Bill was Editor-in-Chief of Business & Commercial Aviation from 2000 to 2020. During his stewardship, the monthly magazine received scores of awards for editorial excellence.
He is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement in Journalism Award from the National Business Aviation Association; the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Aerospace Media Awards; the Aviation Journalism Award from the National Air Transportation Association; and an Aerospace Journalist of the Year Award for Business Aviation.
Previously, Bill served as Managing Editor of Aviation Week Television. He was the top editor for both Flying and Professional Pilot magazines, as well as a member of the senior editorial staff at Reader's Digest. He also managed communications for FlightSafety International.
Bill has authored or co-authored three aviation books, was an essayist for National Public Radio, wrote aviation documentaries for The Discovery Channel and has written for numerous publications including The New York Times, Smithsonian Air & Space, Popular Mechanics and The Associated Press, among others.
An active aviator, Bill holds a Commercial Pilot license, along with multiengine, instrument, seaplane and glider ratings.
Global demand for agricultural aircraft is boosting sales, with Embraer forecasting an increase in Ipanema deliveries this year as it hands over its 1,300th aircraft to Rio Verde, Brazil-based Fort Aviacao Agricola. The Brazilian manufacturer expects to deliver 70 Ipanemas this year, up from 66 in 2102 and 58 a year earlier. The single-engined aircraft has been in production for more than 40 years. In the U.S., agricultural aircraft manufacturers Air Tractor and Thrush Aircraft are on track for record deliveries this year.
Business aviation's most unique aircraft, both Italian, are progressing despite setbacks worthy of operatic treatment. After years of togetherness, the Bell/Agusta 609 was in 2011 spurned by its U.S. partner, whose commitment seemed to range from indifferent to obstreperous, casting further doubt on the long-delayed civil tiltrotor's future. In case you've lost track, the BA609 project began in the late 1990s with deliveries to begin in 2002. Needless to say, that deadline was missed, as has almost every one since.
It's that time of year when ads for timepieces crowd newspapers, home mailboxes and every other game break on television. Since pilots are big watch wonks, I offer up two new models that could jingle any aviator's Christmas bells.
