FAA Recognizes John Lane; Lebanon's Longtime Flier, Aviation Mechanic Honored in Columbus.

John Morgan Lane of Lebanon received the Federal Aviation Administration's highest award for an aircraft mechanic - the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award - during the Ohio Aviation Maintenance Symposium on March 19 at Columbus State Community College.

The award is named for the Wright Brothers' mechanic who, among other things, built the engine that was used in the first aircraft-recorded flight by the Wright Brothers. He is known as the first aviation mechanic.

For a mechanic to receive this award, they must have been an active aviation mechanic for 50 years and have been in good standing with the FAA.

Lane started his aviation mechanic career as an apprentice in 1956. Six years later, he obtained his airframe and power plant certification. He has been safely maintaining aircraft for his company, Lane's Lebanon Air Service Inc., since 1962.

He has been a valuable source of aviation maintenance information and skills for several generations of aircraft mechanics in and around the Lebanon Warren County Airport.

In addition to receiving this prestigious award, John is part of an elite group of airmen to have received both the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award and the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.

The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award is named for Orville and Wilber Wright. This award recognizes pilots who follow the precautions and awareness to conduct their flights in a safe and efficient manner. For a pilot to receive this award, they must have been an active pilot for 50 years and in good standing with the FAA.

Lane's name will be added to the leather bound Roll of Honor on display at the entrance to the FAA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Roll of Honor lists all the recipients for the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.

Lane and his wife, Nelda, reside in Lebanon and are both active fliers.