50 years of flight: North Little Rock's Joel Buckner takes award for decades as pilot

Pilot Joel Buckner, standing Friday beside one of the Civil Air Patrol’s planes, received the Federal Aviation Administration’s Wright Brothers master pilot award for his 50 years of flying.
Pilot Joel Buckner, standing Friday beside one of the Civil Air Patrol’s planes, received the Federal Aviation Administration’s Wright Brothers master pilot award for his 50 years of flying.

Joel Buckner's 50 years in aviation can best be summed up as quality over quantity.

Although the North Little Rock resident has logged an average of 64 hours a year over that time, about what a weekend recreational pilot might log, he was presented the Federal Aviation Administration's Wright Brothers master pilot award during a presentation Friday at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field in Little Rock. He is one of 37 pilots in the state to earn the honor since its inception in 2005.

"This award is named after the Wright Brothers, the first U.S. pilots, to recognize individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while piloting aircraft as 'Master Pilots,'" according to the FAA.

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