Chicago Area Business Aviation Association

What Chicago Area Business Aviation Association does

The Chicago Area Business Aviation Association (CABAA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association founded in 1998 and headquartered in Lemont, Illinois. It serves the Chicagoland business aviation community by providing membership programs (Corporate at $350/year for unlimited employees, Individual at $50/year, and free Student tiers), advocacy, safety promotion, networking, and an annual scholarship program that disburses more than $90,000-$100,000 per year to high school and college students pursuing aviation studies and to working professionals pursuing advanced training. Its membership spans corporate flight departments (Abbott Laboratories, McDonald's, Boeing, NetJets), aviation services firms (Northern Jet Management, B. Coleman Aviation, Jen-Air, Executive Jet Management, Jetcraft, Priester), and educators (Lewis University), with representation governed through a Board of Directors and nine active volunteer committees covering ATC, Events, Flight Attendant, Golf, Government Affairs, Maintenance, Membership & Outreach, Safety, and Scholarship & Mentoring.

CABAA's product surface is service-based rather than technology-based: membership tiers, hosted events (including an annual Golf Outing that raised over $87,000 in 2025), training-provider partnerships (CAE, FlightSafety International, Aircare International, DaVinci Inflight Training Institute, Avel Flight School) that supply in-kind training awards, and an affiliated nonprofit private foundation — the CABAA Educational Foundation (CEF) — established to raise tax-deductible donations and grants. There is no proprietary software, API, or AI platform; operations are supported by a standard website (cabaa.com) and a basic member portal.

The revenue model is a hybrid of subscription (membership dues), transaction/event (golf outing and other event ticket sales), and sponsorship (corporate event sponsors with logo placement, website acknowledgment, and complimentary registrations). CABAA positions itself as the grassroots Chicagoland counterpart to the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), explicitly recommending dual membership and focusing on regional issues (legislative advocacy at the state/local level, safety promotion, scholarships) while deferring national policy work to NBAA.

Name

Chicago Area Business Aviation Association

Legal name

Chicago Area Business Aviation Association

Website

https://cabaa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Chicago Area Business Aviation Association (CABAA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association, founded in 1998 and based in Lemont, Illinois, that serves corporate flight departments, aviation services firms, educators, and students in the Chicagoland region through membership programs, advocacy, safety promotion, networking events, and an annual scholarship program exceeding $90,000.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Trade Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (81391), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC), Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

Keywords

• Business aviation association
• Aviation membership services
• Aviation scholarship programs
• Aviation safety advocacy
• Professional aviation networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Lemont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from Corporate ($350/year for unlimited employees), Individual ($50/year), and Student (free) members. Dues are used for operational expenses.
2. Event Revenue: Event profits from golf outings and other industry events support annual scholarships. Events are made possible through corporate sponsorships and attendee ticket purchases.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorships for CABAA-hosted events include acknowledgment on CABAA.com, logo display and recognition at events, and complimentary event registrations. Event ticket purchases also generate revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CABAA is a nonprofit trade association that delivers tiered membership programs, an annual scholarship program exceeding $100,000, networking and safety events, nine volunteer committees, and legislative advocacy for the Chicagoland business aviation community. Members include corporate flight departments, FBOs, charter and management operators, aviation service vendors, individual aviation professionals, and students pursuing aviation careers.

Product overview

The Chicago Area Business Aviation Association (CABAA) is a nonprofit membership organization, not a technology product company. It operates as a community association providing four core service pillars: Relationship Building (civic partnerships), Legislative Advocacy (industry representation), Safety Promotion (safe aircraft operations), and Education Support (annual scholarships exceeding $100,000). The organization's primary offerings include membership programs (Corporate, Individual, Student tiers), a comprehensive scholarship program with multiple award categories, nine volunteer committees addressing specific aviation domains, support and grant programs through the CABAA Educational Foundation, and hosted events including golf outings and Safety Day. CABAA does not offer a software product, API, or AI-enabled technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CABAA Educational Foundation (CEF): A nonprofit, private foundation tasked with raising tax-deductible donations and seeking grants that are used to support business aviation. CEF considers grant requests on a case-by-case basis for projects, educational events, or professional development opportunities benefiting organizations or individuals in the Chicagoland area.

Products and services

• Membership Programs Tiered annual membership for aviation professionals and organizations in Chicagoland: Corporate ($350/year for unlimited employees), Individual ($50/year), and Student (free for actively enrolled students). Members receive networking access, safety resources, member directory, discounted event entry, and career development support.
• Scholarship Program Annual scholarship program providing more than $100,000 in funding and support to encourage pursuit of aviation studies. Includes financial scholarships for high school and college students, and professional training awards including pilot training, maintenance training, dispatcher courses, and inflight crew training delivered through training provider partners.
• Association Events Hosted events including the annual Golf Outing, Safety Day conferences, and committee-led networking opportunities for business aviation professionals in the Chicagoland area. Event proceeds support the scholarship program.
• CABAA Educational Foundation (CEF) Grants Affiliated nonprofit private foundation that raises tax-deductible donations and awards grants on a case-by-case basis to support business aviation projects, educational events, and professional development opportunities benefiting Chicagoland-based organizations or individuals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $100,000 in annual scholarships and training awards provided to aviation students
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record.

