Jim Christiansen Joins FlightSafety as Vice President, International Business Development

FlightSafety International announces that Jim Christiansen has joined the company as Vice President, International Business Development.

Christiansen will lead FlightSafety’s ongoing efforts to increase the support it provides to Customers who live outside the United States. Christiansen will explore all viable opportunities to enhance and expand the programs and services they receive and to increase FlightSafety’s presence and appeal around the world. This will include the potential establishment of new facilities and augmenting the programs offered at FlightSafety’s current locations.

“We are very pleased that Jim has joined FlightSafety,” says Bruce Whitman, President & CEO. “Jim’s experience and ability to understand and respond to Customer needs will further strengthen FlightSafety’s position as the world’s leading aviation training company”.

Christiansen is a highly respected leader in the aviation industry. He most recently served as Vice President of Sales for Hawker business jets in the Eastern United States. Christiansen was previously with NetJets for close to 10 years and held the positions of Senior Vice President, National Accounts; President, NetJets Aviation; and Senior Vice President, Corporate Sales. Jim also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of TAG Aviation USA; President, Wayfarer Aviation; and President, Eastern Region of K-C Transportation Services.

He graduated from Montclair State College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and completed numerous management courses, including the Executive Program at Stanford University. Jim served as Chairman of the National Air Transportation Association, the Federal Aviation Administration’s Fractional Ownership Aircraft Rule Making Committee, and the Air Charter Safety Foundation.

Christiansen ’s service in the United States Army included a tour in Vietnam as a Helicopter pilot, and two years as a flight instructor. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and Air Medal “with V” and 26 Oak Leaf Clusters. He has over 5,500 flight hours and holds Commercial, Instrument Multiengine fixed wing and Commercial, and Instructor Rotary Wing ratings.