Banyan Air Service Inspector Receives Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award

Dale Arthur Meiler, Floor Inspector at Banyan Air Service, was recently honored as a recipient of the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Dale is one of only 3,018 recipients of The Charles Taylor Award, the most prestigious FAA award to an aviation maintenance technician. Named in honor of Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight, award recipients are required to have 50 years of civil and/or military maintenance experience with no violations.

Dale began his aviation maintenance career in the U.S. Army as a helicopter mechanic and served in the Vietnam War. After the military, he graduated from Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University with his A&P License. Dale joined Banyan Air Service in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (KFXE), on September 9, 1983, as the lead technician. During those early years, Dale was crucial to Banyan’s maintenance department’s certification because of his experience and relationship with the FAA. He added quality into the inspection process and increased awareness, safety, and efficiency for the entire MRO department as the Floor Inspector.

Dale has mentored countless junior technicians and has been promoted to several positions of increased responsibilities during his 37 years with the Banyan team. Dale was also the recipient of the NATA Technician of the Year award in 2006. Banyan is proud to have been a part of Dale’s invaluable career in the aviation industry and congratulate him on his retirement.

Banyan Air Service is an award-winning full-service fixed-base operator (FBO) with more than 1 million square feet of hangar and office space within a 100-acre aviation complex. Banyan provides comprehensive business aviation services, including ground services, aircraft sales, heavy maintenance, exterior and interior upgrades, turbine engine service, structural repairs, avionics installations and services, and aircraft part sales. Banyan’s aircraft sales department is the Southeast Sales and Service center for the HondaJet. When visiting Banyan, be sure to check out the world’s largest pilot shop, Banyan Pilot Shop, and dine with a view of the ramp at the delicious Jet Runway Café. For more information, visit www.banyanair.com.