J. Lynn Helms
| J. Lynn Helms | |
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| United States Federal Aviation Administrator |
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In office April 22, 1981 – January 31, 1984 |
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| Preceded by | Langhorne Bond |
| Succeeded by | Donald D. Engen |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jonee Lynn Helms March 1, 1925 De Queen, Arkansas |
| Died | December 11, 2011 (aged 86) Westport, Connecticut |
| Alma mater | University of Oklahoma |
Jonee Lynn Helms (March 1, 1925 – December 11, 2011), known as Lynn Helms, was a retired US Marine Corps officer, former president of Piper Aircraft Corp. and is most recognized for the years in which he served as administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, as an appointee of President Ronald Reagan. He was born in De Queen, Arkansas.
During his tenure as FAA Administrator, Helms originated and oversaw development of the 1982 National Airspace System (NAS) Plan; He headed the US delegation to the United Nations emergency session following the Soviet Union’s shooting down of Korean Air Flight 007 and played a key role in the August 3, 1981 Air traffic Control Strike that resulted in the termination of over 11,000 Air Traffic Controllers. The firing and decertification of the union necessitated lengthy training of new controllers and extensive carrier delays.
Helms began his aviation career when he joined the US Navy Aviation Cadet training program while at the University of Oklahoma, early in 1942. On completion of the program he was commissioned as a second lieutenant, US Marine Corps, remaining in the service as a regular officer after the end of WW-II. Subsequent service included postings to Japan, China, Korea and various aircraft carriers, and other Military Assignments. He became a US Navy test pilot on graduation from the US Navy Test Pilot School, was awarded the US Marine Corps Air Medal, and the USAF Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster for Combat and Exceptional Service during the Korean War. He subsequently retired from the Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
After leaving the Marine Corps, Helms initially worked as a design engineer for North American Aviation, with subsequent positions of sales manager, and director of plans and programs. In 1963 he joined the Bendix Corporation, holding successive positions as Systems Division general manager, group manager, and group vice president, aerospace. In that latter position he directed the Launch Support Division, that prepared all lunar and orbiter flights from Cape Kennedy. He also personally directed the Systems Division in designing, assembling, packaging and installing the ALSEP (Apollo Lunar Scientific Exploration Package) for Apollo astronauts to leave on the moon on the first lunar landing.
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