Aviation Week recognizes Baker with Laureate

During the black-tie affair at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., AOPA President Mark Baker was awarded the Laureate for Leadership in the Business Aviation category. He was nominated by the staff of Business and Commercial Aviation magazine and the other editors at the Aviation Week network of publications. His nomination read: “From helping create flying clubs to welcoming drone pilots, AOPA under Baker has addressed declining private pilot numbers with initiatives including providing aviation education to high schools, lobbying for medical certification reform and helping rusty pilots get back in the cockpit.”

Others winning Laureates in the Business Aviation category were Garmin International, Gulfstream Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and GE. Bombardier won the Grand Laureate in the category for its Global 7500, which, according to the nomination, “sets a new standard for business jets with a four-section cabin, full-size kitchen and dedicated crew suite; advanced fly-by-wire and flight deck technology; and a 7,700-nm range—enough to fly New York-Hong Kong or Singapore-San Francisco.”

“This year’s winners exemplify the spirit and innovations that are transforming our industry to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” said Aviation Week Network Editorial Director Joe Anselmo at the ceremony.

For a complete list of Laureate winners, see the Aviation Week website.