Business aviation advocate and former Australian Business Aviation Association CEO David Bell passed away on March 21 at age 77.

Bell began his aviation career in the 1960s as a cadet with Hawker de Havilland, later transitioning to sales, and then to aviation marketing director for Hawker Pacific, where he was also a member of the board. He served as CEO of the Australia Business Aviation Association and as a member of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) governing board from 2003 to 2021.

Bell "spent a lifetime in aviation and touched many lives with his kindness, sense of humor, and knowledge of the industry," IBAC said in a statement. In 2017, Bell was awarded the Medal of Order of Australia in recognition of his outstanding achievement and service to aviation.

”David’s passion for the industry was immense and he brought all his international experience and insight to his highly effective advocacy for business aviation in Australia,” said IBAC director general Kurt Edwards. “We were fortunate to have his contributions to IBAC’s work for many years. He was truly a business aviation statesman and will be missed by all of us.”

He is survived by his wife Lynne, children, and grandchildren.