The Air Charter Safety Foundation has elected Andrew Priester, the president and CEO of Priester Aviation, to the ACSF's board of governors. Priester will join his fellow ACSF board of governors' members in their responsibility to establish the foundation's strategic goals, policies and programmes. This group of distinguished aviation professionals also provides expertise on several aviation-related issues, including flight operations and safety management systems, aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, and aviation law.

“For many years, Andy Priester has demonstrated his effortless leadership style within several aviation safety and trade associations," says ACSF president Bryan Burns. “Those of us at the ACSF very much enjoyed working with him during his tenure as chair at our sister organisation, the NATA, and we're eager to tap into his guidance and thought leadership as a member of our board."

Priester is the third-generation family member to lead the Priester Aviation business, which offers aircraft management, aircraft charter and related aviation services. Since 1997, when he started his aviation career at Priester Aviation, the organisation has grown from a fleet of seven aircraft to more than 50 aircraft that operate globally from three regions in the US and one region internationally. During his tenure, he has guided the company to become an industry leader in safety and operations. He's done so by developing and implementing revolutionary technology, including an advanced safety management system and a state-of-the-art aircraft owner communication and reporting portal.

Through his various industry roles, Priester has led industry efforts in Washington DC and his home state of Illinois to improve regulations and safety. He is the former chair of both the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and the Illinois Aviation Trades Association. Currently, he serves as the vice chairman for the Windy City Chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO).

“I wholeheartedly believe that safety is a culture, a philosophy and an attitude," Priester explains. “Maintaining the highest level of safety and standards is our ultimate goal, both at Priester Aviation and the Air Charter Safety Foundation, and I'm eager to help the ACSF push the envelope to make the on-demand air charter industry even more safe through the facilitation of data collection, reporting and enforcing safety standards."