FABA - Florida Aviation Business Association

What FABA - Florida Aviation Business Association does

FABA - Florida Aviation Business Association is a 501(c) non-profit trade association founded in 1946 and headquartered in Windermere, Florida. The organization serves as the unified voice for Florida's general and business aviation industry, with a member base spanning Fixed Base Operators (FBOs), airport authorities, aviation service providers, educational institutions (including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Gaetz Aerospace Institute), and regional aviation associations. Its core activities are Tallahassee legislative advocacy, regulatory engagement (including amicus briefs and court advocacy alongside NATA), and member services delivered through tiered memberships, an annual conference, quarterly legislative forums (Tally Talks), AvPro Mixers, professional forums, and job boards.

FABA's product portfolio is organized around tiered membership subscriptions and event programming. Membership tiers range from Trainer Level for students/educators at $25/year to Supersonic Level for organizations with over 60 employees at $995/year, with intermediate tiers (Rotorcraft $195, Piston $395, Turboprop $595, Jet $795) sized by employee headcount and bundled member allowances. A separate Legislative Program offers Association Membership ($6,500/year) and Strategic Partner ($3,500/year) tiers with board voting seats, Tally Talks participation, and conference registrations. The Annual FABA Conference (17th edition in May 2026 at Tampa International Airport), quarterly AvPro Mixers at Florida airports, the inaugural Business Aviation Invitational golf tournament, and Tally Talks legislative webinars round out the engagement mix. The technology backbone is Wild Apricot membership management software; FABA does not develop proprietary technology.

FABA monetizes through recurring annual membership dues, Legislative Program subscriptions, event registrations, and event sponsorship (Platinum/Gold levels, including Signature Flight Support, X-1FBO, and Avfuel). Distribution is direct via the portal.faba.aero website portal, supplemented by partnerships with regional aviation associations (SFBAA, CFBAA), co-exhibitions at NBAA Regional Forums, and member referrals. The association operates with a small staff (8 employees) and is governed by a Board of Directors composed of senior operators from Florida aviation businesses, including Mike Quinn (President, Atlas Aviation), José J. Cabrera (Vice President, Naples Jet Center), Doug Joest (Treasurer, AMCG), and Brad Nojaim (Past President, Reliance Aviation Miami). FABA is 501(c) certified and governed by Florida law.

Name

FABA - Florida Aviation Business Association

Legal name

Florida Aviation Business Association

Website

https://faba.aero

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FABA - Florida Aviation Business Association is a 501(c) non-profit trade association founded in 1946 that advocates for Florida's general and business aviation industry through tiered memberships, Tallahassee legislative lobbying, the Annual FABA Conference, and quarterly networking and legislative forums.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Windermere

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: FABA generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues categorized by organization size. Tiers range from $25/year for students/educators to $995/year for organizations with over 60 employees. The association also offers a Legislative Association membership at $6,750 for state aviation associations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

FABA is a 501(c) non-profit trade association founded in 1946 that provides tiered membership programs, legislative advocacy in Tallahassee, and networking events for Florida's general and business aviation industry. Core offerings include seven membership tiers ranging from $25 (student/educator) to $995 (60+ employee organizations), a Legislative Program with Association Membership ($6,500) and Strategic Partner ($3,500) tiers, the annual conference, quarterly mixers and legislative webinars, and member-only professional forums.

Product overview

FABA (Florida Aviation Business Association) is a 501(c) non-profit membership organization serving as a unified voice for Florida's aviation industry. The organization operates a platform of membership programs and services rather than a single software product. Its portfolio includes tiered membership programs (ranging from $25 student/educator to $995 enterprise), a Legislative Program with Association ($6,500) and Strategic Partner ($3,500) tiers featuring quarterly Tally Talks, the Annual FABA Conference (17th annual in 2026), quarterly AvPro Mixer networking events, the Business Aviation Invitational Golf Tournament, and member forums for professional discussions and job postings. The association connects to Wild Apricot for membership management and facilitates integrations between member companies like X-1FBO and FBO tools (FlightBridge, AirNav Systems, major fuel suppliers).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FABA Membership Programs Tiered annual membership programs for Florida aviation businesses, students, educators, and universities, including seven tiers: Trainer Level ($25, student/educator), Rotorcraft Level ($195, individual), Piston Level ($395, 2-10 employees), Turboprop Level ($595, 11-30 employees), Jet Level ($795, 31-60 employees), Supersonic Level ($995, 60+ employees), and University Level (restricted to colleges and universities). Each tier bundles a defined number of employee members and is sold on annual subscription with automatic renewal.
• FABA Legislative Program A higher-tier advocacy program unifying and amplifying Florida aviation's voice in Tallahassee through a Legislative Coalition with experienced lobbyists and quarterly Tally Talks webinars. Sold via two tiers: Association Membership ($6,500/year, bundle up to 3 members, includes board voting seat, two strategy meetings, two conference registrations) and Strategic Partner ($3,500/year, includes Tally Talks participation and one conference registration). SFBAA and CFBAA joined as Association Members at launch.
• FABA Annual Conference An annual conference providing Florida aviation professionals opportunities to discuss important topics and share knowledge across the general aviation industry through keynotes, panels, and networking. The 17th Annual Conference is scheduled for May 11-12, 2026 at Tampa International Airport.
• FABA Quarterly Tally Talks Quarterly legislative forum webinars held on the last Friday of each quarter, providing updates on FABA's legislative activities and interactive discussions between members, the Board, and FABA's lobbyist on business aviation needs in Florida.
• FABA AvPro Mixers Quarterly in-person Aviation Professionals Mixer events held at various Florida airports (including Boca Raton Airport and St. Augustine), providing networking opportunities for aviation professionals to connect, exchange ideas, and build industry relationships in relaxed settings.
• Business Aviation Invitational Golf Tournament An inaugural premier networking golf event co-hosted with Tampa Bay Aviation Association at Bay Palms Golf Course at MacDill Air Force Base, bringing together aviation professionals, industry leaders, and partners for networking and collaboration across the Southeast.
• FABA Member Forums Online member-only forums including a Professional Forum for industry discussions and a Member Job Posting Forum for sharing employment opportunities within the FABA aviation community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Won ad valorem tax exemption case for Hillsborough County Aviation Authority properties leased to FBOs (July 2023)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting partner.

