FORT WORTH, Texas, July 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines is honoring a special group of Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) for their lifetime achievement of serving five or more decades in the airline industry.

At American's maintenance facilities in Tulsa, Okla., Kansas City, Mo., and Tampa, Fla., the airline paid homage to eight AMTs with the FAA's prestigious Charles E. Taylor "Master Mechanic" Award, which recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics. The award is named in honor of Charles E. Taylor, who worked for the Wright Brothers and was the first aviation mechanic in powered flight. To be eligible for the award, a recipient must have served 50 years as an accredited aviation mechanic and have been an FAA-certified mechanic for a minimum of 30 years.

"American Airlines AMTs are the best of the best, and these gentlemen exemplify our high standards. We commend them for their excellent service over the years," said Jim Ream, American's Senior Vice President – Maintenance & Engineering. "For 50 years, our Master Mechanics have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the safety of our customers, employees and fleet. They have set a very high bar for future generations of AMTs."

The honorees include:

• William Hindle (AMT, retired) – Kansas City
• Larry Olsen (AMT Crew Chief, retired) – Kansas City
• Gerald Beebe (AMT Inspector, retired) – Kansas City
• John Mulholl (AMT Crew Chief) – Tampa
• Ron Wolfe (AMT) – Tampa
• Ralph Grunhof (Manager – Production, retired) – Tulsa
• Prince Street (Supervisor – Aircraft Maintenance) – Tulsa
• Jim Roddy (AMT) – Tulsa

American Airlines has three overhaul maintenance bases located in Tulsa, Okla., Fort Worth, Texas, and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, along with line stations located throughout its domestic and international network. American employs more than 8,400 AMTs, who repair and maintain American's fleet of more than 600 aircraft.

About American Airlines

American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection® serve 250 cities in 50 countries with, on average, more than 3,600 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American's award-winning website, AA.com®, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve approximately 900 destinations with more than 9,000 daily flights to 145 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, and AAdvantage are trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR).

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The address is http://www.aa.com

SOURCE American Airlines