Las Vegas, NV, Nov. 17, 2015 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today presented its Gold Wing Award for insightful reporting about business aviation to Mark Phelps during its Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2015), which runs through Nov. 19 in Las Vegas, NV.
Phelps is a private pilot who has been writing about the benefits of business aviation in Business Jet Traveler’s (BJT) “Exit” column for many years. In three recent articles he wrote about how aircraft owners and operators make the Special Olympics possible (“The Brightest Side of Private Flying”), the important work done by pilot teams (“Crew Cuts”) and how the latest radar technology helps passengers and pilots (“The Scan Before the Storm”).
Phelps’ interest in flying began in the early 1960s. “I’d often stop at the library after my paper route to read the stories of legendary pilots and aviation innovators, sometimes not pedaling home until after dark,” he said in a bio posted on the BJT website.
Phelps earned a B.A. in English literature from Boston University. Soon thereafter, he started writing for various aviation publications, including BJT and Aviation International News. He also has written and consulted on web copy for several corporate publications. He holds an instrument rating and flies a 1954 V-tail Beechcraft Bonanza.
“Mark has a long history of writing about the joy and benefits of flying and business aviation,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “His love and enthusiasm for aviation comes through clearly in his well-written and thoughtful prose, and we are delighted to honor him with our Gold Wing Award.”
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.