Ian Cheyne. Photo courtesy Dallas Airmotive.

The ARSA board of directors has elected W.  Ian Cheyne as ARSA’s new president, the association’s senior volunteer leadership position. Cheyne is chief technical & regulatory officer for Dallas Airmotive, Inc., a Texas aviation company providing maintenance, repair and overhaul services for small gas turbine and turbofan engines.

Cheyne was elected during the board’s annual meeting on Oct. 18 following a day of industry roundtables in Washington, D.C. through which board members collaborated with ARSA’s executive team, aviation allies and executives from the FAA’s Office of Aviation Safety.

ARSA’s board of directors represents a broad range of international maintenance interests. Board members direct the association’s work to best serve the aviation community. Having served as a director since 2002, Cheyne will bring to his second presidency long experience in support of both the association as well as other industry organizations. David Latimer, senior vice president of regulatory compliance for Greensboro, North Carolina-based HAECO Americas and the association’s immediate past president, will continue his own long service on the board of directors for the next year.

“This isn’t Ian’s first rodeo,” said ARSA Executive Director Sarah MacLeod, noting that Cheyne was one of the association’s longest-tenured board members. “He is active in ARSA’s leadership as well as with other associations, stakeholder bodies and interest groups. In a period where industry collaboration, clear messaging and concerted effort is paramount, the timing couldn’t be better for his return to the association’s presidency.”

Cheyne with Immediate Past President David Latimer of HAECO Americas, after completing the board’s annual meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia.

During the meeting, Gary Fortner, vice president of engineering and quality control for Fortner Engineering, was elected vice president and Terrell Siegfried, assistant general counsel and corporate secretary for the NORDAM Group LLC became the association’s treasurer. Cheyne, Fortner and Siegfried will each serve one year terms.

“I participate in a lot of board meetings,” Cheyne said, reflecting on his experience supporting his corporate postion and industry groups. “I go to a lot of events. meet with a lot of teams and support multiple committees. I’ve seen first hand, for a long time, how vital it is for ARSA’s work to be reinforced across the aviation community. Our collective efforts are good for policy, good for safety and good for business.”

Some new faces will be supporting Cheyne and the ARSA team over the next year. Josh Krotec, senior vice president of First Aviation Services, Inc. and Scott Jacob, director of quality for Columbia Helicopters, began their inaugural board terms. Krotec and Jacob replaced Gary Jordan of Jordan Propeller Service and Chris Erickson of Erickson, Inc, who will remain active association members having each completed more than 15 years of service as directors and officiers.

ARSA’s Board of Directors pose with team members at the completion of the board’s annual meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia.

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