Safety as the Foundation of Aviation 

In aviation, safety forms the foundation of our industry’s longevity and success. When safety is embraced as central to an organization’s identity, it becomes far more than compliance—it becomes culture. Every action, whether it involves fueling, towing, ground handling, flight operations, maintenance, training, or a combination of these areas, is then rooted in the commitment to protect people and assets to the highest possible standard. 

Building a Culture, Not Just a Program 

A robust safety program embeds safety into the very DNA of the organization, empowering every team member to identify risks, speak up, and act in the best interest of colleagues, customers, and community. When safety becomes cultural, organizations prevent accidents while fostering professionalism, accountability, and excellence. 

NATA’s Comprehensive Approach to Safety 

NATA’s mission is to equip aviation businesses with training, resources, and expertise to strengthen safety culture across every facet of operation. NATA’s Safety 1st online training, onSITE program, professional development opportunities, and industry events like the Ground Handling Safety Symposium (GHSS) provide an effective combination of practical tools and real-world instruction. 

Online 

NATA’s Safety 1st training delivers accessible, standardized instruction on aircraft towing, fueling, ground handling, deicing, and other critical operational areas. The online platform provides frontline employees with consistent, high-quality training that can be scaled across teams and locations, ensuring safety is embedded from day one. NATA’s Misfueling Prevention Program demonstrates that safety requires both awareness and communication. Misfueling is entirely preventable when line personnel, pilots, and managers are trained, vigilant, and empowered to ask questions. Preventing a single incident protects lives, preserves assets, and strengthens aviation’s safety standards. 

onSITE 

The onSITE Program brings NATA’s expertise directly to member operations, offering tailored assessments, training, and consulting designed to address unique safety challenges. By meeting members where they operate, NATA’s onSITE Program helps bridge the gap between training theory and daily practice. 

In-Person 

NATA’s Ground Handling Safety Symposium (GHSS) creates forums for peer-to-peer learning and collaboration. By convening safety leaders, trainers, and frontline managers, NATA’s GHSS provides a platform to share experiences, explore solutions to common challenges, and elevate safety practices across the industry. NATA’s Certified Aircraft Deicing Workshop strengthens seasonal readiness by focusing on winter safety practices. The Workshop delivers specialized training that equips professionals with the knowledge and skills to ensure safe and efficient ground handling during critical cold-weather conditions. Through NATA’s broader suite of professional development opportunities, we equip managers and emerging leaders with the tools they need to strengthen safety oversight, improve team communication, and cultivate accountability. Support of such professional development opportunities emphasizes leadership’s role in fostering a strong safety culture and ensuring its continuity across the organization. Together, these programs provide NATA members with a comprehensive approach that combines in-person collaboration, online learning, and hands-on instruction to tailor their safety programs to their unique and evolving needs. 

Connecting Members to Community Resources that Advance Safety 

To expand access across the industry, NATA created Partner+, a membership-community program that aligns aviation businesses with individualized solutions through a network of innovative industry brands and subject matter experts drawn from the NATA membership. These partners help aviation businesses meet key strategic, tactical, and operational challenges such as Safety Management System (SMS) implementation, fuel quality control and oversight, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. Partner+ gives NATA members access to expert tools and guidance combined with perks like discounts, free trials, waived fees, and exclusive educational content. Partner+ equips organizations of every size with tools to build a comprehensive, evolving safety culture, strengthened by NATA’s expertise and the collective insight of our member community. 

Supporting Safety Management 

NATA recognizes that safety must be both systemic and cultural; we believe SMS provides necessary structure for hazard identification, risk assessment, and continuous improvement. SMS becomes a living framework when reinforced through NATA’s Safety 1st training, onSITE instruction, GHSS events, misfueling prevention education, and Partner+. Our comprehensive approach to safety management and risk mitigation shapes daily operations, guides decision-making, and creates feedback loops where lessons learned strengthen future performance. Leading Industry-Wide, Safety-Focused Efforts NATA serves at the forefront of the industry-wide transition to unleaded aviation fuels. As a leading partner in the FAA-industry EAGLE initiative, NATA advocates for policies that prioritize safety and operational continuity, while collaborating with regulators, fuel producers, and stakeholders to advance viable solutions. At the same time, NATA develops practical resources that equip members with the knowledge and tools to adapt—ensuring aviation businesses of all sizes can navigate regulatory changes, maintain fuel quality, and sustain the highest levels of safety throughout the transition. Safety as a Shared Commitment At NATA, we stand ready to help our members build and sustain the robust safety programs their organizations deserve. By delivering the training, resources, and expertise needed to turn compliance into culture, NATA helps ensure that safety remains the driving force that allows aviation to evolve, thrive, and inspire confidence in the communities we serve.