NBAA 75th Anniversary Timeline

1946

Representatives from 25 companies meeting at the Statler Hotel during the Cleveland Air Races agree to launch the Corporation Aircraft Owners Association, forerunner of NBAA.

1947

The Corporation Aircraft Owners Association (CAOA), NBAA’s predecessor organization, is incorporated in New York state.

The Technical Committee, CAOA’s first standing committee, starts working with manufacturers to standardize avionics and instrumentation.

1948

CAOA held its first public event, an industry/government forum at the Statler Hilton (now Capital Hilton) in Washington, D.C.

1949

Salem Engineering, an Ohio construction company, makes what is believed to be the first round-the-world flight in a business airplane (a converted Douglas DC-4 airliner).

1951

CAOA moves its headquarters from New York City to Washington, D.C.

1952

CAOA’s annual meeting and forum is held outside of Washington, D.C. for the first time (in Chicago’s Blackstone Hotel) and for the first time features an aircraft static display (at Chicago’s Meigs Field).

1953

Corporation Aircraft Owners Association (CAOA) changes its name to the National Business Aircraft Association.

NBAA establishes its Flying Safety Awards program.

1957

The Guide to Management Policies for Business Aircraft, now known as the NBAA Management Guide, was first published.

1958

The business jet era begins as NBAA member Timken Roller Bearing takes delivery of a Morane-Saulnier M.S. 760, a four-seat derivative of a French military aircraft.

NBAA distributes its original operating manual, titled Recommended Standards for the Administration of a Business Aircraft Aviation Department.

1959

The Gulfstream G-159 (GI), the first purpose-built business airplane, is certificated.

1963

The original Learjet, the Model 23, flies for the first time.

1964

The original Beech King Air, the Model 90, flies for the first time.

NBAA’s Technical Committee develops an IFR flight profile for jet aircraft.

1967

The NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention is held in a convention hall for the first time (Boston’s War Memorial Auditorium).

1968

The first Atlantic nonstop flight by a business jet is conducted by National Distillers’ Gulfstream II from Teterboro, NJ to London Gatwick Airport.

1971

John Winant becomes NBAA’s first full-time staff president.

1973

The NBAA Associate Member Advisory Council is established.

1974

NBAA establishes its International Operators Conference to provide a forum for sharing best practices for business aircraft operators flying outside the U.S.

The number of NBAA members reaches 1,000.

1980

Attendance at NBAA’s annual meeting (at Kansas City’s Bartle Hall) surpasses 10,000 for the first time.

1981

NBAA leads the creation of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), a group that includes national and regional business aviation organizations worldwide.

1981

NBAA sets up a 24-hour hotline for members to deal with traffic constraints imposed because of the air traffic controllers’ strike.

1986

NetJets pioneers the shared aircraft ownership model.

1987

Cessna’s Special Olympics Airlift begins using a fleet of Citation operator volunteers.

1990

The first business aviation satcom system is commissioned (on a Gulfstream IV).

1993

NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association launch No Plane, No Gain, a multimedia industry advocacy campaign.

1995

NBAA’s website, nbaa.org, is launched.

1997

The National Business Aircraft Association changes its name to National Business Aviation Association to reflect the diversity of its members and the industry.

NBAA’s Professional Development Program is launched.

2001

NBAA establishes the GA Desk at the FAA ATC System Command Center to represent the interests of business aviation in ATC planning.

NBAA’s Certified Aviation Manager program is launched.

NBAA’s first overseas event, the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, is held in Geneva, Switzerland.

2002

The International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO), a collection of industry best practices, is introduced by the International Business Aviation Council.

NBAA launches its one-day Regional Forum meetings with an event at Chicago’s DuPage Airport.

2004

The current NBAA President & CEO, Ed Bolen, is appointed.

2005

NBAA publishes its Aircraft Charter Consumer Guide.

2006

Business Aviation Insider, NBAA’s bimonthly magazine, debuts.

2007

NBAA unveils the Contact Congress online advocacy tool to provide web resources for opposing the airlines’ user fee FAA funding proposal.

2009

NBAA, along with the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, relaunches No Plane, No Gain, a multimedia industry advocacy program, featuring golfing legend Arnold Palmer as the lead spokesman.

NBAA is instrumental in the formation of General Aviation Caucuses in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.

The NBAA Leadership Council was established to help ensure the ongoing strength of business aviation.

2012

The NBAA Safety Committee releases its first annual list of Top Safety Focus Areas.

2013

NBAA launches Careers in Business Aviation Day at the association’s annual convention.

NBAA is inducted into the San Diego Air & Space Museum’s International Air & Space Hall of Fame in recognition of the association’s 65 years of advocacy for the industry.

The number of NBAA members surpasses 10,000.

2015

NBAA holds the first annual National Safety Forum at the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition.

2016

NBAA establishes the Dr. Tony Kern Professionalism in Aviation Award to recognize industry professionals who demonstrate safety leadership.

2018

NBAA unveils the Business Aviation 40 Under 40 awards to recognize the industry’s leading young professionals.

2020

NBAA is one of the founders of the first Business Aviation Sustainability Summit.

NBAA launches Insider Daily, a weekday morning publication featuring major NBAA and industry news.

2021

NBAA forms the Advanced Air Mobility Roundtable to help promote this new mode of transportation.

NBAA establishes accreditation programs in sustainable flight operations and safety management.

2022

NBAA launches the Owner Pilot Association Coalition to tackle concerns of this segment of business aircraft operators.