Expert

Gary Cooke

Board Member

World Birdstrike Association

Captain Gary Cooke has over 20 years' experience in aviation safety and is a corporate pilot and safety officer for the flight department of a large U.S. company. He is a member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and its safety committee and chairs the Birdstrike Working Group. He is a founding member of the World Birdstrike Association (WBA) and an FAA Safety Team (FAAST) counselor.

LtCol Cooke is also a retired C-5 Instructor Pilot, USAF certified Flight Safety Officer and Chief of safety. LtCol Cooke served as the Chief of flying safety for the 439th Airlift Wing at Westover ARB, MA, and the largest in the Air Force Reserve, where he was responsible for implementing the BASH (Bird/wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard) programs. He has presented numerous papers on flight safety and bird/wildlife strikes.