The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) recently honored Pete Bunce, longtime president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), with an award recognizing his decades of industry advocacy and leadership.
Bunce will retire next month from GAMA after 20 years at the helm of the group representing general aviation airframe, avionics, powerplant and other original equipment manufacturers.
“Pete has been a vocal, steadfast and highly effective champion for GAMA’s member companies, and for our entire industry,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “He has had an immeasurable impact, and we wish him well on his retirement.”
Bolen recognized Bunce’s legacy of leadership by presenting him with a framed model of the Cirrus SR-22 Bunce has flown for many years. The presentation took place as part of an industry event celebrating Bunce’s retirement.
Under Bunce’s leadership, GAMA collaborated with NBAA and other organizations on multiple priorities, ranging from aircraft safety, security and taxation to the development of advanced air mobility technologies and the investments needed to grow the industry’s workforce.
In 2009, GAMA partnered with NBAA to launch No Plane No Gain, an industry advocacy campaign to combat misinformation and misperceptions about business aviation. That mission continues today with CLIMBING. FAST., showcasing the industry’s many societal benefits, including its innovation on sustainability with the aim of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
An active pilot, Bunce joined GAMA following his March 2005 retirement from the United States Air Force following a 26-year career in which he flew F-15 fighter and A-10 ground attack aircraft while commanding several large operational units.
Bunce has been succeeded by James Viola, who comes to GAMA from Vertical Aviation International, where he has served as president and CEO since January 2020.
“GAMA continues to be an influential advocate for our industry and a powerful ally to business aviation and NBAA,” Bolen added. “We welcome Jim to his new role and look forward to continuing the strong and effective partnership between our two organizations.”
