Perry Siler – Charles Taylor Award Winner
Taking care of customers keeps him busier than ever.
I have known and worked with Perry Siler for thirty-five years. As an A&P and as a person, Perry has always displayed honesty and integrity as his core values and demonstrates exceptional skill in aircraft maintenance. He takes immense pride in his work and has established safety as job one. It is with great honor that I recommend Perry Siler for the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.
— Mark Tyler, Vice President & General Manager, Precision Aircraft Services
Perry Siler Recognized with Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award
Perry Siler grew up in Middlesboro, Kentucky. In 1973, he earned his FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) License at the Somerset Aero Technical School, Somerset, Kentucky. As a newly minted Pilot and A&P Mechanic, Perry considered working for a major airline. Instead he chose to keep doing what he enjoyed the most – learning how engines work and how he could participate in furthering his knowledge in the arena.
He began his career with Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. (PHI) as an entry level Mechanic. Over the next few years Perry was elevated to Maintenance Supervisor, African Operations. He managed all aspects of the company’s Bell Aircraft maintenance operations in Angola and Zaire, and served as liaison between African operations and PHI’s U.S. offices.
Subsequently, he joined Aviall, Inc. in Dallas, Texas in 1984. Perry served as Sales and Service Manager, where he was responsible for Sales and Support of the Rolls-Royce M250 engine line across the US East Coast and the Caribbean.
In 1995, Perry joined Arizona Rotorcraft, Inc., in Mesa, Arizona as Manager of East Coast Sales and Service, again for the Rolls-Royce M250 Engine.
In 1998, he became Managing Director of East African Operations for Africair in Nairobi, Kenya where he was responsible for the set-up and day-to-day management of a subsidiary helicopter company based in Nairobi.
Perry became International Sales and Service Manager with Air Services International, Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2001. He was responsible for Helicopter Engine and Airframe Parts/Components Sales within Africa, India, Caribbean and countries within South America.
In March 2003, he joined Keystone Engine Services (Keystone Turbine Services) as Director of International Sales, later moving into a consulting role in 2016 which he continues to this day.
Throughout his career, Perry has attended helicopter maintenance and sales events worldwide including nearly all HAI/Verticon trade shows within the last 40 years. He is well known within the helicopter industry around the world. During his tenure with Precision Aviation Group (PAG), Perry has largely contributed to PAG’s development of operator relationships within Africa, the Middle East, and Hawaii.
“I’ve been fortunate to be able to focus on what I do best which is supporting my customers,” said Perry. Today, he continues to follow his passion. He and Bonnie, his wife of 52 years, live in a fly-in community near the Daytona Beach, Florida area.
Early History with Precision Aviation Group (PAG)
During the late 1990’s, Perry visited Bill Desai (father of Ketan Desai, PAG’s Chief Sales & Marketing Officer) in Miami. Representing Bell and Cessna in Kenya, Africair recruited Perry to develop “boots on the ground” business.
“I first met Ketan and his brother,” said Perry “when they were boys jumping on the couch in Bill’s house!
While with Aviall, Perry managed Rolls-Royce engine overhauls for Carraway Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama. “That’s where I met Mark Tyler,” (Vice President of Precision Aircraft Services (PAS), Peachtree City, Georgia),” said Perry. “He was an apprentice mechanic learning how to properly keep the hospital’s helicopters flight ready.”
I’ve had the distinct pleasure of working alongside Perry for over twenty-five years. He places customer needs
above his own, and his personal interaction with everyone, from the field mechanic to CEO, are conducted
in a most professional and knowledgeable manner. With Perry, we’re all guaranteed that his word is his bond .
– If he says he’ll do it – HE’LL DO IT!!
Perry has truly set the high standard and is immensely deserving of this prestigious award. His technical skills are beyond reproach. He’s worked tirelessly late into the night and full weekends, when needed, to ensure each customer’s engine (and aircraft) are returned to top notch airworthy service, while always placing safety above everything else. At now 74 years of age, nothing is slowing him down – he’s still on the front lines helping customers to this day. We at Keystone Turbine Services are so proud of his accomplishments, the integrity he brings to our industry, and the countless satisfied customers he’s served these past 52 years.
— Charles Hurdleston, Vice President Engine Services, Keystone Turbine Services
The award celebration will be November 2025 at Spruce Creek Country Club, Port Orange, Florida. Along with several pilots receiving awards, Perry will be the only recipient of the prestigious Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award! His friends, long-term customers, and colleagues will be in attendance to celebrate with Perry and his family.
being interviewed by PBS.
showing off one of the new PAG t-shirts.
Chuck Hurdleston (left) &
Rob Gordon (right).
for the Reno Air Races.
in London, UK.
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