The Alliance for Aviation Across America today released the following statement
following recent announcements that Timothy R. Obitts will serve as the new
president and CEO of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), and
James Viola will serve as Helicopter Association International (HAI) president
and CEO.
“We welcome the recent announcements of Tim Obitts to the position of
president and CEO at NATA, and Jim Viola as president and CEO of HAI. Both NATA
and HAI are long-time members of the Alliance’s board of directors, and
over the last decade we have been honored to benefit from the breadth of
experience of these two organizations.
“We look forward to working together to raise awareness about the
importance of general aviation to communities around the nation, and other
issues facing the industry.”
Timothy Obitts has been with NATA since 2014. NATA represents nearly
2,300 aviation businesses. He has served in many leadership positions
within the organization, and prior to that, worked as an attorney with Gammon
& Grange, P.C.
Jim Viola previously served as director of General Aviation Safety Assurance
for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). His aviation career began with
the US Army and flight training at Fort Rucker in Alabama. Through his Army
service, Jim flew with the 82nd Airborne Division, followed by the 160th
Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and was stationed in Korea for a year and
a half. He retired as Division Chief of Army Aviation in the Pentagon with the
rank of Colonel.
The Alliance for Aviation Across America is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition of over 6,300 individuals representing businesses, agricultural groups, FBO’s, small airports, elected officials, charitable organizations, and leading business and aviation groups that support the interest of the general aviation community across various public policy issues.
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