GSA Presents First Federal Aviation Awards

GSA #9843

June 26, 2001
Contact: Eleni Martin, (202) 501-1231
eleni.martin@gsa.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Deputy Administrator Thurman Davis of the U.S. General Services Administration and John Sindelar, Deputy Associate Administrator for GSA's Office of Governmentwide Policy, today presented the agency's first federal aviation awards � the Federal Aviation Program Award and the Federal Aviation Professional Award - during an awards ceremony held at the agency's Central Office location.

The Federal Aviation Program Award was presented to the 25 members of the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Aviation Program of the Department of State for their outstanding achievements in aviation management in FY 2000. The INL aviation team supports eradication of illegal crops and other anti-drug efforts in South America. The judges selected the INL team, which is based at Patrick Air Force Base in Melbourne, FL, as the best, all-around Federal aviation program.

In addition, the judges gave Honorable Mention (Federal Aviation Program Award) to the 15 members of the Flight Operations Team at Glenn Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Cleveland, OH, for the excellence of their Tailplane Icing Research and Development Program. NASA Glenn used its aircraft to conduct research and develop a training program to help regional airlines handle "tailplane stall" and other problems associated with airborne icing. Not one regional airline has had a fatal accident resulting from icing since airlines have been using the information and training aids that NASA Glenn developed.

The Federal Aviation Professional Award was presented to Dr. Ron Hanks, Aviation Program Evaluation Manager, Office of Aircraft Services, Department of the Interior, Boise, ID. GSA honored Dr. Hanks for his outstanding achievements in FY 2000 in support of the Interior Department's flight programs in eight bureaus and for his service as Chair of the Safety Standards and Training Subcommittee of the Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy. Dr. Hanks is a driving force for continuous improvement of aviation management and safety, not only in the Department of the Interior but in the Federal aviation community at large.

Supervisory Special Agent Robert Fabie, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Justice, received Honorable Mention for the Federal Aviation Professional Award for his exceptional work in establishing and managing the FBI's aviation safety program. SSA Fabie chairs the FBI's Aviation Safety Council, publishes their comprehensive aviation safety publication, "Safelight," developed their aviation hazard reporting system, and initiated standardized safety officer qualifications and training for the Bureau.

The awards honor the safest, most efficient and effective Federal aviation operations. A panel of independent aviation experts evaluated the 12 nominees for overall excellence and innovative achievement during calendar year 2000. Judges looked for nominees that excelled in all elements of a flight program: management and administration, operations, maintenance, training, and safety.

Judges for this award were: Roy Resavage, President of the Helicopter Association International; Jack Olcott, President of the National Business Aviation Association; Warren Morningstar, Vice-President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; Cathie Zimmerman, Deputy Chief for Aviation Safety, U.S. Coast Guard; and Jack Kelly, Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Management and Budget.

The Federal Aviation Awards program is sponsored by the Aircraft Management Policy office in GSA's Office of Transportation and Personnel Property, Office of Governmentwide Policy. The Aircraft Management Policy office develops policy related to the acquisition, use, and disposal of aircraft owned and/or operated by Federal civilian agencies. It also sponsors the Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy, whose membership includes aviation managers from 18 federal agencies.

GSA is a centralized federal procurement and property management agency responsible for providing office space, supplies, services and government-wide policy for the federal government. GSA operates and manages 1,800 government-owned buildings and 6,500 leased buildings while playing a key role in procuring and managing the government's massive inventory of computer and telecommunications equipment and services.

Since its creation in 1949, the agency has evolved from a mandatory supplier of space and products for federal civilian agencies to a non-mandatory provider of competitively-priced, high-quality office space, commercial products and military and civilian workforce solutions.