IBAC mourns loss of Australian business aviation advocate David C. Bell

Photo from Australian Flying

The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) joins the rest of the business aviation community to grieve the loss of David C. Bell. Bell was the former CEO for the Australia Business Aviation Association (ABAA) for nearly 20 years. He spent a lifetime in aviation and touched many lives with his kindness, sense of humor and knowledge of the industry.

”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,” IBAC Director General Kurt Edwards said. “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.”

Bell began his career in the 1960s as a cadet with Hawker de Havilland. His international travels with his wife Lynne were extensive. They lived in Wichita, Kansas when he was working for Beech, where Bell formed a close friendship with Olive Beech. He was also the aviation marketing director for Hawker Pacific and served on the board.

Before he retired in 2021, Bell led ABAA, which has been an IBAC member association for decades. In 2017 he was awarded the Medal of Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of his service to aviation. The medal honors Australian citizens for outstanding achievements and service. He was an international advocate for Business Aviation and served on the IBAC Governing Board from 2003 to 2021.

IBAC sends condolences to his wife Lynne, his family and the business aviation community in Australia.