KALAMAZOO, Mich.—A national aviation association has honored Western Michigan University's College of Aviation for excellence in pilot training. The National Air Transportation Association's 2018-19 Industry Excellence Awards recognized WMU's aviation programs for outstanding contributions in safety, professionalism, leadership and excellence in the field.
This is the first year WMU has been chosen for the award and the first time a four-year institution has been selected since the its inception in 1987. The award is presented annually to individuals and organizations that demonstrate superior service to the aviation business community, particularly through their leadership skills and advancement of a safety-first culture. This year, the association added two new honors acknowledging the contributions of FBO customer service representatives and rising aviation business leaders.
"For over 30 years, the association has celebrated those that embody the spirit of general aviation, serving as model examples for their peers and the next generation of aviation leaders. NATA is excited to once again recognize the accomplishments of individuals and organizations that contribute to advancing the health and vitality of our industry," stated NATA President Gary Dempsey.
WMU and other award recipients will be recognized at a luncheon Tuesday, June 18, in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with the NATA 2019 Annual Meeting and Aviation Business Conference.
For more information, visit Western Michigan University's College of Aviation or NATA's Excellence in Pilot Training Award.
College of Aviation
Since 1939, the college has been the only comprehensive aviation program at a public university in Michigan, and with just under 1,000 undergraduate students, is the third largest aviation program in the nation. The college is a leading force, training the future aviation workforce with over 50 aircraft, 80 years of education experience, and a 92% post-graduation success rate.
For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.
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