The Tony Bingelis Award recognizes EAA Technical Counselors for dedicated service and/or significant contributions in assisting members to build and restore aircraft. Recipients of the Tony Bingelis Award are carefully chosen by the volunteer Homebuilt Aircraft Council as outstanding examples of people whose contributions have positively affected members’ aircraft building or restoration projects.
Goals
- Recognize select EAA Technical Counselors who have endeavored to educate and encourage fellow EAA members with the aircraft projects;
- Provide for an appropriate forum in which to celebrate the recipients and present their award;
- Commemorate the honorees with a permanent display at the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Eligibility
- Nominees must have been an active Technical Counselor for at least five consecutive years.
- Nominees must be submitted by others for consideration via the formal application process.
- Nominees must have achieved and demonstrated significant contributions in the education and facilitation of aircraft building projects such as:
- Promoting builder education through publications, visits to aircraft projects, chapter meetings, and air shows
- Promoting aviation safety
- Promoting the benefits as well as maintaining the standards of the Experimental Aircraft Association.
- Nominations are open to any eligible candidate, living or deceased.
Nominations
The calls for nominations for the Tony Bingelis Award are announced via EAA media and direct communication with the EAA chapters and Technical Counselors.
Any EAA chapter or EAA member in good standing may initiate a nomination.
Nominations must be submitted via the nomination form linked below by May 31 of each year. Any supporting documentation mailed in must also be received by May 31 to be considered.
Nominations submitted after May 31 of each year will be considered for the following year.
Nomination Form
Judging Criteria
Nominees for the Tony Bingelis Award must have achieved and demonstrated significant contributions to education and facilitation of homebuilt aircraft projects. The Homebuilt Aircraft Council scores each nominee in the categories listed below. Please remember that the information submitted on the nomination form is used to rate each nominee. The more information you submit for each category, the better score a nominee may receive.
- Promoting Builder Education
- Publications
- Visits to Aircraft Projects
- Chapter Meetings
- Work at Air Shows (i.e. forums, workshops)
- Leadership Among Peers (Other Technical Counselors)
- Promoting Overall Aviation Safety
- Promoting the Benefits and Standards of EAA
Selection Process
Evaluation Criteria
- Nominees will be evaluated on the basis of achievements and/or contributions of major significance to aircraft building and restoration. Inductees will be selected no later than June 30 of each year.
Selection Committee
- The Tony Bingelis Award selection committee is made up of the Homebuilt Aircraft Council.
- Current members of the Homebuilt Aircraft Council may not be a candidate for the award themselves.
Award Presentation(s)
In order to ensure the high status associated with the Tony Bingelis Award and to preserve the long-term integrity of the potential pool of inductees, only one winner will be recognized each year.
The inductees (or their heirs/or representatives as appropriate) will be notified no later than June 30 of each year.
The award ceremony will be held during EAA AirVenture at the Homebuilders Dinner on Thursday evening. EAA will provide the award winner two weekly AirVenture wristbands, up to six dinner tickets, and one complimentary camping pass for Camp Scholler.
Revisions
These Tony Bingelis Award guidelines are subject to review and/or revision as directed by EAA staff and the EAA Homebuilt Aircraft Council.
