FAA Award Ceremony for Patricia Hange

AWAM member PATRICIA HANGE was awarded the prestigious Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award on August 29. Pat is the first fully qualified woman to receive this award. The event took place at the MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) in Tampa, FL.

Recipients of this award must have 50 years or more of aviation maintenance experience, of which at least 30 years must be as a certificated mechanic or repair person with no certificate revocation.

Ms. Hange began her career as a "prop girl" in 1946. She earned her Aircraft Mechanic Certificate with an airframe rating in 1964, her powerplant rating in 1974 and added the Inspection Authorization in 1978.

FAA Safety Program Manager "Buz" Massengale began the event with an FAA Safety Seminar on Runway Incursions, followed by a presentation introducing Ms. Hange and her story. Angela Elgee, FAA Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Division Manager from Washington DC, presented the award. The over 100  attendees honored Ms. Hange with a standing ovation.

After the presentation, participants were treated to a cocktail party and an Imax movie in the museum theater.