The NBAA Gold Wing Award for Journalism Excellence is presented annually for excellent, accurate and insightful reporting on issues related to business aviation, by trade or non-trade media. The award recognizes journalism’s important role in reporting the significant contributions of business aviation to the national economy, with “business aviation” defined as the use of general aviation aircraft for business purposes. To be eligible, entrants may be either paid staff members or freelancers for the publisher.
All entries for the Gold Wing Award must be submitted via the secure online application form, making the entry process fast and easy. NBAA no longer accepts hardcopy entries. Be sure to review the entry rules below before applying.
Winners will receive a $1,000 honorarium at the 2025 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), to be held from Oct. 14-16 in Las Vegas, NV. Co-authors of a winning entry will share the honorarium.
Entry Rules
- All entries must be submitted online via the web-based application form. For articles originally published in print, applicants must submit articles in digital format (e.g., via URL or file upload). Hard copy entries will not be accepted.
- If a password is required to access online entries, provide the username and password with the entry form.
- Entries may be single articles, features or a series on business aviation issues originally published in print or digital formats, including but not limited to magazine, newspaper, newsletter, blog, podcast and video entries.
- For the 2025 award, stories should have appeared in print, online or on-air between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.
- Entries will be reviewed by a panel, and the panel’s decision is final.
- The deadline for the 2025 award is Aug. 29, 2025. Entries must be received by this date to be eligible.
- All entries become the property of NBAA, and entrants give consent for reprinting/duplication. Entrants also give NBAA permission to use the entry and entrant’s name for educational or promotional purposes.
Award Recipients
- 2024: Kerry Lynch, Aviation International News
- 2023: Molly McMillin, Aviation Week Network
- 2022: Bill Carey, Business & Commercial Aviation
- 2021: James Wynbrandt, Business Jet Traveler
- 2019: James Wynbrandt, Business Jet Traveler
- 2018: Rob Mark, senior editor, Flying magazine
- 2017: Bill Carey, Aviation International News senior editor
- 2016: Dave Higdon, freelance aviation journalist
- 2015: Mark Phelps, managing editor, AIN Publications
- 2014: Mike Potts, freelance aviation journalist
- 2013: Molly McMillin, Wichita Eagle
- 2012: Matt Thurber of AIN Publications
- 2011: Jeff Burger of Business Jet Traveler
- 2010: Stephen Pope of Aviation International News
- 2009: Rob Mark, Business Jet Traveler
- 2008: Patrick Veillette, Business & Commercial Aviation
- 2007: Paul Lowe, Aviation International News
- 2006: David Esler, Business & Commercial Aviation
- 2005: Mark Phelps, Aviation International News
- 2004: Fred George, Business and Commercial Aviation
- 2003:
- 2002: Staff of Aviation International News
- 2001:
- 2000:
- 1999:
- Martha Brannigan, Wall Street Journal
- Stephen Pope, Aviation International News
- 1998:
- Randall Padfield of Aviation International News
- Peter Greenberg/Conway Cliff of CNBC
- 1997:
- Perry Bradley of Business & Commercial Aviation Magazine
- Dan Lothian/Tony Dill of NBC News
- 1996:
- David Esler of Overhaul & Maintenance magazine
- Jack Elliott of The Star-Legder
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.