Each year for over 60 years, the General Aviation Awards Program and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have recognized aviation professionals for their contributions to general aviation in the fields of flight instruction, aviation maintenance, and safety.
The selection process begins with each of 80 FAA Flight Standards District Offices selecting district-level winners in each of the three categories. These winners then go to FAA regional offices where regional winners are selected. The regional winners are then reviewed by a panel of distinguished industry judges in each category, who select the three national winners.
National winners receive a trip to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh in July, where they are recognized by the FAA Administrator and other high-ranking FAA officials, have their names added to the large plaque in the EAA Museum, and are fêted at an awards luncheon where they receive gifts donated by GAA's industry sponsors.
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP
The General Aviation Awards Program is a non-profit corporation, and board members, judges, and volunteers serve without compensation. However, the Program requires $15,000 per year to pay for travel, lodging, the awards luncheon, plaques, lapel pins, and gifts for the national honorees. While donations from industry have always been central to the Program and demonstrate the commitment of the aviation industry, these alone do not cover our annual operating costs. We therefore ask for your support in order to hold a truly stellar 2024 award ceremony at AirVenture. Sponsors receive publicity through press releases, our website, the annual GAALive! broadcast featuring the Honorees, and exposure to 400,000+ pilots. Your support means we can continue to recognize accomplished aviation professionals for years to come!
Recipients of the 2026 National General Aviation Awards are:
• Mike "Cuckoo" Kloch, 2026 National CFI of the Year
• Roger Whittier, 2026 National Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year
• Mike Jesch, 2026 National FAASTeam Representative of the Year
The FAA will present individual awards to each National Honoree in July during EAA AirVenture 2024 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and their names will be added to the large perpetual plaque located in the lobby of the EAA AirVenture Museum. In addition to being recognized at AirVenture and highlighted in the aviation media, National Honorees also receive gifts generously provided by sponsors and contributors.
“It is an honor to announce the names of the 2024 General Aviation Awards National Honorees” says GA Awards Board Chair Sandya Narayanswami, “These important, historic awards highlight the critical role played by accomplished individuals in building a culture solidly based on aviation safety and education,” she added, “The Board and our many sponsors are pleased that these outstanding aviation professionals will receive public recognition before their peers at AirVenture.”
Mike “Cuckoo” Kloch, 2026 National Certified Flight Instructor of the Year
Mike Kloch is a resident of Bend, OR. Most people know him as “Cuckoo,” and if you ask Mike Kloch why he spends so much time in the sky, he’ll probably tell you it’s all about the variety. With over 8,300 hours in the air across 75 different aircraft types—ranging from the F/A-18 Hornet and the CM-170 Fouga Magister to Carbon Cubs and helicopters—Mike has spent his career exploring every corner of the aviation world. While he’s a combat veteran and a former Marine Corps pilot, his true mission these days is making general aviation (GA) safer. As the CEO and Chief Instructor of Specialized Aero Works (SAW), he doesn’t just teach people how to fly; he teaches them how to handle the unexpected. He’s one of the few instructors in the country offering Part 141-approved Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT), and as the 2026 Portland FSDO CFI of the Year, he’s dedicated to mentoring the next generation of instructors to ensure the highest standards of safety.
Mike’s expertise is backed by a military pedigree. During his time in the Marine Corps, he crossed the Pacific and Atlantic to train in numerous countries, earned an Air Medal during Operation Southern Watch, and served as a school-trained group-level Safety and Standardization Officer, overseeing five flying squadrons. Even as a reservist, his commitment didn't waver, as he deployed to Iraq in 2006 and to Afghanistan in 2010. That disciplined approach to safety followed him into the civilian world, where he became involved in GA safety issues, especially Loss of Control-Inflight (LOC-I). Mike is a three-time Master CFI-Aerobatic, two-time NAFI Master CFI, member of Master Instructors, LLC board of review, and the Vice-President of the UPRT Network, working tirelessly to reduce Loss of Control Inflight (LOC-I) mishaps across the industry.
Beyond the classroom, Mike is a sought-after contract test pilot for innovators like Epic Aircraft and Stratos Aircraft. Whether he’s conducting R&D on the Stratos 716X jet or testing individual experimental builds like the RV-14, Mike is at the forefront of aviation development. He’s also a guy some turn to for high-stakes formation flying and dynamic photo shoots. When he isn’t in a cockpit, you’ll find him giving back to the community—speaking at AirVenture and the Northwest Aviation Conference, co-hosting the Aviation Rant Podcast, or serving on the board of review for Master Instructors, LLC.
Mike is an active member of nearly every major aviation organization, from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) to the EAA, AOPA, and IAC. He holds a degree from Oregon State and two from Central Oregon Community College, but he remains a "forever student," recently training with Sean D. Tucker to push his own aerobatic limits. To say Mike loves GA is an understatement; whether he's instructing UPRT and aerobatics in his Super Decathlon or flight testing a turbine airplane, he’s at his happiest the moment the wheels leave the ground.
