NBAA has updated its member categories to better represent the industry’s ever-changing landscape and reduce complexity, it announced late last week. Under the new structure, NBAA membership includes three member types: operating, business, and professional.

The association said it will automatically update members to their appropriate category, which will be reflected on their My NBAA Profile webpage. Thus, corporate and business members are now operating members; associate members are now business members; and business aviation contractors are now professional members.

The operating category includes those that own or operate aircraft, primarily not for hire, as a transportation aid in the conduct of its business or activities. The business members category covers those with a commercial interest in business aviation that do not qualify for membership as an operating member. And the professional segment includes those with a “pervasive interest in business aviation” such as contract pilots, flight attendants, and maintenance personnel.

According to NBAA, the new structure also allows for the inclusion of students, recent graduates, retirees, former military, and those not currently employed by a company eligible for NBAA membership.