News
John Crichton inducted into Aviation Hall of Fame
May 27, 2011, Hamilton, Ont. - NAV CANADA congratulates John Crichton, President & CEO, on being inducted as a member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. The induction took place last night at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario as part of the Hall of Fame's 38th Annual Ceremony.
May 27, 2011 By Carey Fredericks
"It is truly an honour to be made a part of this prestigious institution," said Crichton. "I share this recognition with all of the people I have worked with over the years, and especially with the employees of NAV CANADA who have contributed so much in making the Company a global success story.
"Leading Canada's air navigation service provider for nearly 15 years has been the most rewarding time in my 40-plus-year career in aviation."
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.
Nick Geer, NAV CANADA Chairman of the Board noted Crichton's significant contribution to Canadian Aviation before his role at NAV CANADA. "During his time at First Air, John helped develop commercial air service in the North. And as the head of ATAC, he was an important advisor to the Government during the negotiations of the historic Canada-U.S. Open-Skies Agreement in 1995."
Geer added: "John's achievements at NAV CANADA speak for themselves, and we are pleased to be associated with this prestigious honour from Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame."
NAV CANADA, the country's civil air navigation services provider, is a private sector, non-share capital corporation financed through publicly-traded debt. With operations from coast to coast to coast, NAV CANADA provides air traffic control, flight information, weather briefings, aeronautical information services, airport advisory services and electronic aids to navigation.
Biography of Mr. Crichton is attached below.
John W. Crichton
John Crichton is President & Chief Executive Officer of NAV CANADA. He also served as Chairman of the Board of NAV CANADA from August 1995 to October 1997, and was instrumental in bringing about the unique consensus among customers, unions and the federal government that created the world's first privatized air navigation service (ANS).
In addition to his role as Chair of NAV CANADA, he also served as President and CEO of the Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC) from April 1994 until November 1997.
Prior to joining ATAC Mr. Crichton spent 24 years in commercial aviation, the majority of which was as Executive Vice President of First Air, after becoming a commercial pilot in 1969.
NAV CANADA was incorporated in May 1995 and a transfer agreement was signed on April 1, 1996, between the federal government and Mr. Crichton on behalf of NAV CANADA. The passage of the Civil Air Navigation Services Commercialization Act in June 1996 set the wheels in motion for the transfer of Canada's civil air navigation service to NAV CANADA on November 1, 1996.
Throughout the period between incorporation of the company in May 1995 and the closing of the transaction on November 1, 1996, Mr. Crichton led the NAV CANADA negotiating team while serving as Board Chairman.
In 2006, Mr. Crichton was selected as the Transportation Person of the Year for his "remarkable contributions to the air transportation industry over a long and successful career." Presented by the Transportation Association of Canada, the award recognizes an industry leader who has contributed to the improvement or advancement of the transportation industry.
In 2008, John Crichton received the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award from the Washington-based Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA). The international award honours Mr. Crichton's lifelong achievements in the field of aviation.
In 2009 he was presented with the C. D. Howe Award by the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute. The award recognizes long term leadership in the fields of policy and planning combined with achievements that are deemed to be of permanent significance and unassailable in the light of history.
In 2011, John Crichton was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame, at the official ceremony on May 26th at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario.
