Poughkeepsie resident honored by FAA

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POUGHKEEPSIE – Poughkeepsie resident Ronald Daniels has been honored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for his flying career that spans more than fifty years.

Daniels was presented the distinguished Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. The award was presented by FAA Aviation Safety Inspector Michael Bush at the FAA’s Albany Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) on  Friday, January 22, 2021. 

The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award is named after the first US pilots, the Wright brothers, to recognize individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while piloting aircraft as “Master Pilots”. The qualifying time period begins from the applicant’s first solo flight. 

The honored pilot’s first solo was recorded in July 1963 in Stormville, NY, an airport that is no longer in operation. From that time Daniels went on to earn an extensive list of additional certificates and ratings including the Airline Transport Pilot rating in 1981. He worked in aviation as a flight instructor providing training in both single and multi-engine aircraft as well as instructing aerobatics in the Mudry CAP 10 airplane.

FAA Aviation Safety Inspector Michael Bush (on right)presenting Ronald Daniels with the distinguished Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.

Daniels had an extensive career with the National Guard flying the Huey, Cobra, and BH-204 helicopters while simultaneously flying for American Eagle Airlines in Poughkeepsie as a first officer and later as a captain in a variety of planes. After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60 in 1997, Daniels went to work flying helicopters for Wayfarer Ketch in White Plains, where he finished his commercial flying career. 

Daniels now spends his retirement flying his Robinson R-22 helicopter as well as several small aircraft he has owned including building three he built himself – the Van’s RV-7, RV-9, and the PA-18  Dakota Cub. 

 Ronald Daniels lives with his wife Maria in Poughkeepsie.




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