NATA To Partner on FBO Sustainability Awards at AIN Gala

With preparations underway for its third Annual FBO Awards Gala, AIN proudly welcomes the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) as the official sponsor and facilitator of the FBO Sustainability Award.

The award recognizes the company or organization that best incorporates environmentally conscious practices into its daily operations.

“I think there’s been a big investment and interest in sustainability measures to continue to mitigate environmental impacts from our industry’s operations,” said NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna. “It enhances the visibility of FBOs and our aviation businesses as partners to airports, to their customers, and to local communities by really recognizing the measurable ways that FBOs are addressing sustainability today.”

In a change from the two previous years, next year’s award will be split into two categories, one for FBO chains and the other encompassing single locations. To be nominated, an online registration explaining why the company should be considered will need to be filed with a nominal entry fee. NATA has established a pool of $5,000 to cover the nomination costs, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Once those entries are received, they will then be evaluated by NATA, which has its own environmental committee that has established the association’s industry sustainability standards.

“We’re going to involve our committees [and] our broader leadership in helping with the selection process, because it’s very important to get their perspective,” explained Shannon Chambers, the organization’s senior v-p of communications and association affairs. She added that it looks to leverage all sectors of its membership, including its charter, advanced airborne mobility, and maintenance committees, as well as its environmental and airport business committees. “It really adds a lot more meaning behind it as well, when they’re involved, and it’s those that are maybe using the locations or just recognizing their peers in this situation.” She noted that any nominees will abstain from the vote for the award category in which they are nominated.

“When people talk about business aviation and sustainability, the immediate focus is on sustainable alternative jet fuel, typically, but I think it really goes beyond that,” Castagna told AIN. “It goes into electrified equipment, it goes into [plastic] coffee stirrers, it could go all the way down through the organization of what they’re doing to be more sustainable, so I think recognizing those other elements of what sustainability really means is important.”

“We are proud to partner with NATA on the Sustainability Award as part of our 2027 FBO Awards Gala,” said Nancy O’Brien, AIN’s senior director of industry affairs and events. “NATA’s leadership in advancing environmental responsibility across aviation—through its dedicated committee, subject matter expertise, and ongoing commitment to cleaner operations—makes it uniquely qualified to evaluate these nominations. Together, we look forward to recognizing FBOs that truly set the standard for sustainable practices, innovative equipment, and a culture of environmental stewardship.”

The nomination window will close on November 6, and the winners will be named at the February 24 event, following the conclusion of NBAA’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.