september2022 - 12

Business Buzz
PEOPLE
Million Air Announces New Director of Safety
Million Air has announced a new director of safety
for its network of 34 FBOs. Jason Sahl is responsible
for leading Million Air's safety across the network
of FBOs.
As the director of safety, Sahl is responsible for
overseeing the Million Air Preferred Practices Program
(MAP3), performing Safety Assist Visit and
Evaluation (SAVE) audits at all locations, investigation
and review of network mishaps, and maintaining
relationships with all levels across the Million
Air organization
In addition, Sahl provides communication to the
network through content on Million Air's Learning
Management System, monthly newsletters and
Safety RED TAGs, among others.
Previously, Sahl owned and operated MAX Q
LLC, an aviation services company that specialized
in providing document development, operational
support and on-site fuel quality control training to
FBOs. In 2021, he wrote and self-published a guidebook
titled " Beyond the Standard: Practical Application
Fuel QC for Fixed-Base Operations. "
Sahl has worked in FBO operations since 2003,
ascending the line service ranks at several airports
and FBOs in the Kansas City and South Florida
metro areas.
Sahl
NATA Announces New
Leadership, Recognizes
Obitts' Service to Members
The Board of the National Air Transportation
Association (NATA) announced Timothy
Obitts stepped down as president
and CEO on Sept. 1. Obitts will continue
to advance the cause of sustainability
as the chief legal officer for Alder Fuels.
The Board of NATA appointed Curt
Castagna (president and CEO, Aeroplex
Group Partners, Long Beach, California)
to serve as NATA's 11th president
and CEO.
For nearly the past three
Castagna
years as NATA's president and
CEO, Obitts was instrumental
in advocating for its members
during the COVID pandemic
and personally guiding hundreds of aviation
businesses through complex relief
programs. During his tenure with NATA,
he brought leaders of other general aviation
groups together in demonstrating the
industry's commitment to sustainability.
Prior to accepting the position of NATA
president and CEO, Castagna served over
six years as an NATA board member,
including two years as board chair and
one year as immediate past chair.
" We all welcome Curt's expansive
industry experience and knowledge of the
association in helping to further NATA's
impact through advocacy advancements,
education innovations, and an elevated
industry presence. We appreciate
Curt's long-standing and continued
commitment to NATA and will benefit
greatly from his ability to foster progress
through effective partnerships and community
collaboration, " NATA board chair
Clive Lowe said.
Aviator Names Bayardo
Head of Airport Hospitality
Aviator Airport Alliance, a full-range provider
of aviation services at 15 airports
across the Nordics and an operator of
two business lounges at
Copenhagen airport, has
further developed the
passenger experience
and hospitality side of its
business by welcoming a
new head of airport hospitality,
Patrik Bayardo.
" We at Aviator believe
that there is plenty of
untapped potential in
the airport hospitality
New VP/GM at ITW GSE
ITW GSE has announced change in
its leadership. Effective Sept. 1, Poul
Elvstrøm is appointed vice president/general
manager of ITW GSE.
Elvstrøm joined ITW GSE in 1998 and
has advanced through a series of roles,
the latest as VP, global sales and marketing.
Undertaking the VP/GM position
Elvstrøm and his family will continue to
reside in Denmark.
After 38 years of dedicated service,
Henrik Olsson has decided to step down
from his role of VP/GM and will take
on a reduced set of responsibilities at
ITW. Olsson was appointed VP/GM for
the global division in 2012 and has been
developing the GSE division into a true
ITW role model.
David Feuga, from ITW GSE's Dubai
sector, " said Bayardo.
" There are a lot of opportunities to offer
passengers a better, more encompassing,
and purposeful experience while visiting
airports and we're here to make those
ideas a reality. "
According to Bayardo, who has more
than 20 years of experience in the business
development field, Aviator is set to
develop new concepts that challenge the
established industry and public understanding
of what airport hospitality is
and could be.
12 || Ground Support Worldwide || September 2022
Bayardo
branch office, is appointed global sales
director as per Sept. 1, and
will take over Elvstrøm's
responsibility of the global
sales and marketing.
" Travel is key to world
economic growth and with
the increase in middle class
population in some of the world's most
populated regions, passenger numbers
are foreseen to increase. And we are
pleased to be able to contribute making
it possible to travel in a more sustainable
way, " Elvstrøm says.
Elvstrøm
september2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of september2022
