Capt. Jim Reith is an ex-military fighter pilot and airline pilot with over 17,000 hours of flight experience. Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Jim attended the Royal Military College in Kingston, graduating with an honours engineering degree. In the RCAF, he flew CF-101 Voodoos, was a flight instructor on the Tutor aircraft and had a tour with the Snowbirds jet demonstration team, flying as 2nd Line Astern in the 9-plane formation.
Capt. Reith left the military for the airlines, operating a range of heavy and medium airliners on domestic North American routes and internationally to Europe, Asia and Australasia.
Jim volunteered to assist the Abbotsford Airshow Flying Events group in 1999 and became the show’s Air Boss in 2001, continuing that role for 12 years. Captain Reith assumed the duties of President of the Abbotsford Airshow in 2013. During his tenure as President, he has led the airshow team through a number of financially successful shows, overseen the upgrading of show infrastructure and processes and Implemented a number of airshow upgrades like the popular Friday Twilight show.
