NBAA Marks Passing of Aviation Champion Robert Olislagers

Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-431-5970, [email protected]

Washington, DC, Oct. 4, 2024 - The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today honored the legacy of renowned airport leader and general aviation (GA) advocate Robert Olislagers, who served more than 20 years as executive director at Centennial Airport (APA) in Colorado.

After holding previous leadership roles at both commercial and GA airports in California and New York, Olislagers was named executive director for APA in 2000. Shortly after assuming his post, he authored and advocated for a bill that restored federal funding for the Denver-area airport, ensuring its continued growth as a vital business aviation facility and key asset in America's aviation system.

"Centennial Airport is widely recognized as one of the world's best general aviation airports, and Robert Olislagers is a primary reason why," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "Robert was an extraordinary aviation professional and human being. An idealist and a pragmatist. A dreamer and a doer. A leader and a servant. He will be greatly missed by everyone who was blessed to work with and learn from him."

Under Olislagers' leadership, APA nearly doubled its economic contribution to the state's economy, up to $2.1 billion in 2018 from $1.32 billion five years earlier, according to the 2020 Colorado Division of Aeronautics Airport Economic Impact Report.

Olislagers was an accredited airport executive and a prominent member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) for over 35 years, serving on its board of directors and earning the association's prestigious Distinguished Service Award. He also served as president of both the Northwest and the Southwest chapters of AAAE, and had been named SWAAAE's Airport Executive of the Year in 1991.

Most notably, during his tenure with AAAE he elevated the significance of GA within the association and the industry, chairing the GA committee and starting an annual GA conference in which NBAA has served a prominent role since its inception. Now approaching its 20th year, he hosted the first and 10th iterations of the conference.

Olislagers' advocacy efforts have produced lasting benefits for the industry. He testified on behalf of business aviation before Congress and represented the industry before federal agencies. In April 2015, at NBAA's invitation, he spoke about the promise of business aviation in all parts of the world at the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition in Shanghai.

At a December 2021 reception marking his pending retirement, NBAA presented Olislagers with its prestigious Silk Scarf Award, in recognition of his career-long commitment to business aviation. At that time, Bolen lauded Olislagers as "a fierce advocate for business aviation accessibility, clearly demonstrating the industry's value, not only to his community in Denver, but to communities nationwide."

Olislagers was named to the board of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) in 2012 and was a recipient of the organization's Airport Executive Partnership Award. He also served for multiple years on the Colorado Aeronautical Board, including as its chairman in 2020. In recognition of his lifelong contributions, he was inducted as a laureate to the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame in 2021.

After retirement, Olislagers continued to serve the industry, including as senior coordinator of the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative formed to find a viable, drop-in replacement for 100LL avgas.

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Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The association represents more than 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world's largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.

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