John was editor of Aviation Week's ShowNews for nearly two decades. He retired in 2020. His background in business journalism before joining Aviation Week includes stints at Reuters, the American Banker daily banking newspaper and as business news editor at the Milwaukee Journal and the Cincinnati Enquirer.
A lifelong aviation enthusiast, John has been a private pilot for 34 years and won an award at EAA Oshkosh for his restoration of a vintage British Auster army spotter aircraft. He is currently building a 1920s Staaken Flitzer biplane from plans. John attended his first Farnborough Air Show in 1952, when just eight months old.
NetJets is launching its second Bombardier Challenger aircraft, this time the Challenger 650. Chuck Suma, NetJets senior vice president of global asset management, stood alongside Bombardier Business Aircraft President Eric Martel as they announced the new model Oct. 19 in front of the mockup of the follow-on to the Challenger 605 on the eve of last week’s National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition.
National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen and General Aviation Manufacturers Association President and CEO Pete Bunce believe business aviation is in a stronger position heading into debate on the next FAA reauthorization bill thanks to a concentrated effort by industry to educate lawmakers and the general public on the important role the industry plays in the national economy.