Chapter Member Pete Novak receives the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award
Although Pete Novak is a relatively new member/hangar tenant of our chapter and Galt Airport, he has been enriched by the greater aviation community for many decades.
Pete started his journey in aviation back in 1969 when he did his first solo. He learned to fly and ultimately logged over 32,ooo hours of flight time, retiring from United Airlines as a Boeing 777 Captain in 2016. With all of his experience, and years of safe flying, the FAA recently awarded Pete with its highest achievement award known as the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.
The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award is the most prestigious award the FAA issues to pilots certified under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 61. This award is named after the Wright Brothers, the first US pilots, to recognize individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while piloting aircraft as “Master Pilots“.
To be eligible for the Wright Brothers MPA, nominees must meet the following criteria:
- Hold a U.S. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificate.
- Have 50 or more years of civil and military flying experience.
- Up to 20 years of the required 50 years may be U.S. military experience.
- The effective start date for the 50 years is the date of the nominee’s first solo flight or military equivalent.
- The 50 years may be computed consecutively or non-consecutively.
We are excited to have Pete involved in our community at Galt. Pete owns a beautiful 1955 Cessna 310 that has found its home among the Galt hangars. He often flies the 310 to spend time during the summer months on his sailboat in Maine. When you see Pete around the airport, be sure to welcome him to the Galt family, and congratulate him on his award!
