2013 Award Winners To Be Recognized At Upcoming NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition In Las Vegas

In 2013, the NBAA's Flying Safety Awards program marks a milestone, having reached its 60th year of recognizing the outstanding safety record of business aviation. The Association will recognize 14 Member Companies for outstanding safe flying achievement, as well as hundreds more companies that have collectively compiled thousands of hours of safe flying during the past year, during NBAA's Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2013), taking place from Oct. 22 to 24 in Las Vegas, NV.

"Over the decades since this award program was launched, the men and women of business aviation have amassed a superior safety record, comparable to that of the commercial airlines," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "Thanks to the dedication of NBAA Members, we are celebrating another year of achievement in accident-free operations."

During NBAA2013, the following eight companies will be presented with the 60 Year Safe Flying Achievement Award for reaching the safety milestone of flying 60 years or more without an accident:

• Citigroup Corporate Aviation
• Duke Energy Corp.
• The Kroger Co.
• NCR Aviation Department
• PPG Industries, Inc.
• SC Aviation, Inc.
• Spectra Energy Corporation
• Twin Disc, Inc.

Six additional companies will be presented with the 50 Year Safe Flying Achievement Award for reaching the safety milestone of flying 50 years or more without an accident. Those companies include:

• Bissell, Inc.
• The Gorman-Rupp. Co.
• Nestle Purina Pet Care Co.
• Pfizer, Inc.
• Sportman’s Market, Inc.

Aside from these safe flying achievement milestones, NBAA has separately awarded many additional Members the following categories:

• Corporate Business Flying Safety Award – 282 companies have compiled 11,098,030 safe hours.
• Commercial Business Flying Safety Award – 46 companies have compiled 2,008,863 safe hours.
• ATP or Commercial Pilot Safety Award – 550 pilots have flown 4,036,688 safe hours.
• Private Pilot Safety Award – three pilots have flown 12,533 safe hours (this award is new in 2013).
• Aviation Maintenance Department Safety Award – 109 companies have qualified for this award.
• Maintenance/Avionics Technician Safety Award – 288 technicians have qualified for this award.
• Aviation Support Services Safety Award – 343 support services personnel have qualified for this award.
• The awards are based on each company's safety record compiled as of Dec. 31, 2012.

The NBAA Board of Directors established its Flying Safety Awards program in 1953, and has since recognized thousands of Member Companies and individuals for their aviation safety records. In 2013, the Association for the first time honored private pilots for outstanding safe flying achievement with the new Private Pilot Safety Award. With the creation of this new award, the former Pilot Safety Award was renamed the ATP or Commercial Pilot Safety Award.

NBAA and its Member Companies are committed to making business aviation as safe as possible, as evidenced by this year's NBAA Flying Safety Awards. NBAA’s Safety Committee comprises more than two dozen distinguished individuals who are committed to enhancing all aspects of business aviation safety by providing materials, advice and guidance on matters relating to the safe operation of aircraft.

The Association also offers a wide range of resources to help promote a culture of safety in business aviation operations, including the annual Safety Town Hall Meeting being held on Oct. 22 during NBAA2013, the Safety Committee's Top 10 Safety Focus Areas, safety management system resources and support of safety events at the national and regional levels.

FMI: www.nbaa.org