Harrison named to national committee
Published 5:00 am Thursday, February 15, 2018
- Ben Harrison
Ben Harrison, general manager of the Cullman Regional Airport, has been selected to serve on the Business Committee of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA).
Harrison will serve a three-year term, beginning with his first on-site meeting in June in Washington, D.C. The association and its committees field aeronautical membership from across the country and from facilities of every size.
Harrison said Wednesday that his participation on the NATA business committee should open new avenues for learning new operational and administrative methods, as well as best practices, from other facilities across the country.
“What I’m looking for is how much we can learn from everybody else, nationally,” Harrison said. “To take what others are doing that’s working, and to utilize it here. In terms of membership, it’s all over the place, from large airports, to air carrier airports, to general managers of air carrier services — there’s a little bit of everything. It’s going to expose us in Cullman to a lot more that I think we can learn from.”
The committee is composed of NATA members who serve in roles operating on-airport aeronautical businesses, and who are familiar with issues that arise as part of owning, operating or managing airports or aeronautical businesses.
Committee members support the NATA strategic plan as it relates to on-airport businesses, including working in a cooperative manner with NATA staff, Congress and the various regulatory agencies in the monitoring of regulatory and legislative proposals.
Harrison has worked at the airport for six years, having been promoted to general manager in 2014. He will attend three NATA meetings annually. “The committee helps serve as the voice of aviation businesses, and I am honored to be invited to join the committee,” he added.
“We are excited to welcome Mr. Harrison on the NATA Airport Business Committee,” said NATA’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Tim Obitts, in a release. “His years of experience in airport management and his passion for aviation will be invaluable to our committee. We look forward to having him on board.”
Cullman Regional Airport is jointly operated by Cullman County and the City of Cullman. More than 80 aircraft are based at the facility, which operates a 5,500-foot runway and a parallel taxiway.
Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.