Roger Whittier, 2026 National Aviation Technician of the Year
Roger Whittier of Phoenix, Arizona, is an active Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic with Inspection Authorization (A&P/IA). He is also an instrument-rated private pilot. Roger operates a local aircraft maintenance shop where he performs maintenance, repairs, alterations, and occasional mobile work. He specializes in owner-assisted annual inspections, using the process as a training opportunity for aircraft owners. Pilots have traveled from across the country to work with him and gain a deeper understanding of their aircraft, and learn from this hands-on approach.
Roger’s love of aviation began as the son of an Air Force pilot who shared what could best be described as the romance of flight at the family dinner table. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong passion for aviation and convinced him at a young age to want to fly. Lack of corrected vision required for military service meant pursuing that dream on his own.
After college and beginning a successful professional career, the dream of flight never faded. Roger began primary flight training in the 1980s and, while balancing a demanding job and a growing family, steadily made his way into aviation. He first became a pilot and later, recognizing the growing need for skilled maintenance professionals, pursued training as a mechanic. He eventually earned his A&P certificate and later achieved IA certification.
Roger also built an experimental aircraft and is the original owner of one of the earliest Cirrus SR22 aircraft produced, which he personally picked up from the factory on May 2, 2001.
In addition to his technical work, Roger served for ten years on the board of the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) and later as its President. During that time, COPA invested heavily in member training, and safety statistics across the fleet showed measurable improvement.
Roger’s expertise in aircraft systems and maintenance led to the creation of the College of Advanced Technology within COPA. As its founder and current Dean, he developed dozens of courses, published instructional materials, taught hundreds of classes both domestically and internationally, produced training videos, and spoke at aviation forums about the role of the aircraft owner as “Owner in Command.” He continues to write maintenance-focused articles for COPA Pilot magazine several times each year.
Widely regarded as a subject matter expert on Cirrus aircraft, Roger’s reputation for technical excellence and mentorship has made him a trusted resource throughout the owner-pilot community. In recognition of his skill, professionalism, and contributions to aviation safety, he has been honored with COPA’s Lifetime Achievement Award and selected twice as Mechanic of the Year.
Roger’s lifelong approach to aviation reflects a simple philosophy: to truly understand something, you must first be willing to take it apart. By getting “under the hood,” he believes pilots can better understand not only how their aircraft work, but why they work the way they do—and how to make them safer.
Roger understands that he cannot personally work on every one of the more than 200,000 aircraft flying today. But by sharing what he has learned and helping pilots better understand their airplanes, he believes knowledge can multiply safety across the aviation community. His goal is simple: to leave pilots better informed, aircraft better cared for, and the aviation community safer than when he found it.
Mike Jesch, 2026 National FAASTeam Representative of the Year
Mike Jesch of Orange, CA, didn’t just fall into aviation; he was born into it. Growing up watching his dad work on the Apollo Lunar Landing program, at six years old, Mike decided he was going to be a professional pilot. By 14, a discovery flight sealed the deal. He earned his Private Pilot certificate before he finished high school, was instructing by 21, and landed his first airline gig at 23. Today, with over 40 years of professional flying under his belt, Mike is a senior Captain on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner for American Airlines, regularly crossing the Pacific to the Far East and Australia.
Early in his airline career, family and job demands (and the low salaries of early CFIs and the rigors of airline life) meant that Mike had to take a break from general aviation (GA) for a few years, but his heart for GA never changed. In 2005, Mike jumped back into the GA scene with a Cessna 182. Since then, he’s been on a mission to give back as an FAA Safety Team Lead Representative and a strong advocate for the WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program (WINGS). He’s flown over 50 Young Eagles, volunteers for LightHawk and Angel Flight West, and spends his time at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh every year volunteering as a sim instructor in the Pilot Proficiency Center. Not to mention, the many seminars he puts on during the event.
When he’s not at 35,000 feet, Mike is still a busy CFI specializing in Cessna 182 and Mooney checkouts, IFR, and complex Air Traffic Control procedures. He even serves as the Chief Instructor for a local multi-engine program. Mike doesn't just fly the routes; he helps design them, working with the Allied Pilots Association and ATC to develop IFR procedures and improve runway safety. Since 2024, he’s also chaired the Southern California Airspace Users Working Group, helping pilots and controllers navigate the crowded LAX skies safely.
He regularly works with pilots, instructors, and other FAASTeam Reps to improve their knowledge of the FAASafety.gov website and the WINGS program. He has personally completed hundreds of WINGS Ground and Flight Activities, has validated thousands of credits for other pilots, and has achieved 25 Basic, 20 Advanced, and 18 Master WINGS phases. His professional affiliations include lifetime memberships in EAA, AOPA, NAFI, SAFE, and CalPilots.
Whether he’s presenting a national webinar on ForeFlight or personally validating thousands of WINGS credits, Mike is all about one thing: making sure every pilot is a little bit better and a whole lot safer than they were yesterday.
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