Reynolds Jet's Rick Summers, director of operations, has received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. The award, bestowed by the FAA, recognises pilots who have practised safe flight operations for 50 or more years during the course of their aviation careers. Summers, who has been with the US aircraft management and charter company since 2011, has been involved in aviation since 1974.

“Rick is very deserving of this recognition,” says James Murray, Reynolds Jet president and CEO. “I've known Rick for over 25 years, and he embodies the standards that merit receipt of this respected award.”

The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award recognises pilots who have practised safe flight operations continuously for 50 or more years during the course of their aviation careers. Eligibility criteria include having 50 years of piloting experience, dating to the applicant's first solo flight, and having been certified by the FAA during that time. Nominations for the award need to include three letters of recommendation attesting to the nominee's record from other FAA-certified pilots. Nominees can have 50 or more years of civil and military piloting experience or 50 or more years combined experience in both piloting and aircraft operations.

Summers is a graduate of the Federal Aviation Academy. His early career includes working with air traffic control and as manager of the Clermont County Aviation Flight School and airport manager of Claremont County airport in Ohio. In 1988, Summers became one of the founding pilots of Comair Jet Express, the operation that later became Delta Private Jets. During his tenure there, he moved up from line pilot to other increasingly responsible positions and was then promoted to director of operations. In 2011, he joined Reynolds Jet as a Challenger 604 captain and chief pilot, and later became director of standards and director of operations. He has logged over 16,000 hours of flight time with nearly 6,000 hours in Challenger 604 and 605 aircraft in operations throughout Europe, South America, North America and the Pacific.

“We are very proud of Rick,” continues Murray. “He is an outstanding example of the high standards represented in the aviation industry and key member of our team.”

Headquartered at Cincinnati Municipal, Reynolds Jet has been providing personalised aircraft management and on-demand charter services since 2008. As a Wyvern Wingman-certified operator, the company is committed to delivering safety, reliability and a truly seamless aviation experience 24 hours a day, seven days a week.