Garrett Aviation/Piedmont Hawthorne/ Associated Air Center announced its Garrett Aviation-Springfield, Ill. repair station has been awarded the FAA Diamond Award for outstanding aviation maintenance training.

The facility has participated in and received the FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician Award for the past 12 years. This is the 10th consecutive year it has received the prestigious Diamond Award and the 5th year it has earned the gold foil on the certificate, recognizing participation in the training program for five or more consecutive years. Each of the company’s 180 employees was awarded an individual certificate of achievement.

“The FAA believes that the Diamond Award symbolizes the best of what the aviation maintenance industry has to offer,” said Kerry Gambrel, airworthiness safety program manager for the Springfield, Ill. FSDO. “Garrett-Springfield has consistently and aggressively provided outstanding training for its technicians and should be proud of its longstanding achievements.”

Kirk Sanderbeck, senior technician for Garrett-Springfield, was also honored as the FAA Avionics Technician of the Year for the Springfield FSDO district and the Great Lakes Region. The Great Lakes Region forwarded his nomination to FAA headquarters for the national competition.