News
LAMA ANNOUNCES NEW LEADERSHIP

(Pleasanton, CALIF.) — The Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA) announced the appointment of new leadership for the industry manufacturers group. With the support of the LAMA Board of Directors, LAMA founder Larry Burke has appointed Dan Johnson as Chairman of the LAMA Board and Tom Gunnarson as President.

In a letter to media and members of LAMA, Burke stated, The time has come to back away from my leadership role with LAMA and let others with more energy and opportunity take LAMA to a new level of supporting and serving the needs of the light-sport aircraft community. Therefore, endorsed by the LAMA Board, I have named Johnson and Gunnarson to these leadership positions.  Burke, who will retain the title of Founder and Chairman Emeritus of LAMA, said that Johnson will provide overall guidance to LAMAs efforts, while Gunnarson will handle the day-to-day activities of LAMA, manage its budget, and provide representation in Washington, D.C.

Burke founded LAMA, a non-profit national trade association, in 1984 to provide an organizing body for the then-developing ultralight manufacturing community. Today, LAMAs membership includes more than 70 kit-built and light-sport aircraft (LSA) manufacturers. LAMA has formed key alliances with EAA, AOPA,
and other aviation organizations to advance the LSA industry.

Johnson, a well-known journalist who has flown and written flight reports on more than 300 ultralights and light-sport aircraft, is also a marketing consultant to EAA in its sport pilot initiative. He also operates the Light-Sport Aircraft Marketing Group, a LAMA affiliate, providing industry-wide marketing assistance to
LAMA members. Johnsons website, ByDanJohnson.com, is a leading Internet resource providing information about ultralights and light-sport aircraft.

Gunnarson chaired the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) that reviewed ultralight and light aircraft regulations. He had a 14-year tenure as a staff member of the United States Ultralight Association (USUA), has served as the U.S. representative to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), and currently is a consultant assisting companies importing LSA into the United States.

The LAMA Board of Directors includes Burke, Johnson, and Gunnarson as well as Phillip Lockwood, president of Lockwood Aviation Supply; Dave Martin, former editor of Kitplanes magazine; and Tom Peghiny, president of Flight Design USA.