The honor goes to U.S. citizens “who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while piloting aircraft,” according to the FAA. To be eligible, pilots must be a citizen and hold a U.S. Civil Aviation Authority or FAA pilot certificate, and have 50 or more years of civil and/or military flying experience. Awardees have their name, city and state added to the “Roll of Honor,” which is published on the FAA’s website.
Oberman graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in agricultural and engineering and started his career working at McDonnell Douglas in Marina del Rey as an associate engineer scientist working on rockets, many of which were launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc. Oberman decided to combine his career and flying hobby and launched his own company, Channel Islands Aviation, in 1975. He had identified the demand for charter flights to the Channel Islands when he took his first charter flight to Santa Cruz Island on Jan. 1, 1975. The following year, he and his wife, Janie, established Channel Islands Aviation at the Camarillo Airport.
“When I first soloed in 1966, I had no idea I would still be active in private and commercial aviation in 2017 and still enjoying it,” Oberman said. “I mostly fly out to the Channel Islands. There are six islands with airports or air strips, and we go into all of them. It’s some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.”
Oberman will receive his award at the 2017 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Fly-In set for April 28 and 29 at the Camarillo Airport.
Original article can be found here: http://www.vcstar.com
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