Jim Bell is an aircraft maintenance engineer for Air Canada in Winnipeg. With the company since 1999, he currently works mainly on Airbus A320 series aircraft. Before joining Air Canada, he was employed as an aviation technician with the Canadian Forces, working on Dash-8, Tutor, and Hercules aircraft.

Jim joined the CAHS in 1998, and became chapter president of the revived Manitoba Chapter in 2000, a position he still holds. He was appointed a national director in 2009. He is a co-author of the History of 402 "City of Winnipeg" Squadron: On Guard for 75 Years, published in 2007. He was appointed an Associate Air Force Historian in 2006.

Jim is a private pilot who flies on search and rescue missions with the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association. He served as Winnipeg Zone Commander from 2005 to 2009. He is currently the zone Training Officer. He is also the owner of a Challenger II advanced ultralight.

Jim has a broad interest in Canadian aviation history, and is particularly interested in military aviation.