NBAA's 2014 Journalism Awards Presented to Paul Lowe and Mike Potts
/The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today presented its top honors for excellence in journalism at the Association’s annual Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2014), being held from Oct. 21 to 23 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.
The 2014 David W. Ewald Platinum Wing Award, presented annually to recognize lifetime achievement and excellence in aviation journalism, was given to Paul Lowe, a long-time aviation writer and Aviation International News (AIN) contributor.
Lowe has covered just about every major topic in aviation over his long and distinguished career, including the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994; the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and a variety of congressional tax policies that have affected business aviation. The 2007 recipient of NBAA’s Gold Wing Award for insightful reporting about business aviation, Lowe began focusing on aviation in 1990 as a freelancer for AIN following a nearly 20-year stint with the Allentown Call-Chronicle Newspapers.
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Lowe’s interest in flying was developed through an aunt who at one time was an administrative assistant to William T. Piper Sr., founder of Piper Aircraft Company. Lowe went on to spend many hours at what is now William T. Piper Memorial Airport in Lock Haven, PA, learning to fly various Piper models in the late 1970s. He currently holds a private pilot’s license.
“Paul is being recognized for his long-standing, insightful and thorough coverage of business aviation in Washington, DC,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We thank him for his dedication to the aviation industry, as well as his integrity and journalistic professionalism.”
The 2014 NBAA Gold Wing Award, which is presented annually for excellent, accurate and insightful reporting by trade or nontrade media on issues related to business aviation, was given to Mike Potts, an aviation writer and consultant whose editorial work has appeared in numerous aviation publications.
Over the years, Potts has written as a freelance journalist for many of the industry’s leading publications, including Business & Commercial Aviation, Flying and Professional Pilot. His aviation career spans more than 30 years and includes stints with Empire Airlines, Beech Aircraft and Raytheon Aircraft. Most recently he was director of corporate communications for M7 Aerospace, and he now runs his own business, Words ‘n’ Such.
Potts received the Gold Wing Award for his September 2014 Professional Pilot story that focused on how owning a business jet has helped the Van Wall Group of Perry, IA foster strong business relationships and remain competitive with clients across the country. View the article.
“This is just the kind of story we want to share with members of Congress,” said Bolen. “Hopefully, Mike’s article will help them, as well as everyday Americans and the general news media, more clearly understand the real value of business aviation.”