Recognized For Long-Standing Service To The Industry
Jim
Cannon, an accomplished airman, author, and advocate in business
aviation, will be honored this year with the NBAA's John H. Winant
Award. The Winant Award recognizes former NBAA directors whose
service to business aviation continues well beyond their tenure on
NBAA's Board of Directors. Winant's association with NBAA extended
over five decades. Elected to the Association's Board of Directors
in 1957, he served in all of NBAA's volunteer-elected officer
positions, including what was then president from 1961 to 1964, and
remained on the Board until his appointment as chief staff
executive in 1971. Winant served as NBAA president from 1971 until
1986.
Even in retirement, Winant remained active in his support for
NBAA and business aviation. He served on two aviation industry
non-profit boards for three years after his retirement. In 1989,
Winant authored Keep Business Flying, which covered the development
of business aviation and NBAA from 1947 to 1986. He later
co-authored NBAA Works, which catalogued the spirit and achievement
of NBAA from 1986 to 2002. Throughout his life, Winant provided
valuable counsel to NBAA presidents, Board members and senior
executives.
Jim Cannon's service to the business aviation community likewise
spans decades and includes a variety of noteworthy accomplishments
for the industry. Cannon has served as Chairman on the "local
committee" that has been critical in the success of the
Association's Atlanta-based Conventions. Additionally, he
coauthored a forthcoming textbook about business aviation with a
professor at Embry-Riddle University. He has been a leader in
pilot-mentoring programs, and is currently promoting business
aviation safety as program director for the International Standard
for Business Aircraft Operators – a code of safety best
practices produced by the International Business Aviation Council.
He worked as an IS-BAO auditor for a year before assuming his role
with IBAC overseeing the program.
"Jim Cannon has been a steadfast, effective advocate for
business aviation in the years following his work on NBAA’s
Board of Directors," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "His
many contributions have strengthened the business aviation
community, and his legacy of service to the industry has set a
standard for others to follow. We are honored to recognize
Jim’s dedication with the John H. Winant Award."
A skilled U.S. Navy aviator and former member of NBAA's Board of
Directors, Cannon's business aviation career began in 1973, as a
co-pilot in the flight department with W.R. Grace Corporation. In
1985, Cannon founded Jet Professionals, a global business aviation
staffing firm that matched companies in need of both short- and-
long-term flightcrews with pilots eager for work.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Cannon worked as chief pilot and
director of flight operations for several companies, and served as
a consultant for manufacturers such as Bombardier. He has written
more than 60 professional articles for various publications
throughout his career. He was a member of the first class of
Embry-Riddle's PhD program, which began in January 2010.
NBAA will recognize Cannon with the Winant Award as part of the
Association's 64th Annual Meeting & Convention, taking place
from Monday, October 10 through Wednesday, October 12, 2011.