Early Career
A Navy friend in 1978 asked whether Bethune would consider joining Braniff International Airways as a maintenance manager. He agreed, quickly working his way up to the position of the Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering.
In 1982 when Braniff closed, Western Airlines offered Bethune the post of Vice President of Engineering and Maintenance. He spent thirteen months with the carrier until receiving an offer from Piedmont Airlines to move from maintenance to operations. Bethune took on the role of Senior Vice President of Operations.
In 1984, Bethune earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Abilene Christian University. He went on to serve as Vice President and General Manager of The Boeing Company's Customer Services Division and later the Renton Division where he was responsible for production of the B737 and B757 airplanes. In that role he launched the new NextGen B737-700 and 737-800 airplanes.
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