• CABAA Educational Foundation (CEF)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2025Nonprofit private foundation affiliated with CABAA tasked with raising tax-deductible donations and seeking grants to support business aviation. CEF considers special grant requests for projects, educational events, or professional development opportunities on a case-by-case basis.
• CAEOthersTraining provider partner that offers Professional Pilot Training Awards, Professional Maintenance Training Awards, and ATP-CTP Courses to CABAA scholarship recipients. 2026 recipients include Maddie Glassett (ATP-CTP Course), Isabella Gianni and Bailey Reiners (Professional Pilot Training Awards), and Allison Dziak (Professional Maintenance Training Award).
• FlightSafety InternationalOthersTraining provider partner offering Professional Pilot Training Awards and Professional Maintenance Training Awards to CABAA scholarship recipients. 2026 recipients include Matthew Bazan (Professional Pilot Training Award) and Gavin Madary (Professional Maintenance Training Award), plus Charles Kucharzak (Principles of Troubleshooting).
• Aircare InternationalOthersTraining provider partner offering FACTS Training scholarships to CABAA recipients. 2026 recipients include Brittany Cruz and Jana Shores who received FACTS Training awards.
• DaVinci Inflight Training InstituteOthersTraining provider partner offering Culinary Elite Scholarships to CABAA recipients. 2026 recipient Patrice Schoolman received the Culinary Elite Scholarship.
• Avel Flight SchoolOthersTraining provider partner offering FAA Dispatcher Course scholarships to CABAA recipients. 2026 recipient Nick Alamo received the FAA Dispatcher Course award.
• Lewis UniversityStrategic or Co-development PartnerAviation education institution that has produced multiple CABAA scholarship recipients and volunteers. Career fair participation where CABAA engages students. Alumni including Carl Robst and Marc Pozdol have served as mentors and professionals in the industry.
• National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)Strategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization that CABAA complements. NBAA addresses business aviation issues on a national level while CABAA focuses on Chicagoland issues at a grassroots level. CABAA recommends membership in both organizations. Josh Hernandez interned with NBAA for two summers in operations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Business Aviation Association (NBAA): The national-level business aviation trade association that CABAA explicitly complements. NBAA addresses national advocacy, safety, and events while CABAA handles grassroots Chicagoland issues; both serve overlapping corporate flight department and operator audiences with comparable membership and scholarship models.
• Women in Aviation International: A nonprofit membership organization supporting aviation professionals and students through networking, scholarships, and education. Comparable to CABAA in its nonprofit association model, scholarship program, committee-driven structure, and aviation career development mission.
• American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE): National membership association for airport executives and professionals offering training, advocacy, and certification. Comparable to CABAA in serving aviation decision-makers, operating a nonprofit association model, and bundling education/scholarship/event programming.
• National Air Transportation Association (NATA): National trade association representing aviation businesses including FBOs, charter operators, and aircraft management companies — the same vendor ecosystem CABAA serves. Offers safety resources, advocacy, training, and events under a comparable nonprofit dues-based model.

Broad incumbents

• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA): Large, established general aviation association offering membership, advocacy, training resources, and safety programs. While broader than business aviation, AOPA competes for the same pool of pilots, schedulers, and aviation professionals CABAA serves, and operates a similar dues-plus-sponsorship nonprofit model.
• Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA): A long-established aviation membership organization offering education, events, and advocacy for the general aviation community. Comparable to CABAA in nonprofit membership structure and educational mission but with a recreational/builder focus rather than business aviation.
• International Air Transport Association (IATA): Global trade association serving airlines and aviation stakeholders with training, advocacy, and standards programs. Operates at larger scale than CABAA and serves scheduled operators rather than business aviation, but uses a comparable dues/training/events model.

Emerging players

• National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI): A membership organization serving aviation professionals through training resources, continuing education, and networking. NAFI shares CABAA's nonprofit model and aviation education/scholarship orientation but focuses on flight instructors specifically.
• Helicopter Association International (HAI): International trade association for the helicopter industry, providing training, advocacy, and exposition services. Comparable nonprofit membership model with education and event pillars similar to CABAA, though focused on rotorcraft operators.

Regional players

• Regional Airline Association (RAA): A trade association for regional airlines, similar in nonprofit trade-association structure to CABAA but focused on commercial regional aviation rather than business/corporate flight operations. Useful proxy for understanding aviation association economics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CABAAchicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/CABAAchicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cabaachicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Chicago Area Business Aviation Association