Bill Cutter, a well-known figure in business aviation died Tuesday at the age of 86. Cutter led Cutter Aviation, taking over from his father William P. Cutter, who founded the business in 1928. Cutter spent his life in aviation and in the Cutter family business, personally interacting with staff and taking a hands-on role in running it. He and his son Will built the Phoenix-based company into one of the largest chains of FBOs in the Southwest with locations from California to Texas. He held an ATP and numerous type ratings and flew his beloved Beech Staggerwing in his later years.
Tributes poured in from colleagues and dignitaries in the business aviation industry. “Bill Cutter will be remembered as a successfulindustrypioneerandaffectionately as apatriarchinthe aviation business community,” said National Air Transportation Association President Gary Dempsey. “He and his company developed a higher standard in aircraft sales, service and support for Beechcraft Aircraft Sales and many other OEMs.” Cutter won numerous honours during his long career, including Beechcraft’s Man of the Year and being inducted into the Pima Air and Space Museum Hall of Fame.
