NARA Chairman puts his head on the line to raise scholarship donations.

At the National Business Aviation’s Business Aviation & Convention (NBAA-BACE) in Orlando this November the National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA) is doing its best to prepare for the future.

It is undertaking a major fund-raising effort to provide scholarships that will benefit university students seeking careers in business aviation.

The awards are available to full-time, undergraduate students taking a minimum of 12 hours/semester and graduate students. Applicants must have a 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA on a 4.0 grade scale.

NARA initiated the scholarship awards in 2013 with donated funds coming from the Brokers/Dealers and Products and Services members. Last year, the NARA Business Aviation Scholarship program awarded $25,000 in scholarships for six extraordinary students.

The fundraising goal for this year is $100,000, reflective of NARA’s stepped up commitment to investing in future leaders of the aviation industry. NARA’s volunteer leader Johnny Foster hopes to exceed that at NBAA.

And he is willing to literally put his head on the line to make it happen.

To achieve the new goal, NARA is planning a special event. At 1 pm, Tuesday, Nov. 1 in NARA’s hospitality chalet in the NBAA-BACE static aircraft display area on Orlando Executive Airport, Johnny will take a seat in a barber’s chair, brought in especially for the event.

It will not be a routine $25 haircut.

The currently very hirsute NARA-Certified Broker has agreed to have his beard and head shaved all in the name of educating future generations of aviation professionals.

Francisco Zozaya Minichini of Mexico’s Aerolineas Ejecutivas originally got the ball rolling with a $10,000 pledge to see Johnny’s beard get whacked. Now NARA wants more than a close shave.

For $500, contributors at the Stache Level will be recognized as a benefactor in signage and NARA communication. $1,000 Hipster Level donors will get to challenge other contributors to step up.

Those who do, at the $2,500 clip for the Full Johnny, can wield the clippers for a swipe and photo op, and who knows where that will end.

The aviation and local press will be invited. If you want to contribute, you can with Paypal at ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­NARAaircraft.com.

So, be sure to be at NARA’s chalet at Orlando Executive Airport and witness the NARA Scholarshave.