1998 National Aviation Safety Counselor of the Year

Mr. Michael T. Vivion, a volunteer Aviation Safety Counselor for the Fairbanks (Alaska) Flight Standards District Office, has been selected as the FAA's 1998 National Aviation Safety Counselor of the Year. Mike is the fourth aviation safety counselor to receive this award since its inception in 1994. Roger Baker, the FAA's National Safety Program Manager, presented the award to Vivion on March 13th at the annual awards banquet during the Fairbanks Spring Air Fair Expo - Safe 99. Vivion is extremely active as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Fairbanks Aviation Safety Program. He has made safety videos with the Alaska Aviation Safety Foundation and written many articles on aviation safety.

Vivion has participated on several aviation user group committees. He has been the Vice Chairman of the Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation, the Northern Alaska Field Director for the Seaplane Pilots Association, co-chairman of the Civilian and Military Airspace Committee (CMAC), and he is an active member of the Northern Alaska Certified Flight Instructor Association. Vivion's volunteerism extends to writing articles for aviation safety publications. He is the author of aviation safety articles in the Seaplane Pilots Association's Water Flying. His reputation as a knowledgeable and safety conscious aviator makes him a valued speaker at aviation safety seminars. He has spoken on such diverse topics as seaplane safety, safe operating techniques, and weather flying by the VFR pilot. He also spoken at the national Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association convention about passenger safety. He works to promote aviation safety through education and information In addition to his duties as a volunteer Aviation Safety Counselor, Vivion is a Wildlife Biologist/Pilot with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.