The General Aviation Awards (GAA) honorees for 2026 have been chosen by the GAA board of directors in partnership with the FAA for contributions to the flying community in safety, flight instruction, and maintenance.
Here are this year’s recipients:
3 Professionals Honored With 2026 General Aviation Awards
GAA board and FAA recognize Mike Jesch, Mike Kloch, and Roger Whittier for their commitment to safety, instruction, and maintenance.
![The General Aviation Awards Class of 2026 has been named. [Credit: Shutterstock]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/shutterstock_411061336-scaled-e1675969178864-1.jpg)
Key Takeaways:
- The 2026 General Aviation Awards (GAA) honored three individuals for their significant contributions to safety, flight instruction, and maintenance.
- Mike Jesch was recognized as the FAASTeam Representative of the Year for his dedication to the FAASTeam program and promoting safety initiatives like WINGS.
- Mike Kloch received the CFI of the Year award for his extensive flight experience and expertise in improving GA safety, particularly through Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT).
- Roger Whittier was named Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year for his skilled maintenance work, educational approach with owner-assisted inspections, and efforts to enhance aircraft system understanding for pilots.
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