Janice McWilliams Awarded Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award and 2023 99 of Note Award
Janice McWilliams has had a very busy and successful year. She has been awarded both the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for 50 years of safe flying but has also been recognized by the South East Section of the 99s as their 2023 Ninety-Nine of Note. Janice McWilliams has been a member of the 99s for 47 of those 50 years.
Janice started in the 99s as a young pilot in the Memphis Chapter in the 1980s and served as its safety officer. After relocating to Florida during the 1990s, she held the offices of treasurer, secretary, and vice-chair in the Florida Suncoast 99s. During the 2000s, Janice served the Florida Suncoast 99’s as secretary, vice chair, and chair in some offices for multiple years. Janice has served as secretary of the South East Section from 2021-2023 in addition to serving on Chapter Scholarship and By-laws committees during 2022-2023. Janice has also served on the SES nominating committee and as co-host for the hospitality suite at all three Section meetings hosted by the Florida Suncoast 99s since 1987. She manned the Florida Suncoast table at the Philadelphia International Conference and worked and represented the Florida Suncoast Chapter assisting in the hospitality suite at the Charleston International Conference.
During her tenure with the Florida Suncoast 99s, she has been on the Jessie Woods Scholarship Committee, the Chapter Scholarship Committee, the Air Bear and Education Committee, the Nominating Committee, and the By-laws Committee. She has volunteered at the 99s Sun ‘n Fun tent/trailer/house starting in 1988, initially for a day or two a week. She has volunteered for the whole week at Sun ‘n Fun for the last 12 years. Janice has also volunteered for NIFA on multiple occasions. Janice has been a mentor for two Florida Suncoast 99s.
In addition, Janice flew the 99s proficiency air race in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1970, the Hughes Air West Air Race Classic (predecessor to the Air Race Classic) in 1979, and was co-pilot in the Air Race Classic Derby in 2022, winning 4th place. She continues to be an active pilot and aircraft owner.
If a job needs to be done, Janice generally steps forward to do it. Not with fanfare nor for recognition but quietly and modestly, simply because it needs to be done. Whether collecting money at a pancake breakfast or organizing items to sell at Sun ‘n Fun, she’s always quietly working in the background doing the nitty gritty.
Janice and her husband, Billy, own, maintain, and fly a Mooney Mustang.
Congratulations on both counts, Janice!
