Aviation Maintenance Icon Tom Hendershot Passes Away

The aviation maintenance profession has lost a true friend and leader with the sudden passing of Tom Hendershot in Aurora, CO, after a brief illness. Hendershot was 72.

Hendershot served as the executive director of the AMTSociety since 2007, and his service to the aviation industry spanned more than five decades. His passion for promoting the craft of aviation maintenance was ever present, and served on many boards including Denver FAASTeam, the FAA / Industry AMT Program, Aviation Technician Education Council; National Center for Aerospace & Transportation Technologies; Joint Service Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification Council; and the NBAA Maintenance Committee. He was also instrumental in creating the Maintenance Skills Competition, held annually at the AviationPros LIVE event in Las Vegas.

Individual honors did not elude Hendershot as he was recognized many times for his skills and service to the aviation maintenance community. He was one of only a handful of individuals worldwide to receive both the FAA’s Charles E. Taylor Master Mechanic award and the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot awards. He was named 2003 National Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) of the Year and served on the selection committee for the annual National Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) of the Year.

He is also a member of two industry Halls of Fame, including receiving unanimous endorsement for induction into the OX5 Aviation Pioneers Aviation Hall of Fame in 2011 and enshrinement into the Colorado Aviation Historical Society’s Hall of Fame in 2010.