At its Annual Meeting and Aviation Business Conference in June, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) announced changes to its board of directors. Curt Castagna, president and CEO of California-based Aeroplex/Aerolease Group, has been named as the new chair while Virginia-based Atlantic Aviation senior vice president of business development Clive Lowe has been appointed as vice chair.

Four members also left the board after their terms came to an end. Boca Raton airport executive director Clara Bennett has served on the board for two terms, beginning April 2013. Priester Aviation president and CEO Andy Priester has also served since April 2013, additionally as chairperson from June 2015 to June 2016. Christian Sasfai, former COO and vice president of TAC Air, served on the board for one term from June 2016, and Pentastar Aviation president and CEO Greg Schmidt completed his time on the NATA board after joining in April 2017. He served as chairperson from June 2017 to June 2018.

NATA president Gary Dempsey says: “We are very grateful to the leadership and expertise Clara, Andy, Christian and Greg have given to this association over the past years. Their guidance led NATA into a period of exciting growth and positive change. It has been my pleasure to work with them in my capacity both as a former board member and as NATA president.”

Newly appointed to the board for a term of three years are Jet Aviation senior vice president of flight services Donald Haloburdo; Naples Airport Authority executive director Chris Rozansky; and Flexjet chief operating officer Megan Wolf.

Dempsey concludes: “NATA is excited to bring in these new perspectives to the board, which provide a well-rounded representation of the many facets of the general aviation community. We strive to strike a balance between the different types of businesses comprising this industry and are eager to see what we can achieve moving forward together. Under the new leadership of Curt Castagna and Clive Lowe, I expect the association to continue to prosper, provide leadership and effect positive change for our members and the general aviation industry at large as we approach our 80th year of service.”

Other members are StandardAero president Marc Drobny; Executive Jet Management vice president, safety Dennis Fox; Signature Flight Support SVP operations Geoffrey Heck; Monaco Air Duluth president Mike Magni; Naples Airport Authority Christian Rozansky; and Golden Isles Aviation president and partner Larry Wade.