Gene Nicolo has been awarded the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. This prestigious award is issued to pilots who have dedicated themselves to aviation safety and professionalism over the years.
Gene was 18 years old and working as an automotive editor for the Chilton Book company, where he wrote two books, when he was bitten by the flight bug. He went to Northeast Airport and obtained his private, instrument, commercial, CFI, multi engine CFI and advanced and instrument ground instructor ratings. He became a flight instructor there and worked for a time and then was offered work as a charter pilot at PNE and Wings Aviation, where he split his time instructing and doing charter work. Gene decided to enter the teaching field full time and received his certifications in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey to teach Chemistry and Physics. While teaching those subjects he earned his masters and doctorate degrees which led him to a position at Moorestown School District as the Curriculum Supervisor of Science.
While working at Moorestown he simultaneously served as an adjunct professor at local colleges including St. Joe’s, Rowan, Holy Family, Arcadia, Penn State and Temple University’s Graduate School of Education. At Temple, he developed and implemented a course, Aerospace Education for Teachers, which was supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Aviation. Throughout this time, Gene served in the National Science Foundation’s Directorate of Teacher Preparation and Enhancement and on many State and National Science committees and authored articles for science journals.
Over the years he maintained his CFI and worked part-time for a variety of flight schools including Hortman Aviation. Throughout his career he was able to get checked out in 33 different types of aircraft, including many of Cessna’s single engine line up through Stationair and Turbo Centurions, and most of Piper’s single and multi-engine aircraft through Twin Comanche, Aztec, Navajo Chieftain and Aerostar. He also added Mooney and Socata’s Tobago and Trinidad. Gene also has some time in the right seat of a Lear 23.
He currently works part-time for the Pennsylvania Department of Education doing major reviews for university certification programs. He also serves as a Check Instructor for Legacy Aviation.
Congratulations to Gene on this prestigious award! We are so proud of you and appreciate the wealth of care and knowledge you bring to this team!
