Tuesday, January 27, 2015ATLANTA – Aerodynamics Inc. this morning announced F. Darrell Richardson as its new CEO, president and chairman of the company. Richardson replaces Scott A. Beale, whose involvement with the carrier is at the heart of an order issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation last week questioning ADI’s fitness to operate.
Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport has been working with ADI to potentially provide service to Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
According to the news release announcing his appointment, Richardson has more than 40 years of industry experience, beginning his career with Piedmont Airlines in 1968. He has also served in senior executive roles in carriers including Continental Express, Mesaba Airlines, Pace Airlines, Piedmont Hawthorne Aviation, Phoenix Airline Services, InterIsland Aviation Services Group and most recently Silver Airways, which was named Regional Airline of the Year for 2013.
Richardson earned his bachelor of science in electrical engineering at the Cook Institute of Technology and has a master’s in business administration in international business and finance from the University of Miami.
“I am excited to take the leadership role at ADI, which “has become a premier player in the 50-seat market,” Richardson said in the news release announcing his appointment. “ADI’s commitment to our customers, employees and values remains unchanged. ADI will continue to provide safe and effective solutions for air travel. ADI is a 55-year-young aviation company and I look forward to lifting the business to new heights.”
In response to ADI’s request for certification to allow it to add service to Youngstown-Warren, USDOT issued an order last week that, based on a civil case finding that Beale – a majority stakeholder in the company -- had committed fraud and failed to report the finding, proposed not only to deny the expanded service but threatened to revoke its existing certification (READ STORY).
Copyright 2015 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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