The National Aircraft Finance Association, NAFA, is a US-based non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting the general welfare of individuals and organizations providing aircraft financing and loans secured by aircraft; to improve the industry's service to the public; to work with government agencies to foster a greater understanding of our member's needs.
It's all in the name
The Association provides a case book example of the benefits of using the .aero domain as a means of providing the essential differential among domains. The lottery of who got the name first can be particularly difficult for associations – which may end up with initials that identify it clearly within its own sector of interest, but which may also duplicate the initials of an organization in a completely different sector.
In pre-Internet days, that did not present a problem. For example, those involved in financing general aircraft were unlikely to be involved with a body involved in "teaching artists the fine art of making art" or with an association for those involved in managing fleets of cars, trucks and vans. But unique means unique within the Internet and all those groups use the initials "NAFA". So the art group took nafa.com (first registered 1994) and the fleet management association took nafa.org (first registered 1995), while the National Aircraft Finance Association took nafa-us.org (first registered 1999).
Today type "NAFA" into Google and the first page comes up with a whole range of organizations using these initials, as well as those already mentioned. They include the North American Flyball Association (flyball.org), the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (nafa.edu.sg), North American Fur Auctions (nafa.ca), and the North American Falconers Association (n-a-f-a.org).
Not surprisingly, NAFA decided to remove itself from the web noise, focusing its Internet naming policy exclusively at its core business – the air transport community.
"Adopting the .aero naming structure was an obvious choice for us," according to NAFA Treasurer and Executive Director Karen Griggs. "There are 83 million domain names worldwide and 46 percent of those are .com. No wonder there can be confusion. Our business is specific – it's of no interest to the vast majority of those using the Internet. But those who do deal with us need predictability – and we need security. Adopting the .aero domain has yielded both. Our members and stakeholders know where they can find us. And that's what counts."
NAFA's membership and associate membership of some 120 companies are all leaders in helping buyers, sellers and finance companies within the aircraft transaction process. The organization also provides members with a forum for both education and the sharing of information and knowledge - all directed at encouraging the financing, leasing and insuring of general aviation aircraft.
NAFA aims to improve the lien holder's position relative to aircraft titling; to obtain better clarification of insurance coverage and endorsements; and to improve service from the US Government's Federal Aviation Administration's Registry.
Full Membership in the association is open to all persons or organizations who in the course of their normal business provide financing for the purchase of aircraft or who make loans secured by aircraft. Associate Membership is open to any individual or organization who is engaged in any business relating to the aircraft financing industry. Visit www.nafa.aero
Ready to register a .aero domain? Apply for your Membership ID now.
