Pete Bunce
The President and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), Pete Bunce, will be the keynote speaker at the first joint conferences of the Minnesota Aviation Trades Association (MATA) and the Minnesota Aviation Maintenance Technicians, sponsored by the Minnesota DOT Office of Aeronautics and MATA. The joint conferences will be held March 28-29 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center, Minn. Bunce will speak immediately following lunch on Monday, March 28.
In April 2005, Pete Bunce accepted the appointment to GAMA, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with additional offices in Brussels, Belgium. Bunce travels worldwide engaging regulators, policy makers and elected officials to promote general aviation and advance the interests of GAMA’s international membership of 65 airframe, avionics, engine and component manufacturers.
Bunce retired from the United States Air Force in March 2005, with his last assignment as the Director of the Air Force Congressional Budget and Appropriations Liaison. During his 26-year Air Force career, Bunce flew F-15s and A-10s, while commanding several large operational fighter units.
A Wisconsin native, Bunce learned to fly as a teenager in the skies over southern Wisconsin. He entered the Air Force in 1979 as an honors graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He received his master’s degree in International Affairs from Troy State University in 1988, and was an International Affairs Fellow at Harvard University in 1996-97.
Pete Bunce remains an active pilot with more than 5,700 hours in military fighter and training aircraft, as well as general aviation piston, turboprop and business jet aircraft. He holds multi-engine, seaplane and instrument ratings, and serves on the boards of directors of Mercy Medical Airlift, Veterans Airlift Command, International Council of Air Shows, Aviation Accreditation Board International, and Build a Plane.
Living Legends of Aviation named Bunce the 2007 “Aviation Industry Leader of the Year.” In December 2009, he was awarded the ICAS “Sword of Excellence” by the International Council of Air Shows for his service to the air show entertainment industry. In January 2010, Bunce was inducted as one of the 70 Living Legends of Aviation. He and his wife, Patty, reside in Arlington, Virginia and have six children.
Bunce’s presentation will zero in on changes we can expect in aircraft technology as the industry looks to replace 100LL, conserve energy, and become more environmentally friendly. Changes in powerplant designs, engine monitoring equipment, electronic ignition systems, aircraft construction, and aircraft operating procedures, will be discussed.
Also speaking at the conferences will be newly elected Congressman and retired airline pilot, Chip Cravaack, who in January, accepted appointment to the Transportation Committee in the House of Representatives. MATA board member Al Lange noted the importance of the newly elected congressman to get to know his aviation constituency, and vice versa. The importance of staying in contact with state and federal representatives will be stressed at the conferences.
Industry Panel To Address Employment Practices
With the economy improving, aviation businesses are hiring, and employers need to know the proper procedures to follow to ensure they are hiring the best employees in a manner, which is both fair and non-discriminatory.
A panel of aviation business owners and an aviation attorney will discuss employment practices and procedures during the MATA conference.
Chairing the panel will be Bill Mavencamp, Jr., of Wright Aero in Maple Lake, Minn. Other panelists will include Nancy Grazzini-Olson, president of Thunderbird Aviation located at Minneapolis Flying Cloud and Crystal Airports, and Academy College in Bloomington; Joe Smith, manager of Elliott Aviation, also at Flying Cloud Airport; and Attorney Greg Reigel of Reigel Law Firm in Hopkins, whose “Aviation Law” column appears in this magazine.
For additional information and registration for the MATA Conference contact Mike at 651-450-6200, email mike@exclusiveaviation.com, or Kevin at 507-625-6006, extension 255, kdoering@flymankato.com.
The Minnesota Aviation Trades Association represents the interests of all aviation businesses that serve the Minnesota aviation industry.
