Register

Aviation World Mourns Ed Bolen

Former NBAA president and CEO officially retired just last week.

NBAA departing president and CEO Ed Bolen
Former National Business Aviation Association president and CEO Ed Bolen [Credit: NBAA]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Ed Bolen, the longtime president and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and a pivotal figure in general aviation, has died shortly after retiring for cancer treatment.
  • He led the NBAA from 2004-2026, previously headed the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), and was instrumental in drafting the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994, which revitalized the U.S. aviation manufacturing industry.
  • Bolen received numerous honors for his decades of contributions, including induction into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame and the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Ed Bolen, longtime president and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and a pillar of the general aviation industry, has died.

Bolen officially retired from NBAA last week, after announcing that he was taking medical leave for cancer treatment.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE