May 8, 2026
NBAA congratulates the winners of the prestigious Balchen/Post Awards presented by the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) at its recent annual International Aviation Snow Symposium held in Buffalo, NY.
The winners in the general aviation airport categories for the Winter 2025-2026 season are:
Large General Aviation Airports
Winner – Rocky Mountain Metro Airport (BJC), Broomfield, CO
Honorable Mention – Hanscom Field (BED), Bedford, MA
Medium General Aviation Airports
Winner – Allegheny County Airport (AGC), Pittsburgh, PA
Honorable Mention – Willow Run Airport (YIP), Detroit
Small General Aviation Airports
Winner – Gary-Chicago Int’l Airport (GYY), Gary, IN
Honorable Mention – Waukesha County Airport (UES), Waukesha, WI
View the full list of winners and learn more about the Balchen/Post Award.
The awards are named for distinguished aviation icons and founders of the IASS – Col. Bernt Balchen, the renowned pilot and polar explorer, and Wilfred “Wiley” Post Jr., notable airport executive who managed the Bethlehem-Allentown-Easton (ABE) airport for more than four decades.
The awards recognize the efforts airport operations and maintenance crews put into extensive planning, training, equipment readiness and battling the accumulation of snow and ice to keep airports safe and operational during the most demanding winter weather events.
“Business aviation doesn’t stop when snow flurries arrive and ice begins to coat runways and taxiways,” said Alex Gertsen, CAM, NBAA senior director of airport advocacy and vertical infrastructure who represents NBAA on the Balchen/Post Awards Committee.
“General aviation airport snow fighters go above and beyond, doing more with fewer people, limited equipment and tight budgets ensuring that our industry continues to move at the speed of business, transporting people and cargo, flying organs and conducting medical flights during winter operations,” he added.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.