Lou Pepper, who built Atlantic Aviation into one of the USA’s largest general aviation companies and helped redefine the idea of a service-first FBO is to be awarded the National Air Transportation Association’s William A ‘Bill’ Ong Memorial Award.

The award is NATA's highest tribute, named in honour and memory of the association's co-founder and first president, and given for extraordinary achievement and extended meritorious service to the general aviation industry. It will be presented as part of the NATA Industry Excellence Awards Presentation and Luncheon, to be held in conjunction with the Association's Aviation Business Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, on 13 November.

Pepper served as Atlantic Aviation CEO for decades and now plays an active role as a member of the company’s board of directors. His 45 year career in general aviation covered all aspects of FBO and ground operations including line, general and executive/corporate management.

During his long leadership tenure at Atlantic he oversaw a remarkable era of growth for the company, expanding from five locations in 1999 to 104 today, and building it into the second-largest FBO company with more than 3,000 employees. Pepper was Atlantic CEO for all its strategic acquisitions.

“Lou's accomplishments and experience speak for themselves, and it's more than fitting that he be presented with our highest honour,” says NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna. “He has been one of the most exceptional leaders in the FBO business, creating an extraordinary and lasting model of success for others to follow. Enough can't be said about what Lou has meant to our industry.”

Pepper began his general aviation career at Teterboro Aircraft Service as a line manager, where he was responsible for hiring and training line technicians before rising to the position of general manager. Teterboro marked the first in a line of increasingly senior aviation roles for Pepper. He was then courted by Jet East at Dallas Love Field, where he served as vice president.

Soon he was lured to Million Air in Addison, Texas and subsequently bought the Million Air franchise company before leading the acquisition of Atlantic Aviation in 2000, remaining the CEO for 22 successful years.

Along with the company’s growth, Pepper ushered in a culture of first-class customer service, advanced safety standards, invested in mission-critical infrastructure and supported pilots and airports through important technological advancements.

“I’m humbled and extremely excited to win this very prestigious award,” Pepper said upon learning of the honour. “I was simply blown away when I heard the news. I looked at the list of previous winners and saw many friends of mine. It’s quite an honour to be mentioned alongside such a list of luminaries. You never know who’s watching over the years.”

The Ong Memorial Award has been presented since 1984. Previous honourees include Paul Garber, Clay Lacy and US Rep Sam Graves.