By TILISHA T. ALEXANDER

Staff Writer

Students and professors in the professional aviation department received the Pilot Proficiency Award on May 5.

The Federal Aviation Administration gave the awards to the students and professors during a ceremony in Davison Hall.

Gary Odom, an assistant professor of professional aviation, received his 13th PPA .

Odom said the FAA provides a safe, secure and efficient global aerospace system that contributes to national security and the promotion of U.S. aerospace safety.

"As the leading authority in the international aerospace community, the FAA is responsive to the dynamic nature of customer needs, economic conditions and environmental concerns," Odom said.

"The FAA encourages each pilot to establish a regular recurrent training program and invites pilots to participate in the Pilot Proficiency Awards [WINGS] program."

Odom said eligibility requires pilots hold at least a recreational pilot certificate.

"There are 20 phases to the program," Odom said. "The particulars of each phase depend on which kind of aircraft a student flies.

"For airplanes, you must complete at least one hour of an FAA-sponsored or FAA-sanctioned aviation safety seminar and three hours of flight training."

Jane Capstick, a safety award recipient and a senior professional aviation major, said she was excited to receive the award after all of her hard work.

"Flying has been a dream of mine since I was a child, and I've accomplished the first phase," Capstick said. "Now I can go on and make my dream a reality by completing the other phases."

Dale Sistrunk, department head and a professor of professional aviation, talked to the award recipients about the value of the award.

"I'm certain these students are dedicated to what they do," Sistrunk said. "As department head, I must be as active in their progress so we all can move on together."

Odom said the FAA has determined that pilots with certificates who attend an annual safety seminar and complete at least one hour of flight training in takeoffs and landings, flight maneuvers and instrument procedures are safer than those pilots who do not complete recurrent training.

"The PPA can only be earned once a year," Odom said. "All of the students were awarded their first award, and we are proud of all of them because they worked very hard."