NBAA to Honor Flying Safety Award Recipients at 58th Annual [Meeting and Convention

Contact: Dan Hubbard at (202) 783-9360 or dhubbard@nbaa.org

WASHINGTON, DC, October 21, 2005 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) will recognize the recipients of its Flying Safety Awards Program at the Benefit Gala event on Thursday, November 10, 2005, during the NBAA 58th Annual Meeting & Convention in Orlando, FL.

“Safety is the very foundation of business aviation, and NBAA is pleased to recognize Member Companies that have set the standard for operational safety,” stated NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.

Established in 1953, the NBAA Flying Safety Awards have brought worldwide recognition to the excellent safety record of business aviation. They also are testimony to the high degree of professionalism inherent in business aircraft operations and to the skill, ability and dedication of management, maintenance, support-service and pilot teams. The awards provide NBAA Member Companies with well-earned recognition for exceptional achievement in maintaining safe flying operations.

This year, three companies will receive the 50 Year Safe Flying Achievement Award, which recognizes NBAA Member Companies that have flown 50 years or more without an accident. Including this year’s recipients, 49 NBAA Members have received this award since its inception in 1998.

The 2005 recipients of the 50 Year Safe Flying Achievement Award are:

• Cox Enterprises, Inc.
• Eastman Kodak Co.
• VIAD Corp.

Other 2005 Flying Safety Awards honor the categories of Corporate Business, Commercial Business, Pilot, Aviation Maintenance Department, Maintenance/Avionics Technician and Aviation Support Services. The cumulative records for the year ending December 31, 2004, are:

• Corporate Business Flying Safety Award – Member Companies whose aircraft have flown in excess of three or more consecutive accident-free years. This year 266 corporations are cited for 9,432,044 cumulative hours.
• Commercial Business Flying Safety Award – Member Companies whose aircraft have flown in excess of three or more consecutive accident-free years in a nonscheduled, revenue-producing capacity. Receiving this award are 25 companies that have compiled 707,354 hours.
• Pilot Safety Award – Member Company pilots who have flown corporate aircraft in excess of 1,500 accident-free hours. There are 795 recipients this year, whose totals add up to 5,732,464 hours.
• Aviation Maintenance Department Safety Award – Member Companies that qualify for a Corporate or Commercial Safety Award and perform their own maintenance. Receiving this award are 85 companies.
• Maintenance/Avionics Technician Safety Award – Member Company technicians who have been employed three or more accident-free years in support of corporate/business flight operations. There are 602 recipients this year.
• Aviation Support Services Safety Award – Member Company support services personnel who have been employed three or more accident-free years in support of corporate/business flight operations. There are 628 recipients this year.

For more information about NBAA awards, visit www.nbaa.org/awards.

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Founded in 1947, NBAA serves more than 7,000 Member Companies by promoting the aviation interests of organizations utilizing business aircraft in the United States and worldwide. The association provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at www.nbaa.org.