2017/Jun
2017/Jun
2017/May
2017/May
Joe Dini Honored with NAFA Lifetime Achievement Award
Ft. Lauderdale, FL – March 30, 2017 – The National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA) honored Joseph Dini and Louis Seno with the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award at the 46th annual meeting held at the Harbor Beach Marriott in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
“I am honored to present the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award to Joe Dini and Lou Seno,” said Ford von Weise, president of NAFA. “This is the first time in the history of NAFA that we are presenting this award and I couldn’t think of two more deserving people than Joe and Lou.”
Joseph Dini was the first award recipient. Dini experienced a very successful 40 year plus career in business aviation finance, having founded the business aviation finance groups at First NH Bank, FINOVA, GMAC Commercial Finance, Merrill Lynch Capital, Sovereign Bank and lastly establishing the successful member aircraft finance group at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, known as AOPA Finance. Not only was he successful in his own career, but he also served as a mentor to many aspiring business aviation professionals, including the current heads aircraft finance at three top banks. Dini was also instrumental in establishing Boston Aviation Leasing and is currently on the Brown Aviation Leasing Advisory Board. He – along with the other Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Lou Seno – was an early member of the National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA) and was elected as its president twice for two separate non-concurrent terms. Dini – along with Seno – is credited for dramatically expanding the membership to include both general and business aviation and helped to develop its robust education program. Dini is also past elected member of the Town of Lexington’s School Board and a Town Meeting Member. He resides in Bedford, MA with his wife.
The NAFA Lifetime Achievement Award was established to recognize the lifetime achievements of individuals within the aircraft Finance, Legal and Insurance community to recognize their extraordinary professional contributions of leadership, time, ideas and mentoring of association members.
The Award is bestowed by the National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA) during its Annual Conference.
About NAFA:
The National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting the general welfare of individuals and organizations providing aircraft financing and loans secured by aircraft; to improving the industry’s service to the public; and to providing our members with a forum for education and the sharing of information and knowledge to encourage the financing, leasing and insuring of general aviation aircraft. For more information about NAFA, visit the website at visit www.NAFA.aero
2017/May
2017/May
2nd Annual Massachusetts General Aviation Forum
On March 25, 2017 at Worcester Regional Airport, the Massachusetts Air and Space Museum hosted the 2nd Annual Massachusetts General Aviation Forum where the leaders of the GA Community could share ideas and calendars about upcoming events for the 2017 flying season.
Our featured speaker was Dave Pascoe, founder and owner of Live ATC. Dave spoke about his passion for training in personal flying and was able to turn his need for hearing Boston air traffic communications into the worldwide communication sharing system that has become LiveATC, both on mobile devices and through the Internet.
Several key individuals from the aviation community attended. Loren Herren flew in from Bridgewater State University to share what the school is doing on the subject. Groups such as the Massachusetts Airport Managers Association, represented by David Dinneen, AOPA Regional Representative, Sean Collins and Aero Club of New England (ACONE) who sent Cary Webster all presented how their organizations are working to combat the issue of diminishing pilot numbers.
Andy Davis, Airport Manager for Worcester regional Airport, spoke about the work going at ORH and Joe Dini shared some updates about plans for the museum. John Henry of the New England Flying Gourmet Challenge spoke about how important it is to work together to achieve a unified goal as represented by the great success of the NEFGC.
EAA106 was represented by Barbara Jagla, Jim Engbeg spoke about happenings with the Worcester Pilots Association and Keith Young gave updates from the Fitchburg Pilots Association.
2017/May
2017/May
Aviation & Maritime STEM Expo – Logan 2017
Our museum once again participated in the annual STEM Aviation and Maritime Expo sponsored by the FAA & MassPort at Logan Airport. Over 1700 students from the Boston area and beyond participated in the event. The Expo is held annually at the Delta Airlines Hanger to expose young people to various careers within the aviation and maritime fields.
Veteran attendee Joe Dini was joined by first timers Bob Segal and Glenn Block at the MASM Table. These three dedicated volunteers spent the morning chatting with students and teachers about the choices available for those interested in the flying world. A large number of our Horizons newsletters went home with individuals and hopefully will generate interest in what we are working to achieve as an organization. Barbara Jagla & Keith Young were on-hand and working the table for Young Eagles with EAA 106.
