On November 6th, the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) celebrated aeronautic excellence at the Fall Awards Dinner. The awards dinner honored Americans whose contributions to humanity go above and beyond the ordinary.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Platinum: National Air Traffic Controllers Association

Gold: Flight Adventure Park

Silver: The Charles Bolden Group, Estes Rocket, John & Trish Gilbert, Penfed Credit Union, Southwest Airlines, Vertical Aviation International

Premium: Corporate Angel Network, Gulfstream Aerospace, JV Venable, Million Air, Linda Daschle, and Robert Hastings & Associate

The following recipients were recognized and honored during the dinner:

Photo (Left to Right): Ed Bolen, NBAA President & CEO; Amy Spowart, NAA President & CEO; Bill Dolny, MedAire CEO; Joan Sullivan Garrett, MedAire Founder & Chairman; Sam Magill, NAA Vice-Chair

On October 22nd, the National Aeronautic Association presented the 2024 Clifford Henderson Trophy to MedAire. MedAire is honored for its groundbreaking medical and security assistance solutions. With medical, logistics, and safety professionals handling hundreds of thousands of calls annually worldwide, MedAire provides expert medical advice and assistance through dedicated call centers. Their accumulated experience directly informs the content and delivery of educational programs and medical kits for aviation and maritime clients.

For over 60 years, the Henderson Trophy is awarded annually to a living individual, group of individuals, or an organization whose vision, leadership, or skill made a significant and lasting contribution to the promotion and advancement of aviation and aerospace.

Press Release

The National Aeronautic Association is thrilled to welcome new aero club, corporate and institutional members!

Aero Club Members

Aero Club of Pennsylvania

Corporate Members

Clickbond

Skyryse

Institutional Members

Corporate Angel Network

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Latino Pilots Association

Kansas Aviation Museum

National Aviation Hall of Fame

Interested in joining the NAA? Benefits include:

• Recognition: Logo and hyperlink on naa.aero and authorization to share NAA affiliation (logo, etc.) on the institutional website.
• Networking: Exclusive networking opportunities that provide a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and potential partnerships.
• Exposure: Special invites, access, and seating at NAA events.
• Support: Unrestricted use of NAA webinars and records database for enhanced learning resources.
• Opportunities: Dedicated access to NAA’s Corporate, Affiliate, Institutional, Air Sports and Aero Club members.
• Influence: Eligibility to serve on selection committees for prestigious recognitions, including the Collier Trophy, Brewer Trophy and Distinguished Statesman and Stateswoman of Aviation Awards.
• Teambuilding: Each level of Institutional Membership includes individual memberships for member use.
• Additional benefits to come...

Contact us today for more information!

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) celebrated the record-breaking achievement of the Bombardier Global 7500 at the National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Conference & Expo. The Global 7500 has now claimed over 60 world records!

NAA President & CEO Amy (Spowart) Marino joined Bombardier Leadership during the Monday press conference in Vegas. At the press conference, Éric Martel, President & CEO of Bombardier announced the first production of the Global 8000 which is expected to enter service in late 2025.

The Global 7500 is the largest and longest business jet featuring a baseline range of 7,700 NM with an upgrade for flights of up 8,000 NM and an ultra-high-speed range of 4,200 NM at Mach 0.92.

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) was thrilled to present Embraer FAI and NAA records during NBAA BACE.

The Praetor 600 recently set three records: Albany, NY to London, UK; Dillingham, AK to Washington D.C.; Milwaukee, WI to Dillingham, AK.



The Embraer Praetor 600 is a super-midsize business jet, capable of flying over 4,600 miles with a top speed of 536 mph.

Gulfstream Aerospace has recently claimed their 65th city-pair record in the G700. Powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, the G700 cruise can cruise at Mach 0.90 for 6,650 NM.

The most recent claimed records include a trip from Savannah to Honolulu using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and traveling 4,090 nautical miles in 8 hours and 52 mins at an average speed of Mach 0.90 and a trip from Los Angeles to Sydney traveling 6,507 nm in 14 hours 26 minutes. 

