# AC 65-26B: Charles Taylor "Master Mechanic" Award - Type: Advisory circular (guidance, not mandatory unless a rule or AD requires it) - Status: Historical - Approved: July 2, 1998 - Last reviewed: October 23, 2024 - Family: AC 65-26 - Cancels: [AC 65-26A](https://openairdocs.org/ac/65-26A) - Cancelled by: [AC 65-26C](https://openairdocs.org/ac/65-26C) - 14 CFR parts: 65 - Pages: 2 - PDF: https://openairdocs.org/files/sha256/b4/71/b471b7fc6a40d8e14d2a967438316ce93a97084c1ab882386c9e4f40be082e07 - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/0C5898B35BB662F1862569BA0052B946.0001 - DRS record last changed: November 22, 2025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ac/65-26B ## Versions - [AC 65-26D CHG 1](https://openairdocs.org/ac/65-26) (Historical), approved Jul 2, 2010, 7 pages. CHG 1 of AC 65-26D. Canceled by Memo signed by John S. Duncan and Richard Mathews; dated 09/29/2015. - [AC 65-26D](https://openairdocs.org/ac/65-26D) (Historical), approved Aug 4, 2009, 5 pages - [AC 65-26C](https://openairdocs.org/ac/65-26C) (Historical), approved Dec 20, 2004, 3 pages - [AC 65-26B](https://openairdocs.org/ac/65-26B) (Historical), approved Jul 2, 1998, 2 pages ## Text Each page's text from the PDF; open the PDF at a page with #page=N. ### Page 1 FAA Form 1320-15 (4-82) Supersedes WA Form 1320-2 Subject: CHARLES TAYLOR “MASTER MECHANIC” AWARD Date: 7/2/98 Initiated by: AFS-340 AC No: AC 65-26B Change: 1. PURPOSE. This revised advisory circular (AC) presents changes to the Charles Taylor “Master Mechanic” award. These changes were made by the Regional Aviation Airworthiness Safety Program Managers. The changes include the deletion of the requirement to be a U.S. citizen. The change also includes added revocations as well as a selection committee to make the decisions of eligibility. This award recognizes aviation maintenance personnel who have at least 50 years of experience in the aviation maintenance industry. The award is named for Mr. Charles Taylor, the mechanic who built the engine and maintained the Wright Brothers airplane. 2. CANCELLATION. AC 65-26A, Charles Taylor “Master Mechanic” Award, dated April 20, 1995, is canceled. 3. DESCRIPTION. The award will be in the form of a certificate and lapel pin. The certificate will be signed by the FAA Administrator. A stick pin for the spouses will recognize their contribution. A “Role of Honor” leather book with the recipients’ name, city and state, and certificate number will be kept in Washington, D.C., Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Building. 4. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible for the “Master Mechanic” award, candidates must meet the following criteria. a. Any individual with at least a total of 50 years engaged in aviation maintenance and is a certificated mechanic or repairman as long as he/she kept his/her credentials. b. For a minimum of 30 years, the applicant must have been an FAA-certificated mechanic or repairman. c. The remaining 20 years may be accepted if that individual served as a mechanic in the military or worked in the aviation maintenance or manufacturing industry. ### Page 2 Par 4Page 2 d. Any individual who had his/her Airframe and/or Powerplant Certificate, Repairman Certificate, or Inspection Authorization Certificate revoked by the FAA will not be eligible for the award. e. Any previous actions or enforcement activity, other than revocation, against the certificate will be reviewed by the selection committee with consideration towards eligibility. 5. APPLICATION. Any person who meets the eligibility requirements, or any person on behalf of the eligible person, may apply for the award by sending a notarized letter to the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). The letter must contain the following: a. The kind of certificate(s) held, including the original issue date(s) of the certificate(s) if available. b. Resume’ of past employment. c. Three letters of recommendation from certificated mechanics or repairmen. 6. PROCEDURES FOR MAKING THE SELECTION. At least once a year, or as often as needed, the Flight Standards Airworthiness Safety Program Manager and members of the Airworthiness Units of the FSDO’s will form a selection committee to review application letters for eligibility and selection. The committee, consisting of an odd number of individuals with at least three but no more than five members will choose the qualified individuals for the Charles Taylor “Master Mechanic” Award. a. There will be no limit on the number of awards a FSDO can issue. b. The award will be presented publicly at a suitable FAA or industry function. c. An award may be presented posthumously for up to 3 years. /s/ Thomas E. Stuckey Acting Director, Flight Standards Service --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.