The Chicago Area Business Aviation Association (CABAA) has been selected as the 2012 recipient of the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame (IAHF) Spirit of Flight Award. The Spirit of Flight Award is given annually to an organization that has made substantial contribution to aviation in Illinois, is based in Illinois, and exhibits a high degree of excellence in all accomplishments.
CABAA’s accomplishments include scholarships, mentoring, safety, and much more. Every year, CABAA awards eight students, who are enrolled in an accredited aviation program, scholarships, in the amount of $2,500 each. CABAA has also partnered with FlightSafety to award an SIC rating in a Citation II valued at $20,000. CABAA continues to expand the scholarship program to include higher monetary value and specific awards, officials said.
Other annual events include: A Mentoring Session at Lewis University in which members of CABAA speak with aviation students regarding their career path. CABAA hosts its annual Golf Outing in which all proceeds benefit the scholarship initiative. As well as golf and mentoring, CABAA also puts on a full day of safety seminars in which attendees can earn NBAA CAM credits. The ATC committee works closely with the FAA to improve airspace to the satellite airports in Chicagoland.
“On behalf of CABAA and all of the dedicated board and committee members, past and present, I would like to say how thrilled we are with this distinguished award,” said Ed Forst, CABAA president. “It is very gratifying to be acknowledged for the efforts of many aviation professionals in elevating CABAA to the level where we are recognized as an important entity in our aviation community. We thank the selection committee for this esteemed honor.”
CABAA is a grass roots organization formed by business aviation professionals for the purpose of offering members relevant information, training and networking experiences to enhance the quality and quantity of business aviation operations in the Chicagoland area. With only one hired staff member, CABAA also relies on the leadership of the Board of Directors, committee chairs and volunteers to accomplish its mission. For more information: CABAA.com.
The Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame is dedicated to those individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the development of aviation in Illinois. For more information: Ilavhalloffame.org
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