Alerion Aviation COO Suran Wijayawardana has become the next chairman of NATA’s Air Charter Committee. Wijayawardana takes the position after serving for nearly a decade on the committee, where he has been actively involved in key issues affecting the industry—such as federal excise tax legislation and air carrier training requirements—and currently represents NATA as a member of the Part 135 Training Working Group on the FAA’s Air Carrier Training Aviation Rulemaking Committee.

“Suran’s expertise, enthusiasm and devotion to the success of the air charter industry are hallmarks of his prior work as a member of the Air Charter Committee," said NATA president and CEO Thomas Hendricks. "Suran is a strong advocate for NATA, and I am pleased to welcome him to this new leadership role.”

Wijayawardana helped establish the newly branded Alerion following the 2015 merger of his charter and management firm ACP Jets with JFI Jets. He founded ACP Jets in 2001 and has nearly two decades of industry experience.