Banker honored with Master Pilot designation

Bill Talen, 81, recently received a "master pilot" designation from the Federal Aviation Administration. Talen is chairman of Farmers Savings Bank & Trust - Traer and Vinton, Iowa.

To be eligible, a pilot must fly 50 consecutive years without an accident.

Most of Talen's flying has been commuting to his various banking interests as president, owner and/or executive officer of more than a dozen banks located in Minnesota and South Dakota, as well as Iowa and Wisconsin.

Talen typically flies with his wife, Caroline. She is not a pilot, but has taken a "pinch hitter" course and helps with the checklist and occasionally works the radios. The two have flown to nearly all 50 states, and conducted foreign flights to Mexico, Canada, the West Indies and twice to Europe.

The Talens reside in Northfield, Minn., during the summer and in Georgia and Florida in the winter.

Talen's pilot ratings include private, instrument and multi-engine. Although he also has a commercial rating, none of his flying has been for hire. Talen has owned seven airplanes and flown more than 30 aircraft. He currently flies a Chancellor II Cessna 414AW which he has owned for 18 years.

Talen said he loves to fly and recalled some of his more memorable flights. After a tornado in 1956, which killed 29 people in Menomonie and Colfax, Wis., Talen flew many government officials, news reporters, farmers and businessmen over the debris path. He also participated in the Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagle's program as a member of the chapter at Faribault Airport in Southern Minnesota.

When asked about the award, Talen said: "It's such a nice feeling to know that the FAA has acknowledged that I did something properly and safely for over 50 years."