The National Aeronautic Association is thrilled to announce that Theresa Claiborne is the 2024 Katharine Wright Trophy recipient.  

Claiborne’s flying journey began as an Air Force ROTC cadet, influenced by the incredible legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and motivated by a T-37B familiarization flight at age 20. Despite the hurdles she faced, including those based on gender, race, and height, Claiborne's unwavering determination guided her groundbreaking accomplishment as the first black female Air Force pilot.

Claiborne transitioned to the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 1988, and began a career in commercial aviation in 1990, during which she became the first black female to earn the Captain position of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

The NAA's prestigious Katharine Wright Memorial Trophy was established in 1981 by the Gates-Learjet Corporation. It is awarded annually in partnership with the Ninety-Nines, International Organization of Women Pilots, to an individual who has contributed to the success of others and has made a personal contribution to the advancement of the art, sport, and science of aviation and space flight over an extended period.  

Check out the full Press Release here.

The National Aeronautic Association is thrilled to announce the 2024 Public Benefit Flying Awards recipients.

Created in partnership with the Air Care Alliance (ACA), a nationwide league of humanitarian flying organizations, the NAA’s Public Benefit Flying Awards recognizes individual volunteers and volunteer organizations who utilize aviation for humanitarian actions.



The 2024 NAA Public Benefit Flying Award recipients are:

Distinguished Volunteer Pilot

John Jewett for altruistically giving his time, talent, and resources to transport hundreds of passengers to their life-saving medical care as an Angel Flight West volunteer pilot. Jewett has flown over 580 missions, helping passengers reach life-saving medical care.

Outstanding Achievement in Advancement of Public Benefit Flying

Mercy Medical Angels for helping patients to find “the shortest distance between home and help”, and for hope delivered daily. Mercy Medical Angels has provided over 53,000 trips to critical medical treatment for in-need patients across the country including over 6,300 flights and 47,000 trips with ground transportation.

Champion of Public Benefit Flying

Daniel Cheung for his dedication and unwavering support of charitable aviation. Cheung has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to charitable aviation through his tireless support and advocacy for Angel Flight West, raising awareness of the vital role of public benefit flying.

Check out the full Press Release here.

The National Aeronautic Association corporate member Signature Aviation announced the expansion of its blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) offering to six new locations across the United States. This will expand Signature's SAF availability to 23 locations

“We are excited to hear the news that Signature will have SAF available at more of their FBOs, starting next year. SAF plays a big part in helping the industry meet its goal of “Net-Zero” by 2050," said Art Greenfield, NAA SVP, Contest and Records, "And, this will give pilots who are attempting records from these locations the opportunity to earn our Sustainable Wings Certification.”

The NAA Sustainable Wings Certification is a special recognition for records attempted using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Click here for more information on this certification.

Read the full Signature press release here.

photo courtesy of NBAA

NASA is backing the development of a new generation of all-electric commercial airliners that could start flying passengers within the next few decades.



The space agency on Tuesday tapped Electra—the manufacturer of a nine-passenger “ultra short” design that requires just 150 feet of runway for takeoff and landing—to develop the core technologies and design concepts for the futuristic, new generation of aircraft.

The contract was awarded to support NASA’s Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability (AACES) 2050 program, which aims to assert U.S. leadership in the decarbonization of commercial aviation. In recent years, aviation has accounted for about 2.4 percent of the world’s carbon emissions.

Read the full press release here.

photo courtesy of electra.aero

Aviation Partners’ designed Winglets have provided a sustainable option to the industry for decades, saving users billions of gallons of jet fuel. Aviation Partners is now teaming up with aviation sustainability solutions leader 4AIR to offer an emissions footprint assessment to its clients.

The agreement brings together Aviation Partners, a pioneer in sustainability that has helped avoid more than 150 million tons of carbon emissions from designed winglet products since 1992, and 4AIR, which has created a rating system that serves as a simplified and verifiable path for aviation industry participants to achieve meaningful aircraft emissions counteraction and reduction. Aviation Partners will offer 4AIR-certified sustainability tracking for new clients for a year after installing its Winglets.

Full Press Release

photo courtesy of aviation partners