The International Black Aerospace Council (IBAC) was founded in 1996. Our purpose is to work in unison to chart the future of black aviation. To achieve this, our organization serves as a funnel that feeds a pipeline with many branches representing the career options in aviation/aerospace. Our goal is to encompass the entire domestic and international aviation/aerospace arena to increase minority and female numbers across the board, not just focus on pilots. IBAC is uniquely positioned to accomplish this. Our member organizations span aviation from entry level small airplane operations to US military and international commercial airlines including all aspects of the Federal Aviation Administration.

The organizers of IBAC included the leaders of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. (TAI), Negro Airmen International (NAI) and the Organization of Black airline Pilots (OBAP) along with interested individuals from aviation/aerospace. This group determined it was in the best interest of all to work together to create a council whose primary function was to define, fund, and execute an agenda for black aviation. While our target audience is people of color we have not limited ourselves to that group.

IBAC is not a membership organization it is a council of leaders. The core members of the board of directors (BOD) are the presidents of all the black aviation organizations. Other board positions were created to allow for a wide background from civilian and military aviation sectors. On the board are two currently serving General Officers, including the Chair.

The board of directors is composed of sixteen positions consisting of:

	The presidents of seven black flying organizations
	Thelma Rudd, BCF (Bessie Coleman Foundation) Col. Palmer Sullins USA (RET),  BPA (Black Pilots of America) Sam Jones, NAI (NAI, Black Wings in Aviation) Shaun Sanders, NBCFAE (National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees) Capt. Karl Minter, United Airlines, OBAP (Organization of Black Airline Pilots) Lt. General Russ Davis USAF (Ret.) TAI (Tuskegee Airmen Inc.) Victor Thornton, USABAA (US Army Black Aviation Association)
	Two individuals from corporate America
	Vanessa Jamison, Vice Chair IBAC BOD Brig. Gen USAF (Ret.) Leon Johnson United Parcel Service, Board Chair & Managing Director
	Two individuals from other government agencies
	Colonel (Retired) Len Nevels ((Air National Guard) Lt. Colonel Tim Eddins (ANG)
	Two individuals from institutions of higher education/academia
	Lt. Colonel. Ivan Kelly, Prince William County Public Schools (retired) Open
	Two individuals from foundations/private and or otherwise
	Dr. (PH.D.) Aprille Ericsson, NASAHQ And Goddard Space Flight Center

IBAC has solicited and received support from Raytheon in the form of a $100,000 challenge grant that was received in 1999. United Parcel Service Flight Operations awarded IBAC a $5,000 grant in 2000.

The programs that IBAC is working to enhance are not new, but ones that have been actively maintained by the member organizations of IBAC. Funding for these programs has come from membership dues, fund raising activities, and corporate contributions (cash and in-kind services). Over the last 10 years this support has come from many companies including:

	AIR, Inc.	Reduced rate memberships in pilot hiring database
	Air Jamaica	Support for national conventions
	Alaska Airlines	Type Rating Scholarships
	ASA Airline	Support for national conventions
	American Airlines	Type Rating Scholarships Support for national conventions
	America West	Type Rating Scholarships
	Cessna	Support for national convention
	Dobbs Catering	Meals for ACE camp trips
	Delta Airlines	Type Rating Scholarships Support for national conventions
	Northwest Airlines	Type Rating Scholarships Support for national conventions
	Raytheon	Grant Support for national convention
	Southwest Airlines	Type Rating Scholarships Support for national conventions
	United Airlines	Type Rating Scholarships Support for national conventions Aircraft and crew to transport ACE camp students
	UPAS	Database to track pilot applicants
	UPS Airlines	Type Rating Scholarships Support for national conventions Grant Aircraft and crew to transport ACE camp students
	US Airways	Type Rating Scholarships Support for national conventions

Type Rating Scholarships are simulator and instructor time to allow individuals to obtain a FAA Type Certification in that model of aircraft. Support for national conventions has come in the form of cash to defray convention costs, donation of airline tickets for auction, airline tickets to fly dignitaries' and shipment of organization materials to conventions and other events.

IBAC itself and each IBAC member organization is certified by the IRS as a 501 c (3) tax exempt entity.