News Release

Grand Canyon Pilot, Galen Howell, Receives Aviation Award

Pilot Galen Howell was recently awarded the Excellence in Mentoring Aviation Award.

NPS

News Release Date: April 28, 2017

Contact: Justin Jager, 928-266-5672

Grand Canyon National Park fixed wing pilot, Galen Howell, has been awarded the NPS Excellence in Mentoring Aviation Award.

Howell is an experienced and trusted DOI pilot who provides basic and advanced flight operations training for new and experienced DOI pilots. According to Justin Jager, Interagency Aviation Officer for Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest, “Galen exemplifies what a mentor in aviation should be.”

Over the past eight years as a FAA Certified Flight Instructor and Department of the Interior Mentor Pilot Galen has mentored ten NPS pilots/pilot-candidates for various parks throughout the United States. His skills and judgment have been called upon by the NPS National Fleet Aircraft and Pilot Specialist to determine if pilots have the skills, knowledge and ability to perform as pilots in the challenging environments found in the national parks. His experience is based in real world flying having twice received In-flight Action Awards for safely and successfully dealing with in-flight emergencies.

In addition to providing critical mentoring and training to NPS pilot and pilot-candidates Galen also teaches and provides mentoring to non-pilots under the DOI Pinch-Hitter course. This instruction is provided to NPS and USFS aircrew members who frequently fly with Galen and includes the basic principles of flight, aircraft instruments, radio communications and procedures for landing an aircraft in emergency situations.

This year, Galen is mentoring a university student interested in NPS aviation and will be flying with and mentoring the student in Grand Canyon National Park providing information and education on NPS aviation.