Winter Prize Given at NBAA-BACE 2021

In commemoration of a long career advancing the safety of the aviation industry, the NBAA honored Robert Sumwalt, former chairman of the NTSB, with the association’s Silk Scarf Award at this year’s expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Serving as a board member at the NTSB from 2006 until today, Sumwalt was nominated by President Trump in 2017 to serve as the 14th chairman. Prior to his work in the board, he had logged over 14,000 flight hours over two decades of flight as a commercial and business pilot. He has contributed a large body of work to aviation, having more than 100 articles on accident investigation and transportation safety, as well as years of consultant work for NASA’s ASRS. His work as a writer continued in the 2000 book Aircraft Accident Analysis: Final Reports, which he co-authored. 

Sumwalt has an undergraduate degree from University of South Carolina, and a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, with concentrations in aviation safety systems and human factors aviation systems. In the course of his work, he received an honorary Doctor of Science degree, as well as an honorary doctorate from both schools, respectively. In addition, he has been awarded the Flight Safety Foundation’s Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award and the Flight Safety Foundation – Boeing Lifetime Achievement Award. .

“Throughout his extensive career, Robert has been a fierce advocate for improving safety across all modes of transportation,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “Business aviation has benefited tremendously from his work, and I am honored to bestow NBAA’s Silk Scarf Award to Robert in appreciation of his contributions to our industry and to aviation safety worldwide.”

FMI: www.NBAA.org