For the third consecutive year, Mesa Airlines’ Maintenance and Engineering Department has been awarded the Federal Aviation Administration’s prestigious Employer’s Diamond Award of Excellence. The Diamond Award is based on 100 percent participation of the company’s eligible aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) proactively completing a designated amount of initial and recurrent training during 2014.

“We are delighted our maintenance people are being recognized by the FAA for their commitment to safety and training excellence,” said Chairman and CEO Jonathan Ornstein. “A lot of hard work goes into receiving this award and we truly appreciate the dedication and professionalism of our maintenance training department. I’d like to thank everyone for their outstanding contribution to our company and maintenance excellence.”

The program provides incentives for maintenance technicians who work to improve safety by actively participating in training programs both independently and in programs offered by their employers.

“We are extremely proud to be one of just two U.S. passenger carriers to receive the FAA Diamond Award of Excellence for 2014,” said Senior Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering Gary Appling. “It reflects our ongoing commitment to a Safety First Culture and dedication to the highest standards of aircraft maintenance training.”

A multiple-time recipient of Air Transport World’s Regional Airline of the Year Award and ranked No. 1 Regional Airline three consecutive years by the DOT Air Travel Consumer Report, Phoenix-based Mesa Airlines operates as American Eagle and US Airways Express from hubs in Phoenix, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Charlotte (through May 2015) and as United Express from Washington Dulles and Houston.