Home | Join
About Aero Club

News

Why Join

Events

Awards
- Aero Club Trophy<
- Wright Dinner

Education

Board

Aviation Links

Aero Club of Washington Awards

William R. DeCota Selected as Recipient of 2009 Engen Trophy

The Aero Club of Washington was originally founded to promote the Wright Brothers and their efforts. Their initial achievement defined aviation, established excellence as a standard and placed America in a role of global preeminence. The Aero Club seeks to commemorate the Wright Brothers' historic actions by awarding an annual Trophy for Aviation Excellence.

The Board of Governors of the Aero Club of Washington has selected the late William (Bill) DeCota, former Director of Aviation, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) as the 2009 recipient of the Donald D. Engen Aero Club Trophy for Aviation Excellence. DeCota served as the PANYNJ Director of Aviation from December 1999 until his death in September 2009, overseeing the world's largest airport system.

During his 27 year career overseeing the operations of John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Stewart International Airport and Teterboro Airport, DeCota was recognized as a national leader who was passionate about aviation and the national air transportation system. His many achievements and work on behalf of airports, airlines, general aviation and the traveling public make him a very deserving recipient of the Aero Club's Engen Trophy.

The Trophy was presented to Sue Baer of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey at the Aero Club's November 23 luncheon at the Capital Hilton Hotel.

In 1999, after the tragic death of Admiral Don Engen, director of the National Air & Space Museum at the time, the Aero Club Board voted to present the Trophy to Don Engen posthumously. It was accepted in October 1999 by his widow, Mary Engen. The Board had also voted to name the Trophy after Don Engen, and at that same luncheon, the Trophy became the “Donald D. Engen Aero Club Trophy for Aviation Excellence.” The permanent Trophy resides in the National Air & Space Museum.

Past Recipients

2009 William R. DeCota
2008 Phil Boyer
2007 Langhorne Bond
2006 Scott Crossfield
2005 STS-114 Discovery Shuttle Crew
2004 Don Lopez, National Air & Space Museum
2003 Not Awarded
2002 Alan S. Boyd
2001 L. Welch Pogue
2000 Najeeb E. Halaby
1999 Donald D. Engen
1998 Robert Crandall, American Airlines
1997 James A. Wilding, MWAA
1996 Joint FAA/JAA 777 Certification Team
1995 Edward W. Stimpson, GAMA
1994 Senator Wendell Ford, U.S. Senate
1993 Herb Kelleher, Southwest Airlines

Aero Club of Washington
P.O. Box 17295 • Dulles International Airport • Washington, DC 20041 •Aeroclub1@verizon.net
About Aero Club | News | Why Join | Events
Awards
| Education | Board | Aviation Links