John Crichton named to Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame

NAV CANADA is pleased to announce that John Crichton, President & CEO, has been selected to be a member of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. He will be officially inducted to the Hall on May 26th, 2011 at the 38th Annual Ceremony held at Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario. (www.cahf.ca)

John Crichton

“We are very proud to see John receive this prestigious honour and take his place among this highly select group of Canadian aviators,” said Nick Geer, NAV CANADA Chairman of the Board. “NAV CANADA operates one of the safest, most efficient and technologically advanced air navigation systems in the world and that, in no small measure, is due to his stewardship.”

In addition to being NAV CANADA President & CEO since 1997, Crichton’s aviation career highlights include serving as Executive Vice President of First Air, a carrier servicing Canada’s northern communities, as well as President and CEO of the Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC), and the first Chairman of NAV CANADA from 1995-1997.

“I am truly honoured to receive this recognition, which belongs to all of the people with whom I have worked, and continue to work, in this industry,” said Crichton. “I am grateful to those who proposed and supported my nomination and to the selection committee of the Hall of Fame, and look forward to the ceremony this coming spring.”

Crichton was nominated by Louis Ranger, former Deputy Minister at Transport Canada. “John is an innovative leader whose forward-looking vision is anchored by knowledge steeped in a 40-year career in various sectors of the aviation business,” said Ranger. “During his time at First Air, John was a guiding force behind the expansion of commercial air service in the North. And as the head of ATAC, he was a key advisor to Transport Canada during the negotiations that led to the historic Canada-U.S. Open-Skies Agreement in 1995.”

Ranger added: “John’s crowning achievement was his role in the successful transition of the country’s air navigation system from a government service to the private sector, leading to the creation of NAV CANADA. Under his leadership, the Company embarked on a wide-ranging modernization program, and has become a global leader in safety, service and the application of innovative technology and procedures to improvements in flight efficiency and the reduction of fuel burn and greenhouse gas emissions.”

The innovations that have been developed and implemented by the employees of NAV CANADA have also been sold to air navigation service providers on three continents, including Europe, Australia and North America.

“John’s career achievements speak for themselves. He is most deserving of recognition by being inducted to Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame,” Ranger concluded.