• South Florida Business Aviation Association (SFBAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2026SFBAA joined FABA as an Association Member, part of the Legislative Coalition. This partnership unifies South Florida's business aviation voice with FABA's statewide advocacy efforts. Monica Sarduy is an active member of SFBAA.
• Central Florida Business Aviation Association (CFBAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2026CFBAA joined FABA as an Association Member as part of the Legislative Coalition. FABA and CFBAA are co-exhibiting at the 2026 NBAA Miami-Opa Locka Regional Forum at booth N1114, demonstrating joint advocacy for Florida's business aviation community.
• Signature Flight Supportsupporting partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerSignature Flight Support is a global FBO network with over 200 locations in 27 countries. They are listed as a Supporting Partner of FABA, providing sponsorship for events including the 2026 Annual Conference where they were a Platinum sponsor.
• Aviation Management Consulting Group (AMCG)supporting partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerAviation Management Consulting Group provides aviation management consulting services. Doug Joest serves as FABA Treasurer while working at AMCG. AMCG appears as a Supporting Partner and Lunch sponsor for FABA events.
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Universitysupporting partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a leading aviation university. Dr. Colleen Conklin serves as Executive Director of the Gaetz Aerospace Institute at ERAU and is a FABA board member. ERAU appears as a Supporting Partner of FABA.
• Atlas Aviationsupporting partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerAtlas Aviation operates FBOs at Peter O'Knight Airport and Plant City Airport in Florida. Mike Quinn serves as VP of Operations at Atlas Aviation and is FABA President. Atlas Aviation appears as a Supporting Partner.
• Tampa Bay Aviation Associationsupporting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting the inaugural Business Aviation Invitational golf tournament on October 8, 2026 at Bay Palms Golf Complex at MacDill Air Force Base. This partnership brings together aviation professionals from across the Southeast.
• X-1FBOsupporting partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerX-1FBO provides FBO management software deployed at 300+ locations worldwide. VP of Sales & Marketing Monica Sarduy serves on the FABA board. X-1FBO is a Platinum sponsor of the 2026 FABA Conference.
• National Air Transportation Association (NATA)supporting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerNATA partnered with FABA to file an amicus brief in Florida's Second District Court of Appeal defending FBOs against property tax assessments. Both associations advocate for general aviation businesses at national and state levels.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Florida Airports Council: Florida statewide association representing airport authorities and governments. Overlaps with FABA on Florida aviation policy but focuses on airport owners/operators rather than aviation service businesses.

Broad incumbents

• National Air Transportation Association (NATA): National trade association representing aviation service businesses including FBOs. NATA has a formal partnership with FABA (co-filed amicus brief in Florida appellate court) and competes for the same FBO advocacy agenda at the federal level.
• National Business Aviation Association (NBAA): The largest U.S. business aviation association, offering overlapping membership services, conferences (NBAA-BACE), and advocacy. FABA co-exhibits with CFBAA at NBAA's regional forums, signaling direct competitive overlap for member mindshare.
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA): The largest GA pilot and aircraft-owner association in the U.S. While more pilot-centric, AOPA overlaps with FABA on general aviation advocacy and competes for individual and small-business aviation members in Florida.

Emerging players

• Women in Aviation International: Professional organization advancing women in aviation careers. FABA board member Monica Sarduy is an active member; both target aviation workforce development and engagement, though WAI's mission is broader and demographic-specific.

Others

• General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA): Trade association representing general aviation manufacturers. Adjacent ecosystem player; FABA's manufacturer-adjacent members (aircraft sales, MROs) overlap with GAMA's downstream value chain.
• National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO): Organization representing state aviation agencies. Indirect overlap with FABA through shared engagement with state-level aviation policy and infrastructure programs in Florida and beyond.

Direct peers

• Tampa Bay Aviation Association: Regional Tampa Bay aviation association co-hosting FABA's inaugural Business Aviation Invitational golf tournament (Oct 2026). Closely aligned on Florida geographic footprint and aviation-business advocacy.
• South Florida Business Aviation Association (SFBAA): Regional South Florida business aviation association that joined FABA as an Association Member in Jan 2026. Most direct comparable — same geography segment, overlapping member base, now under the FABA legislative coalition.
• Central Florida Business Aviation Association (CFBAA): Regional Central Florida business aviation association, also a Jan 2026 FABA Association Member and co-exhibitor at NBAA Miami-Opa Locka Regional Forum. Direct comparable on mission, geography, and member profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FLAviation
• Facebookfacebook.com/FloridaAviationBusinessAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/faba-aero

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FABA - Florida Aviation Business Association