Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-431-5970, dhubbard@nbaa.org
Washington, DC, Dec. 12, 2024 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today welcomed James “Jim” Viola as the incoming president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). He succeeds Peter “Pete” Bunce, who has led the organization since 2005.
“GAMA has chosen a proven leader and strong general aviation advocate in the selection of Jim Viola,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We have an outstanding relationship with Jim, and look forward to working with him in his new capacity.”
Viola comes to GAMA from Vertical Aviation International (VAI), where he has served as president and CEO since January 2020. Before that, Viola held a senior leadership position at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), serving in the agency’s Office of Aviation Safety as its director of general aviation safety assurance.
There, Viola oversaw 78 FAA Flight Standards District Offices and 2,500 employees across the United States. He also served as government representative on both the International Helicopter Safety Team and the United States Helicopter Safety Team.
Bolen also expressed gratitude to Bunce, who has announced plans to retire in April 2025. “Pete is a remarkable leader – respected, strong and effective,” Bolen said. “It has been a joy to work closely with him over the course of the past two decades. We wish Pete well as he sets a course for the next horizon.”
Bunce was named GAMA’s president and CEO in April 2005, succeeding Bolen at the helm of the group representing general aviation airframe, avionics, powerplant and other industry original equipment manufacturers.
Under Bunce’s leadership, GAMA has been a valued partner with NBAA on legislative and regulatory advocacy involving a host of industry priorities, including aircraft safety, security and taxation, business aviation sustainability, the development of advanced air mobility technologies, the investments needed to grow the industry’s workforce, and beyond.
Both organizations have partnered on branded initiatives to educate policymakers and opinion leaders about business aviation’s many societal benefits, including the No Plane No Gain campaign and its successor, the CLIMBING. FAST. program.
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Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The association represents more than 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.
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