NBAA Marks the Passing of Aviation Safety Stalwart Nicholas Sabatini

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today marked the passing of aviation safety advocate and former FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Nicholas “Nick” Sabatini, an influential leader at the FAA and mentor to many in the agency and industry.

“Nick Sabatini was passionate about aviation safety, with a tireless focus on understanding the root causes of accidents, so that meaningful steps can be taken to avoid similar future tragedies. He leaves a legacy of leadership on safety that will benefit the industry for years to come.”

Bolen noted that Sabatini was among the safety champions who pioneered the concept of a “just culture” approach to learning from incidents and accidents, based on an understanding that open and transparent communication without fear of reprisal is crucial to improving safety.

Sabatini served in the U.S. Army before continuing his public service with the New York Policy Department. He joined the prestigious NYPD Aviation Unit in 1966, and later flew with the U.S. Customs Drug Interdiction Air Unit. He began his 30-year career with the FAA as an Operations Inspector in Charleston, WV, in 1978, working his way through levels of leadership and becoming Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety in 2001.

In that role, he oversaw 7,000 FAA employees. An accomplished aviator with fixed-wing and rotorcraft ratings, Sabatini brought a deep understanding of the aviation industry to his team, the agency and the industry.

In 2009, upon his retirement from the FAA, Sabatini was awarded NBAA’s distinguished Silk Scarf Award, which recognizes individuals who made special contributions to the business aviation community during their careers.