Glen Girard, standardisation and compliance manager at Metro Aviation, a Part 135 air medical operations provider headquartered in Shreveport, Louisiana, has recently received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for his contribution to the aviation industry. The award is the most prestigious award issued by the FAA to pilots certified under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 61. The award recognises pilots who have exhibited professionalism, skill and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while piloting aircraft.

Girard first joined the Metro Aviation family in 2014 as the assistant director of training at its Helicopter Flight Training Center. In that role, he was responsible for ground and simulator instruction, crew and air medical resource management, course development and records review. In the years since, he has transferred from the Helicopter Training Center to operations, ensuring pilots are properly trained and compliant with all regulations.

“This is a well-deserved honour for Glen,” says Metro director of operations Brian Bihler. “To work at something for 50 years is an accomplishment in itself. Glen has given back tremendously to this industry, and we are lucky to have him at Metro.”