Mike Kloch, Roger Whittier and Mike Jesch honored for advancing aviation safety, education and professionalism

There was no red carpet for the ‘Oscars’ of General Aviation. Presenters and award recipients didn’t wear tuxes or designer gowns. The awards venue, rather than being a huge concert hall, was a welcoming outdoor pavilion aptly named “Theatre in the Woods.”  

This was the setting at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, when then-FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau recognized three outstanding aviation professionals in flight instruction, aviation maintenance, and flight safety for their significant contributions during the annual General Aviation Awards ceremony. Fittingly, the applause the honorees received from fellow members of the aviation community was genuine and warm.

Mike “Cuckoo” Kloch was named National Certified Flight Instructor of the Year, Roger Whittier received National Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year honors and Mike Jesch was selected as National FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year. Their names will now be joined with previous award winners from the 64 years that the FAA has teamed up with the general aviation industry to recognize excellence in aviation safety, education and professionalism.

Flight Instruction: Mike Kloch

Kloch, a Bend, Oregon, resident, has logged more than 8,300 hours in 75 aircraft types. His experience includes military fighters, experimental aircraft, helicopters and aerobatic airplanes. The former Marine Corps pilot serves as CEO and chief instructor of Specialized Aero Works, where he’s one of a few instructors in the country offering a course that provides Part 141-approved upset prevention and recovery training. He took on this work because of a strong desire to help fellow pilots prevent loss-of-control accidents.

Kloch’s course addresses the ins and outs of recovery, critical aerodynamics and maneuvering and responding to loss of control.

“When someone comes in the door to take the training, they are a completely different pilot after they’ve had the training,” says Kloch. “Getting a better understanding of how an airplane works is fundamental to flying safely.”

Kloch also works as a contract test pilot for Epic Aircraft, Stratos Aircraft and various experimental-aircraft builders. As the 2026 Portland FSDO CFI of the Year, he’s dedicated to mentoring the next generation of instructors to ensure the highest standards of safety.

Maintenance Education: Roger Whittier

Whittier is a Phoenix-based airframe and powerplant mechanic who holds inspection authorization. He operates an aircraft maintenance shop and specializes in owner-assisted annual inspections, which he uses to teach pilots about aircraft systems and maintenance. Whittier previously served on the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association board and later became its president.

Whittier also founded the organization’s College of Advanced Technology, where he developed dozens of courses, published instruction materials, produced training videos, taught hundreds of classes both domestically and internationally, and made presentations at aviation forums about the role of the aircraft owner as “Owner in Command.” Pilots travel from across the country to learn from Whittier’s “get under the hood” approach to understanding not only how their aircraft work but why they work the way they do–and how to make them safer.

“I felt that safety required that I learn more about the airplane than we typically do as private pilots,” said Whittier of his current work. “I retired once, but I would rather spend time influencing pilots to understand their airplanes better and make sure they are maintained better. I really enjoy trying to make pilots be better pilots.”

Pilot Safety: Mike Jesch

Jesch, a 40-plus-year veteran of professional flying who lives in Orange, California, is a senior captain on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner for American Airlines and an active flight instructor. He serves as an FAA Safety Team lead representative and supports the WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program. He regularly works with pilots, instructors, and other FAASTeam reps to improve their knowledge of the FAASafety.gov website and the WINGS program.

He views his involvement in WINGS as a way to help pilots stay current in their skills.

“It’s fun to see the light come on in people’s eyes when they grasp a concept that’s hard to understand and finally get that down,” Jesch says. The wisdom he tries to pass on to pilots is to “just slow down a little bit. If you’re rushing to do things, the airplane is going to get where it’s going before you have time to react.”

When he’s not flying commercial aircraft, Jesch is a busy CFI specializing in Cessna 182 and Mooney checkouts, IFR, and complex air traffic control procedures. Since 2024, he’s chaired the Southern California Airspace Users Working Group, a partnership of pilots, flight instructors, flight schools, air traffic controllers and FAA inspectors working to improve charting, airspace procedures and hazard awareness in the crowded Southern California airspace.

When asked to express his philosophy of pilot safety, Jesch says, “What I’ve learned is the rules are there for a reason. I operate the same way, every time: safely, legally and I have a lot of fun along the way.”