National GA Awards Recognize Three EAA Members

February 16, 2017 - Three EAA members have been announced as the winners of the 2017 National General Aviation Awards, presented by the FAA and General Aviation Awards Program, for their contributions to the general aviation community.

Charles Gensler, EAA 1041133, has been named the National Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year. Charles discovered a love of teaching during his time in the U.S. Air Force and, after retirement, became the co-founder of Independence Aviation in Denver, Colorado. He is currently the company’s chief flight instructor emeritus. Charles also volunteers for the COPA Pilot Proficiency Program, the IMC Club, and Challenge Air and was co-general manager for the EAA Pilot Proficiency Center during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016.

Mark Ducorsky, EAA 1091598, was recognized as National FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year and has served as lead representative for the FAASTeam in the Orlando area since 2013. Mark discovered a passion for teaching flying while attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to be an airline pilot. He is now a Gold Seal and Master CFI and was awarded the CFI of the Year Award for the Orlando district and Southern Region in 2016. Mark is chairman of the Lakeland Aero Club, and director of scholarships and chief instructor for Sun ’n Fun Fly-In at Lakeland, Florida.

Brian Carpenter, EAA 299858, received recognition as the National Aviation Technician of the Year. Brian, along with his wife Carol, owns Rainbow Aviation Services in Corning, California, and is a regular contributor to EAA’s publications including Sport Aviation magazine. He is also an EAA technical counselor and the only active provider of FAA-approved light sport repairman training. Among his contributions to the general aviation community are a commitment to developing low-cost, electric aircraft, implementation of 3-D printing into aircraft building, and myriad instructional videos, books, and workshops.

“These awards highlight the important role played by these individuals in promoting aviation education and flight safety,” GA Awards Chairman Gary Goodpaster said in a press release. “The awards program sponsors are pleased that these outstanding aviation professionals will receive the recognition they so richly deserve before their peers in Oshkosh.”

The recipients will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Oshkosh where they will be presented with individual plaques at AirVenture 2017. They will also have their names added to a larger plaque in the lobby of the EAA AirVenture Museum.