MIAMI, Oct. 04, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HEICO Corporation (NYSE:HEI.A) (NYSE:HEI) today reported that Laurans A. Mendelson, its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, received the prestigious Wright Brothers Memorial Award from the Greater Miami Aviation Association at the Association’s annual gala dinner in Doral, FL on October 2, 2016.

The Wright Brothers Award is the GMAA’s premier award and is presented each year to an individual whose substantial and lifelong contributions to the aviation industry reflect extraordinarily on the aviation community.  Prior Wright Brothers Memorial Award recipients include Fred Smith, FedEx Founder, Chairman and CEO, Gary Spulak, President of Embraer North America and other aviation industry leaders.

Mr. Mendelson remarked, “I’m deeply honored to receive this special award, which I really consider to be a tribute to HEICO’s 5,000 Team Members worldwide who do amazing things for our customers every day.  I am also humbled and grateful to have been selected for this recognition by the GMAA, one of the premier aviation organizations in the U.S. and a mainstay of aviation for nearly 90 years.”

HEICO Corporation is engaged primarily in the design, production, servicing and distribution of products and services to certain niche segments of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries through its Hollywood, Florida-based Flight Support Group and its Miami, Florida-based Electronic Technologies Group.  HEICO's customers include a majority of the world's airlines and overhaul shops, as well as numerous defense and space contractors and military agencies worldwide, in addition to medical, telecommunications and electronics equipment manufacturers.  For more information about HEICO, please visit our website at http://www.heico.com.

Founded in 1927, the GMAA was formed to increase public awareness of aviation and highlight the expanding role aviation plays in the South Florida community.  It provides a forum for sharing opinions and concerns of the industry, government, civil leaders and others with an interest in the past, current and future activities of aviation.  Through its GMAA-Batchelor Scholarship Fund, the GMAA seeks to foster professionalism in aviation by awarding scholarships to deserving South Florida college students who are majoring in education.  At this year’s gala, the GMAA awarded over $60,000 in scholarships.

CONTACT: Victor H. Mendelson (305) 374-1745 ext. 7590