Allan McArtor, Chairman and CEO of Airbus North Americas, Inc., was inducted into the “Living Legends of Aviation”® at the 11th Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards, on January 17, 2014 at the Beverly Hilton.
McArtor oversees the activities and strategy of Airbus in the United States, Canada, and Latin America, and is instrumental in establishing Airbus’ industrial presence in the U.S. with the A320 Family assembly line in Mobile, Alabama.
Prior to joining Airbus, McArtor was founder of Legend Airlines based at Dallas Love Field, Texas. From 1979 to 1994, McArtor was head of all Federal Express Air Operations except for two years (1987-1989) when President Ronald Reagan appointed him to serve as the Administrator of the FAA. In this role, McArtor was credited with helping to regain public confidence in air transportation while accelerating the modernization of air traffic control.
Allan McArtor, Chairman and CEO of Airbus North Americas, Inc.
McArtor was a combat fighter pilot in Vietnam, an Associate Professor of Engineering Mechanics at the Air Force Academy, and capped his Air Force career as a pilot with the U.S. Air Force “Thunderbirds”. He continues to hold a Commercial Pilot’s License (instrument rating, multi-engine) and is a member of Tau Beta Pi (engineering honorary society). McArtor is a 1964 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and holds a Masters Degree from Arizona State University.
Allan and his wife, Grace, reside in Virginia and have two sons and five grandchildren.
The “Living Legends of Aviation Awards” are held the third Friday of January to recognize and celebrate contributions and achievements in aviation. Often referred to as the “Academy Awards of Aviation,” the Legends come together to celebrate and recognize individuals for their contributions to aviation. The 12th Annual “Living Legends of Aviation Awards” will be held on January 16, 2015, at the Beverly Hilton. For more information, livinglegendsofaviation.org.