Byron Arner of Lehighton was the recipient of the Aviation Achievement Award presented yesterday during an open house at the Jake Arner Memorial Airport, Mahoning Township.

The award was presented by Mike Kello of Nesquehoning, secretary-treasurer of the Friends of Aviation.

Arner, a Marine Corps veteran, began his flying career at the age of 16. He later worked as a flying instructor at the airport and went on to become a pilot for Eastern Airlines, where he worked for 30 years.

He is a son of Helen Arner of Lehighton and the late Jake Arner, who was an aviation pioneer in the Lehighton area for whom the airport is named.