Commuter/Regional Airline News is requesting nominations for its prestigious Regional Jet Airline Executive of the Year Award and Regional Turboprop Airline Executive of the Year Award for 2003. These awards are presented to the heads of regional carriers who have shown exceptional leadership in making their airlines successful.

Begun in 1993, the Executive of the Year awards are presented annually to the top airline managers in the regional airline industry, as represented by the two main sectors: those primarily flying regional jets and those flying primarily turboprop or piston engine aircraft.

Executives of airlines that operate both types of aircraft are also eligible, but please specify if the carrier's fleet is 50 percent or greater jet-driven, or 50 percent or greater propeller-driven. Also note that nominations for the Regional Turboprop Airline Executive of the Year Award may include airlines flying turboprop and/or reciprocating engine aircraft.

The recipients will be honored during the Regional Airline Association's annual convention April 26-29 in St. Louis, Mo.

Exceptional leadership can be demonstrated in many ways, so the criteria for these awards is fluid, based on the airline's success, business growth model, employee morale, customer service, and other intangible traits, among other factors.

Anyone wishing to nominate a regional airline executive for either of these awards should submit the executive's name and airline, the award category (jet or turboprop), reasons why the executive should win, and any supporting documentation to: Tom Smith, Editor, Commuter/Regional Airline News, 1201 Seven Locks Rd., Potomac, MD 20854; email: tsmith@pbimedia.com; fax: 301-762-4196.

The deadline is March 26, so act today!

The winners for the awards in 2002 were: Jim Ream, president and CEO of ExpressJet, who received the Regional Jet Airline Executive of the Year Award; and the Colgan family of Colgan Air, who received the Regional Turboprop Airline Executive of the Year Award.

Other past winners include: Randy Rademacher, Comair, 2001; Skip Barnett, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, 2000; Phil Trenary, Express Airline I, 1999, David Siebenburgen, Comair, 1998; Bryan Bedford, Mesaba, 1997; Kerry Skeen, Atlantic Coast Airlines, 1996; Jonathan Ornstein, Continental Express, 1995; John Kelly, Horizon Air, 1994; Jerry Atkin, SkyWest, 1993 and Larry Risley, Mesa Airlines, 1992.

Nominations must be received by March 26.