NATA and NBAA Mark the Passing of Business Aviation Luminary Gil Wolin

National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) released the following statements on the passing of industry champion Gil Wolin. Gil Wolin, a business aviation veteran who brought passion and a broad talent portfolio to his decades-long work in the industry, passed away Sept. 5 following a brief illness.

NATA President and CEO Curt Castagna said, "Gil Wolin, through the Business Aviation Advisor, was a catalyst for change within our industry. Gil continued to serve the Association and its members beyond his service as a NATA Board member, leveraging his decades of experience and insight to help amplify our collective voice on a number of priority issues including business aviation safety, transaction transparency, infrastructure, and innovation. Gil was a skilled strategist and communicator with a keen career-long focus on aviation business education and advocacy — using his platform to express the essential nature of our industry. He played a pivotal role in safety efforts with early involvement in NATA's ground handling safety training program. Gil's passion, wisdom, and dedication will be remembered for years to come. Time with Gil was always time well spent. He will be greatly missed."

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen said, “Gil’s passing comes as a great loss for the business aviation community,” Bolen said. “He set an example as a friend, a mentor and an industry champion. Through his words and actions he made us better.”

As the product of three generations of aviation professionals, Wolin grew up in and around aircraft. He led sales and marketing at Executive Jet Aviation (today known as NetJets) before joining the nationwide FBO chain Combs Gates/AMR Combs as vice president, marketing.

After a successful term as president of Denver-based charter/management company Mayo Aviation, Wolin served as publisher of McGraw-Hill’s Business & Commercial Aviation, A/C Flyer and Show News magazines. He subsequently joined TAG Aviation USA as vice president, corporate communications.

He founded Wolin Aviation Consulting in 2009 to assist business aviation service providers in designing and implementing effective marketing, communications and strategic planning programs. In 2013 he helped found Business Aviation Advisor, a print and online information resource for consumers utilizing aircraft ownership, charter and fractional arrangements.

A frequent speaker at national and regional events, Wolin was a member of NBAA, the Massachusetts Airport Management Association and the Massachusetts Business Aviation Association. He also served on the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University President’s Advisory Board, and served on the board of directors for the National Air Transportation Association and Corporate Angel Network.