NATA’s internationally recognized Safety 1st program has expanded beyond its traditional aircraft ground handling focus with the addition of two new courses: “Hazmat Will Not Carry” and “Human Trafficking Awareness in Aviation.”
“Expanding the scope of NATA Safety 1st supports our objective of positioning the program as a comprehensive safety and compliance resource for the full spectrum of business aviation stakeholders,” said Steve Berry, NATA’s Vice President, Education and Safety.
The Hazmat Will Not Carry course was developed in direct response to NATA member demand as one of the most frequently requested training topics, according to Berry. Human Trafficking Awareness in Aviation, he added, aligns with NATA’s collaboration with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Blue Lightning Initiative, which seeks to combat human trafficking within the transportation sector. “Incorporating this training into Safety 1st supports industry awareness and coordinated reporting efforts,” he said.
Berry explained that both courses, available online since January 2026, are interactive certification programs incorporating scenario-based learning and applied knowledge checks to reinforce comprehension. To date, 80 and 115 companies—accounting for 1,000 and 1,200 individual trainees—have participated in the hazmat and human trafficking awareness training programs, respectively.
“Adoption includes FBOs that have incorporated those courses into their existing Safety 1st curriculum, while Part 135 charter operators, Part 91 flight departments, MROs, airport authorities, and other aviation service providers have adopted them to address compliance and awareness needs,” said Berry.
The two new courses are the latest evolution of Safety 1st, which traces its roots to the Professional Line Service Training (PLST) program introduced in the mid-1980s by AMR Combs—a prominent FBO chain at the time. In 1996, the Aviation Training Institute (ATI) made a video version of PLST, which NATA purchased from ATI in 2000.
“Ground handling was the original focus of Safety 1st,” Berry pointed out. “Early coursework addressed aircraft fueling, towing, repositioning, and marshaling, as well as ground service equipment operations, fire safety, and general ramp safety fundamentals. The objective was to reduce incidents, improve professionalism on the ramp, and create a consistent, standardized training framework across the FBO community.”
Over time, the operational landscape in business aviation has evolved, and today’s operators face increased regulatory complexity, broader compliance expectations, and heightened public scrutiny. “Many safety and compliance responsibilities extend beyond traditional ramp activities and touch multiple segments of an organization,” Berry noted.
Safety 1st, as Berry pointed out, is NATA’s industry-developed training and certification program designed to advance operational safety, regulatory compliance, and workforce development across business aviation. The curriculum is shaped through NATA’s Safety Committee and supporting working groups, which are comprised of active NATA member companies representing FBOs, Part 91 and Part 135 operators, MROs, and fuel suppliers.
“This structure ensures the training reflects current operational practices and real-world industry expectations,” he said.
NATA Safety 1st is comprised of a combination of the association’s Safety First Training Center (SFTC) online platform and in-person training. The SFTC provides interactive certification courses incorporating scenario-based learning, regulatory context, and knowledge checks, allowing companies to deploy standardized training across multiple locations. It is available exclusively to NATA members by annual subscription, which provides access to the full Safety 1st course catalog and centralized tracking for compliance and documentation purposes.
Complementing the online platform, NATA delivers in-person instruction through nationally hosted, in-person workshops and its rapidly expanding, customized onSITE training. The workshops and onSITE are available to both NATA members and non-members, although members received preferred pricing.
“Many Safety 1st certifications also include required on-the-job training (OJT) and practical evaluation components,” said Berry. “These hands-on elements are completed at the company level and documented within the platform, ensuring that knowledge gained online is reinforced through supervisor validation and demonstrated operational competency. This blended structure connects digital learning with real-world application, and allows for deeper discussion, practical application, and team-based engagement.”
Over time, Safety 1st has evolved to address specific changes in the business aviation operational landscape. “Operators today face increased regulatory complexity, broader compliance expectations, and heightened public scrutiny,” Berry explains. “Many safety and compliance responsibilities extend beyond traditional ramp activities and touch multiple segments of an organization.”
These changes, according to Berry, are driving increased engagement from service providers beyond traditional ground handling, including rental car companies, aircraft detailing providers, and other ancillary airport businesses.
“These organizations operate on or around the airport environment and interact directly with FBO personnel, airport staff, passengers, and crews,” Berry noted. “While they may not perform ramp duties, their work often has them on the ramp, making them part of the broader airport operational ecosystem and reinforcing the value of foundational safety and compliance training. Expanding the scope of Safety 1st reflects this broader industry reality and supports our objective of positioning the program as a comprehensive safety and compliance resource for the full spectrum of business aviation stakeholders.”
Berry added that, since its inception, more than 1,000 businesses have utilized Safety 1st to strengthen ramp safety, fuel quality control, compliance awareness, and operational professionalism, regardless of international boundaries.
“Safety 1st is structured around operational risk management and professional competency,” he stressed. “Core principles such as fuel quality control, ramp safety, human factors, hazard recognition, and compliance awareness are applicable across global operating environments.”
And, while certain courses reference U.S. regulatory structures where appropriate, the underlying safety concepts align with internationally recognized standards and industry practices, Berry noted. “As a result, Safety 1st also provides value to multi-national operators and organizations with international footprints by reinforcing a consistent safety culture and standardized procedures.”
Expansion of Safety 1st is ongoing, according to Berry, who explained that future courses will continue to address emerging safety risks and operational needs identified through industry engagement. “While specific course offerings are still being finalized, the broader objective remains consistent, which is to continue evolving Safety 1st from a ground handling-focused program into a safety and compliance resource catering to the complete business aviation ecosystem,” he said.
