Meridian's director of quality assurance Lou Ramm has been awarded the prestigious Charles Taylor Award in a formal presentation at Meridian's headquarters in Teterboro. Robert Thorson, FAA safety team programme manager, presented Lou with the award while members of the quality assurance, charter and maintenance teams were on hand, along with executive management and Lou's wife JoAnne to celebrate the accomplishment.

The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award is named in honour of Mr. Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight. Taylor served as the Wright brothers' mechanic and is credited with designing and building the engine for their first successful aircraft. The award recognises the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics.In order to be eligible, the recipient must hold a U.S. CAA or FAA mechanic or repairman certificate, and have 50 or more years of civil and military maintenance experience.

Ramm received his Aircraft and Powerplant (A&P) licence in 1969. He then served in Army Aviation as a crew chief/DS maintenance platoon supervisor. His experience has included both fixed and rotary wing aircraft in general aviation, both corporate and charter. He also holds an FAA Inspection authorisation. He joined Meridian full-time in 1997, after working the previous four years with Ken Forester, Sr. providing contract maintenance services.

“I am very honoured to receive this award,” he states. “It is very rewarding to be acknowledged for your career and the work you have done. It is also humbling to be in the company of other respected Meridian recipients, including Ken Forester, Sr., Vincent Mendola and John Bahrenburg.”

“We are very proud of Lou,” adds Meridian CEO Ken Forester. “He has been a real asset to Meridian and he is deserving of this award. It's great to see Lou honoured for his years of service to both us and the aviation industry.”