, that’s an exclusive club. There are 991 Master Pilots in Texas. In the Houston area there are 188 Master Pilots, with these newly awarded pilots, that will make 204 locally.”
The individuals receiving the award were: Gary N. Able, Thomas Barger, Paul Carrington, Noel Graubart, William Harper, Stanley Hoffpauir, Randall Hollenberg, Walter Huber, John Iisager, Brenda Landing, Scott Rozzell, Warren Lee Smith, Edward Vesely, Noel R. Welsh, Richard Wilson, and Paul Yust.
The West Houston Airport, established in 1962, is home to Houston’s oldest continuously operating flight school, as well as 350 based airplanes.
For more information: WestHoustonAirport.com
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