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Bill Maher to be presented with Master Pilot Award
Jackson Community College is pleased to announce that longtime pilot Bill Maher, a veteran airman of World War II, Jackson Junior College alumnus, and chairman of the JCC Flight Center Advisory Board for 25 years, will be honored with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, given to those with more than 50 consecutive years of flying or more. Maher will accept the award at the JCC Flight Center Advisory Committee meeting Thursday, Sept. 21, at 5:15 p.m. at the Flight Center office, at Reynolds Field, Jackson County Airport.
Maher, 86, has been flying for 66 years. He learned to fly in the civil pilot program in 1940-41 at Jackson Junior College. He flew C-47s and C-46s for the China National Aviation Corp. in the 1940s during wartime, making many flights over the Himalayas into China after Japan cut the nation’s seaports and held the eastern plains. The CNAC became the sole supplier to China’s combat forces along with Clair Chennault’s American Volunteer Group – The Flying Tigers. According to General Albert C. Wedemeyer, Chiang Kai-shek’s American chief of staff, “‘Flying the Hump’ was the foremost and by far the most dangerous, difficult and historic achievement of the entire war.”
Over Maher’s career he’s flown as a corporate pilot and helped to organize the Zantop Flying Service, which became one of the largest freight carriers in the country. He also served as a flight instructor training other pilots.
“I think it’s a great honor to have been nominated and to receive the FAA’s recognition,” Maher said. “Being a pilot gave me a competitive edge in getting to my customers quickly and helped lead me to many successful business ventures.”
John Feldvary, JCC Flight Center director, said the award couldn’t go to a more deserving person. “He is a veteran who served his country in World War II, seeing action in combat,” Feldvary said. “To still be flying after 66 years is quite an accomplishment, and it speaks volumes of Bill’s ability.”
