Embry‑Riddle Professor Sarah Nilsson Receives Prestigious Aviation Safety Award

Arizona, USA – Dr. Sarah Nilsson, Associate Professor of Applied Aviation Science at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, has been awarded the 2026 Ruth Reinhold Award, one of Arizona’s most prestigious recognitions for contributions to aviation safety. Presented by the Arizona Pilots Association during the Arizona Aviation Safety Advisory Group’s 52nd General Aviation Awards Banquet, the award highlights Nilsson’s decade-long leadership in aviation safety education, advocacy, and outreach.

• Nilsson was honored for her sustained impact on aviation safety through both academic leadership and national outreach via the FAA Safety Team (FAAST).
• Her work includes a widely attended webinar series on uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), airspace integration, and advanced air mobility (AAM), helping to bridge understanding between traditional and emerging aviation sectors.
• A licensed Part 135 pilot, flight instructor, aviation attorney, and educator, Nilsson brings a rare blend of operational and legal expertise to her safety education efforts.
• At Embry‑Riddle, she integrates real-world regulatory and industry engagement into the classroom, particularly in courses focused on advanced technologies and airspace evolution.
• Nilsson emphasizes the importance of mutual awareness across all aircraft types—manned and unmanned—as the aviation ecosystem becomes increasingly complex.

Statements

• “I am honored — truly honored. I have been passionate about aviation, safety and law. That I am being recognized for what I do, and for what is truly my essence, is so very humbling,”said Dr. Sarah Nilsson.
• “The airspace is shared among drones, electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs), general aviation aircraft and large jets... All pilots from all these various types of aircraft should be versed in each other’s operations and challenges so that all can coexist in our skies safely.”
• “These contacts bring the real-world into my classrooms at Embry‑Riddle... They watch and evaluate my students as they present their team projects, taking into account the airspace, the ground infrastructure, vertiports, public acceptance and so forth.”

Source: Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University Photo Credit: Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University