Last Hover: Nick Sabatini Former New York Police Department Aviation Unit officer served as FAA associate administrator for aviation safety. Nicholas “Nick” Sabatini, a respected leader and champion of aviation safety, passed away Nov. 26, 2024. He was 88. Serving as the associate administrator for aviation safety at the FAA until his retirement in 2009, Sabatini significantly advanced safety standards throughout the industry. Sabatini’s career began with the US Army, where he served at Fort Knox, Kentucky, from 1956–1958. After fulfilling his military duties, he joined the New York Police Department (NYPD) in August 1958. He transitioned to the NYPD Mounted Unit in 1960 and the Aviation Unit in 1966, where he served until retiring in 1976. After serving with honor in law enforcement, Sabatini joined the FAA, ultimately ascending to the role of associate administrator for aviation safety on Oct. 15, 2001. For more than seven years, he adeptly oversaw the certification, production approval, and continued airworthiness of aircraft, impacting nearly 7,300 commercial airlines and aircraft operators. Through his leadership, he transformed the aviation safety organization, implementing International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification, enhancing customer service, and championing voluntary safety programs. Even after retirement, Sabatini remained active in promoting aviation safety, starting his own consulting company. He also served on the Helicopter Association International Accreditation Program of Safety Standards Board. In 2018, Nick received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in recognition of more than 50 years of service as a pilot. The award celebrated his technical expertise, professionalism, and contributions to aviation safety. Sabatini’s collaborative approach to addressing critical safety issues earned him recognition and awards, including an International Air Transport Association Nuts and Bolts Award in 2003. “Nick Sabatini leaves behind a legacy defined by innovation, dedication, and a profound commitment to aviation safety,” says James Viola, VAI president and CEO and a close friend of Nick’s. “Colleagues and friends throughout aviation will remember his impact, and I hope they will find comfort in knowing that he lived life with passion and purpose, embodying his high values and standards.” Sabatini is survived by his wife, Bonnie; his sons, Stephen and Christopher Sabatini; and two grandchildren.
