News: Aero Union CEO Terry Unsworth has died

Friday, January 30, 2009

News: Aero Union CEO Terry Unsworth has died

Aero Union chief Terry Unsworth has died

Terry Unsworth, the face of aerial tanker manufacturer Aero Union in Chico, has died.

Unsworth died Wednesday afternoon. The cause of death was not immediately available, but was understood to be natural.

Since 2002, Unsworth has worked for Aero Union, a company based at the Chico Municipal Airport that converts military aircraft into aerial firefighting tankers that drop retardant or water onto wildland fires.

In 2005, Unsworth became the president and chief executive officer upon the retirement of Victor Alvistur.

"He was a tremendous people person," Avistur said Thursday from his Chico home. "He could relate to employees, shareholders and customer groups. He was very good in communications.

"Anyone who knows Aero Union, knows this, Terry was a tremendously dedicated worker. He worked hard and long on Aero Union's success."

Unsworth gained wide recognition in 2004 when the U.S. Forest Service canceled Aero Union and other tanker companies' contracts over concerns regarding the viability of the military aircraft. Under Unsworth's leadership and a company team effort, Aero Union was the first company to regain Forest Service approval.

Last year, Unsworth also spearheaded a cooperative program to provide local high school students training at his company that was to lead to paid apprenticeships.

Arrangements are being handled by Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home. Services are still pending.

www.aerounion.com/

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Friday, January 30, 2009