
If any of the founding members of the organization that eventually grew into the National Business Aviation Association could be transported through time to the 2007 NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, they would undoubtedly be amazed by what they see here.
The organization has come a long way since its inception in 1947, when a group of 13 members of the Wings Club in New York sought to provide a higher profile for business aviation after World War II. The Air Transport Association (ATA) had been formed to represent the airlines, the airline pilots had organized the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and even private flyers were represented by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). But business flying, which was growing after the end of the war, faced the threat of regulatory restrictions at time when the air traffic control system was being pushed to the limit. (Okay, so maybe things haven’t changed all that much.)