Press Release

Issued by National Business Aviation Association.

December 17, 2014

The National Business Association (NBAA) today announced that William S. “Bill” Ayer, a long-time general aviation pilot and aviation industry leader, has been named to the NBAA board of directors. Ayer also serves on the board of directors for Honeywell, an NBAA member company.

“We are very pleased to have Bill join NBAA's board of directors,” said NBAA president and ceo Ed Bolen. “He is a recognized leader with a profound appreciation for business aviation, and its impact on the nation's economy. He also has a deep understanding of the important issues our industry faces.”

Ayer started flying at the age of 15, and has spent more than three decades working in the aviation industry. An owner of a Piper Malibu, he holds commercial and flight instructor certificates, with instrument and multi-engine ratings and more than 4,500 hours of flight time.

Ayer began his professional career as a salesperson with the Piper Aircraft Company, and was the founder of Air Olympia, a small regional airline in Washington state. In 1982, he joined regional carrier Horizon Air, where he held a variety of marketing and operations positions.

He joined Alaska Airlines in 1995 as vice president of marketing and planning, and subsequently held the posts of senior vice president, chief operating officer and president of the airline. In 2002, Ayer became the carrier's chief executive officer and was appointed chairman in 2003. He retired from the company at the end of 2013.

Ayer is a member of the FAA's management advisory council, and the immediate past chair of the FAA's NextGen advisory committee. He serves on the AOPA board of visitors, the University of Washington board of regents, the University of Washington Foundation and the Foster School of Business advisory board. He is also the chairman of Puget Energy and the board of trustees at the Museum of Flight.

Ayer holds a bachelor's degree in economics and human biology from Stanford University, and an MBA from the University of Washington. He and his wife, Pam, are residents of Bellevue, WA.