David Pflieger

Summary

An experienced business executive, attorney, and pilot, David Pflieger has accumulated an impressive resume of accomplishments in the aviation industry. As a key figure and founding officer on the award-winning Virgin America management start-up team, David Pflieger directed the company’s legal, political, and public relations initiatives through a contentious government certification process to become a new U.S. airline. David Pflieger also managed complex investor discussions and capitalization efforts as well as aircraft lease and purchase negotiations. At Delta Air Lines, David Pflieger served as a Boeing 737 Pilot and Operations Attorney, handling in-house defense, passenger injury claims, and regulatory issues for this USD$12 billion company. Subsequently, he accepted the position of Director of Flight Safety at Delta while continuing to fly Boeing 737s. In the former role, he restructured the airline’s Flight Safety Department, leading Delta to one of its safest years of operation. Additionally, David Pflieger co-chaired the Safety Committee of the SkyTeam Global Alliance and was a member of the IATA Safety Advisory Council. In 2010, David Pflieger was recruited to revive Fiji’s national airline, Air Pacific, as its new Managing Director and CEO. Assessing every possibility for revenue enhancement and expenditure reduction, from fuel conservation of B747 jumbo jets to electricity usage, he restructured and renegotiated all vendor, union, and employee contracts, installed a new managment team, and created a new fleet and route structure that turned the company around, dramatically cutting costs while increasing revenue and nearly doubling annual cash balances. In FY 2010-2011, Air Pacific and its regional subsidiary, Pacific Sun, earned a gross revenue of almost F$600 million (USD$300 million). He also dramatically improved the airlines’ reliability and on-time performance to exceed that of its major competitors. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, David Pflieger received an M.B.A. from Emory University and a J.D. with distinction at the Emory University School of Law. He also completed the Aviation Safety Program at the University of Southern California and holds an FAA certificate as an Airline Transport Pilot for Airbus A320 and Boeing 757/767 aircraft. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he served as a B-52 Instructor Pilot and commanded a strategic nuclear bomber, leading crews to several Best B-52 Crew awards and earning the Air Force Commendation Medal. As an Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer, he also commanded C-130 aircraft. When not working, David can be found increasing his mental and physical wellness. From exercising to eating healthily to meditation, David is always open to new and exciting remedies and methods aimed at improving his well-being. David Pflieger is currently the CEO of Ravn Alaska and prior to that, he was an airline advisor at the World Bank Group. In this position, David is responsible for overseeing any and all aspects of the company. Similar to his position at his previous airlines, David is tasked with the responsibility of improving the airline's prospects.