Boeing

John B. Hayhurst, president, Boeing Air Traffic Management, and senior vice president, The Boeing Company, announced this week to his staff that he will retire on April 1 after 33 years with the company.

Hayhurst, 56, who estimates he has logged almost four million miles in the air since joining Boeing in 1969, told employees he is at a point in his life where he would like to travel a lot less, spend more time with his family and pursue personal interests.

"My experience at ATM has been one of the most exciting of my career," said Hayhurst, who has led the business unit since its November 2000 inception. "I thank the ATM team, as well as the countless others at Boeing I've worked with over the years. I believe that ATM will play an important role enhancing the capacity and safety of the world's airspace."

Among the notable achievements in ATM's brief existence, Hayhurst cited the Working Together Team that brought together more than 100 aviation stakeholders worldwide to determine the requirements for a next-generation, global air traffic system. He also noted the successful flight tests conducted last year in partnership with the FAA to demonstrate Boeing's network-enabled concept, as well as last July's agreement with Europe's Air Traffic Alliance (EADS, Airbus and Thales) to cooperate on global air traffic issues.

"John is another in the long line of exceptional Boeing leaders who has devoted his professional life and tremendous talent to making this company the world leader it is today," said Boeing President and CEO Harry Stonecipher. "In less than three and one-half years, he has built understanding and established momentum in the U.S., Europe and Asia in recognizing the need to increase airspace capacity, efficiency, safety and security.

"We accept John's decision to retire with sincere regret. Over the next several weeks we will work with him to establish new leadership for our air traffic management efforts."

Hayhurst's numerous Boeing assignments include vice president and general manager of 737 programs, and vice president, sales, the Americas, both at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

A West Virginia native, he is a Fellow in the Royal Aeronautical Society. Hayhurst holds a B.S. in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University, which awarded him an honorary doctorate, and an M.B.A. from the University of Washington.

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