Carson Valley Senior Living resident Barton “Bart” Welsh received the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award on Nov. 21 for fifty-plus years and more than 6,000 hours of safely navigating the skies.
The award, presented to 82-year-old Welsh by Larry Cheek, team program manager for the FAA Safety Team, is named after U.S. aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright and recognizes pilots for their dedicated service, technical expertise, professionalism and outstanding contributions to further the cause of aviation safety.
“Bart’s” dedication, expertise and professionalism have groomed generations of pilots with the same honorable attributes,” said Darryl Fisher, fellow aviator and president of Mission Senior Living. To be eligible for the award, nominees must hold a U.S. Civil Aviation Authority or FAA pilot certificate, document 50 or more years of civil or military flying experience, and have three letters of recommendation from other pilots licensed by the FAA.
