Ocean Aviation Flight Academy Found to receive Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award

Image: Ocean Aviation

OCEAN CITY, Md. – The Federal Aviation Administration says it will present the founder of Ocean Aviation Flight Academy, Michael Freed, with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award later this week.

The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award was established in 2003 and recognizes pilots who have demonstrated professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise by maintaining safe operations for 50 or more years consecutively without accidents or violations.

We’re told Freed has built a legacy rooted in safety, discipline, and excellence. He’s both a pilot and an educator who has made safety the cornerstone of his work, training hundreds of future aviators with that philosophy.

“This award is deeply meaningful to me—not just as a pilot, but as someone who has spent a lifetime committed to excellence and safety in aviation,” said Freed. “Safety isn’t optional in aviation—it’s everything. I’ve always believed that if you train with purpose and fly with discipline, you can achieve great things. I’m proud of the careers we’ve helped launch and the legacy we continue to build at Ocean Aviation.”

As the founder and director of Ocean Aviation Flight Academy, Freed has led the school for more than 18 years in Ocean City. In 2022, he expanded the program by opening a second location in Georgetown, Delaware. The academy is recognized today as one of the leading flight training institutions in the Mid-Atlantic region, launching the careers of pilots who are now flying for major airlines, international carriers, and the United States Military.

Freed will be presented with the award on Thursday, June 12th, at 11:30 a.m. during the Maryland Aviation Association meeting at the Ocean City Convention Center.