Story ID: 
AIN Top Flight Award Winners Unveiled
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: The winners of the inaugural AIN Top Flight Awards represent the best in business aviation. 
Word Count: 228
AIN today announced the winners of the inaugural 2020 Top Flight Awards, which recognize the best and the brightest in business aviation and honor creativity and innovation in design and technology as well as quality and passion in business aviation services and people.
The 2020 categories and winners are New Jet: Bombardier Global 5500/6500; New Turboprop: Pilatus PC-12 NGX; New Helicopter: Airbus H160; Technology: Industry bands together to meet the ADS-B deadline; New FBO Facility: Sheltair Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport; Training: Rolls-Royce virtual reality; Charter/Fractional/Jet Card Innovation: Wheels Up; Hero of the Year: Business aviation’s response to Covid-19; Sustainability: The Business Aviation Coalition for Sustainable Aviation Fuel; and Contribution to Safety: Garmin Autoland.
Each year, AIN editors will conduct the Top Flight Awards, with the nominees announced online on December 1 and in AIN’s December print issue and the winners revealed online on or about January 1 and in the January issue. AIN is also highlighting the winners via a series of videos.
The main criteria for qualifying as nominees for Top Flight Awards include service entry, in the case of new aircraft, or availability, for products and services, during the applicable time period, from October 1 through September 30. The nominees also must illustrate something new and unique such as improved safety and performance, contributions to aviation or public benefit, and more.