Corporate Angel Network Appoints Jack Pelton to Board of Directors
Why It MattersThe appointment links a leading general-aviation advocacy figure to a public-benefit flying charity, reinforcing ties between industry leadership and humanitarian aviation initiatives.
Corporate Angel Network (CAN), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that arranges free flights on corporate and commercial aircraft for cancer patients seeking treatment, has appointed Jack J. Pelton to its Board of Directors. Pelton currently serves as Chairman and CEO of the Experimental Aircraft Association, which has approximately 300,000 members, and previously served as Chairman, President and CEO of Cessna Aircraft (now Textron Aviation) and Senior Vice President of Engineering and Programs at Fairchild Dornier, alongside engineering and management roles at McDonnell Douglas and the chairmanship of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. He holds airline transport and commercial pilot certificates with instrument, multi-engine and seaplane ratings, and is type-rated on multiple business jets including the Citation X.
CAN Chairman Jean Rosanvallon said few people have had the breadth and depth of experience and the broad, multi-faceted impact on the aviation industry as Pelton, whose influence has been felt from the grass roots level to the airline industry. Pelton said public benefit flying stands as one of the most impactful humanitarian initiatives in aviation. Founded in 1981, CAN has coordinated more than 70,000 flights, connecting cancer patients, particularly those in areas with limited airline access, with specialized medical centers by filling empty seats on corporate and commercial aircraft.
