Public Benefit Flying Awards
Nomination period: May 1 – August 31
About the Awards:
The NAA and the Air Care Alliance (ACA) created the Public Benefit Flying Awards, a set of national awards designed to recognize the significant contributions to the Nation of volunteer-based Public Benefit Flying and the outstanding work of the individuals and organizations engaged in this humanitarian activity.
The awards are divided into five categories:
Distinguished Volunteer Pilot
Awarded to an individual or individuals for outstanding public benefit flying service as a volunteer pilot for performance that exceeds expectations and distinguishes nominee volunteers or their effort from others.
Distinguished Volunteer
Awarded to an individual or individuals for outstanding service as a non-flying volunteer working in public benefit flying for performance that exceeds expectations and distinguishes non-pilot volunteers or their effort from others.
Outstanding Achievement in Advancement of Public Benefit Flying
Awarded for outstanding achievement by an individual or organization that helped raise the standard of service of or contributed significantly to the overall advancement of Public Benefit Flying. Given for exemplary achievement or contributions by an individual, group of individuals, an organization, or group of organizations that significantly raised the standard of service, improved the state-of-the-art, or contributed to the advancement of Public Benefit flying overall.
Public Benefit Flying Teamwork Award
Awarded for outstanding cooperation and coordination involving two or more unaffiliated Public Benefit Flying organizations in the accomplishment of a shared mission, task, or objective. Given for exemplary collaboration involving unrelated individuals or unaffiliated and independent public benefit flying organizations to complete a task or endeavor beyond the scope and resources of any one public benefit flying organization.
Champion of Public Benefit Flying
Awarded to an individual, organization, or company who, while not operationally directly involved in Public Benefit Flying, has provided extraordinary support for such efforts and thus advanced the cause of Public Benefit Flying. This award is intended for individuals or groups not directly or primarily involved in public benefit flying, for extraordinary support and contributions providing fair winds beneath the wings of public benefit flying organizations and their volunteers.
Nomination Guidelines for the Public Benefit Flying Awards
General Criteria:
Nominees must be either U.S. citizens or U.S. organizations.
Public Benefit Flying is defined as those activities conducted largely by volunteers, in which one or more general aviation aircraft were used to support the health and wellbeing of anyone needing charitable assistance or for the benefit of the general public, and for which no fee was charged for the aircraft or pilot services.
Awards are intended to honor the efforts of volunteers working in public benefit flying or those who support them. As appropriate, awards may be granted to individuals, teams, groups, or organizations.
Awards may be based on just one or several extraordinary events or accomplishments or long-term or lifetime achievements. This must be clearly expressed in the nominating materials.
Nominators and nominees must understand that the award recipient or a representative is expected to attend the ceremony in Washington, D.C., to personally accept the award. Neither NAA nor ACA can fund the expenses for attending.
Detailed Criteria:
Distinguished Volunteer Pilot
For performance that exceeds expectations and distinguishes the nominee from others. Consider the amount and nature of effort, commitment, sacrifice, and impact on clients, organization, and community.
Distinguished Volunteer
For performance that exceeds expectations and distinguishes non-pilot volunteers and their efforts. Consider the amount and nature of effort, commitment, sacrifice, and the impact on clients, organizations, and community.
Outstanding Achievement in Advancement of Public Benefit Flying
For exemplary achievement or contribution by an individual, group of individuals, an organization, or group of organizations that significantly raised the standard of service, improved the state-of-the-art or contributed to the advancement of Public Benefit flying overall. Consider the achievement’s size, complexity, and unique value and its positive impact on public benefit flying.
Public Benefit Flying Teamwork Award
For exemplary collaboration involving unrelated individuals and unaffiliated and independent public benefit flying organizations to complete a task or endeavor beyond the scope and resources of any one public benefit flying organization. Consider the size, complexity, and unique value of the collaboration to the furtherance of public benefit flying efforts.
Champion of Public Benefit Flying
For individuals or groups not directly or primarily involved in public benefit flying, for extraordinary support and contributions providing fair winds beneath the wings of public benefit flying organizations and their volunteers. Consider the nature and scope of the support and/or its impact on encouraging others to provide the necessary lift for public benefit flying.
Who may submit:
Organizations
Each primary administrative office for organizations appearing on the ACA listing of all public benefit flying groups as of March 1 shall receive an invitation to submit one nomination for each of the awards named above. Other organizations that are supportive of or commonly working with volunteers and their public benefit flying groups or knowledgeable in the field of aviation may also be sent invitations at the discretion of NAA.
Individuals
May submit nominations for one or more of these awards by forwarding their nomination information to the primary administrative office of their organization(s) for consideration as that organization’s candidates or may submit nominations directly to NAA as described below.
Nomination Format:
Each nomination shall be limited to five (5) printed pages in the following format; the page layout, size, and font type may be of the writer’s choosing.
Cover and Contact Information (one page): The nomination package will include a cover sheet specifying the proposed award category and complete contact information for the nominee, the nominator, and two persons willing to act as references for the nominee. The contact information shall include the person’s name, title and affiliation, mailing address, telephone numbers (work and home), and email address.
Justification (three pages): Give complete yet concise details explaining why the nominee should receive the award proposed. Provide such background information as considered pertinent and any other relevant information that would assist the Selection Committee. Justification for the award shall not exceed three pages in length.
Abstract and Citation (one page): Provide the final separate sheet containing an Abstract of the Justification statement in 75 words or less, plus a draft Citation that might appear on the award.
The Citation must be 30 words or less, which celebrates and captures the essence of the achievement for which the nominee’s name has been submitted.
Deadline:
Nominations must be received by NAA by August 31. If this date falls on a weekend or Holiday, this date automatically moves to the next business day. Nominations received after the deadline will not be accepted. Nominations must be submitted by email as an attached Word document emailed to [email protected] with “PBF Nomination” in the subject line.
Presentation:
The award is presented at an appropriate ceremony as determined by the President of the National Aeronautic Association
For additional information, please email us at [email protected].
