Rich Williams

Rich has lived in Wilmington and been an active pilot in the area for over 25 years. Like most pilots, his fascination with flying began at an early age, and he started flight lessons in high school. After earning engineering degrees from North Carolina State University and Georgia Tech and engaging in a career that included engineering, manufacturing and various entrepreneurial ventures, Rich now dedicates most of his time to aviation, flying, and flight instruction. He’s been a member of the Cape Fear Flying club since 2014 and currently serves as President of the club and Certified Flight Instructor.

Rich was a founding member of the Wilmington Pilots Association, which is a local general aviation advocacy group whose mission is to provide a collective voice for general aviation, as well as to provide support and leadership in the evolution of general aviation investment and growth opportunities in the Wilmington area. As a local representative for the FAA Safety Team, Rich works with other representatives to convey safety principles and practices through training, outreach, and education, while establishing partnerships and encouraging the continual growth of a positive safety culture within the aviation community.

Rich is a commercially rated pilot and also has a sea plane rating. He spends the bulk of his time flying his 2021 Cirrus SR22, flying as a corporate pilot in a Cessna Citation CJ3 and instructing in various single-engine piston planes.