The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award

On April 14, 1945, Laura Taber Barbour was aboard a Pennsylvania Central Airlines DC-3 passing through the turbulent West Virginia skies as electrical storms ripped through Cooper’s Rock State Forest near Morgantown. She was among 17 passengers and a crew of three when the plane crashed into Cheat Mountain. All on board were killed.

In 1956, her husband, the late Dr. Clifford E. Barbour and their son Cliff augmented the unprompted insurance settlement and through collaboration with Flight Safety Foundation’s Jerome Lederer and Gloria Heath, established the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award in her honor.

The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award “recognizes notable achievement in the field of aviation safety — civil or military — in method, design, invention, study or other improvement.” Each year, the Award recipients are selected for “significant individual or group effort contributing to improving aviation safety, with emphasis on original contributions,” and a “significant individual or group effort performed above and beyond normal responsibilities.” Mechanics, engineers and others outside of top administrative or research positions should be especially considered. The contribution need not be recent, especially if the nominee has not received adequate recognition.

Nominations for the 2022 award, which will be presented during the Foundation’s 75th annual International Air Safety Summit (IASS) later this year, are now open. Click here to access the nomination form.

The members of the Award Board along with the Barbour family gratefully acknowledge your support and generosity of time.