News
Koslow named 2015 Glen A. Gilbert Memorial winner
NAV CANADA has announced that Sidney (Sid) Koslow, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, has been chosen as the 2015 recipient of the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award. Presented by the Washington-based Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA), the award honours the outstanding, long-term achievements of an individual in the field of aviation.
August 5, 2015 By NAV CANADA
“That NAV CANADA is a world-leader in the development and deployment of air traffic systems and technology both at home and abroad is due in no small part to Sid Koslow,” said John Crichton, President and CEO. “We were very fortunate that he decided to join us in 1997, shortly after the Company was launched.”
Prior to joining NAV CANADA, Sid Koslow had a successful 30-plus year career at The MITRE Corporation, where he rose to the position of Technical Director of MITRE’s System Development Division.
“Sid’s experience and expertise has been an invaluable asset to NAV CANADA, and we have benefitted from his technology leadership and commitment to innovation,” added Crichton. “This prestigious award is well-deserved and I’m very glad to see Sid recognized for his stellar career and numerous contributions to the aviation industry.”
At NAV CANADA, Koslow established a new model for the design, development and deployment of air traffic management systems. With this model, air traffic controllers and flight service specialists work together with NAV CANADA engineers and software developers throughout all phases of a project — with most of the work done within the Company, by NAV CANADA people.
This business model became the foundation for the modernization of the Canadian ANS, leading to a series of key technology achievements. Of these, three stand out for their level of innovation, and for their scope and capabilities:
- development and deployment of the Canadian Automated Air Traffic System (CAATS) in seven Area Control Centres (ACCs) across Canada, making it the world’s most advanced national flight data processing (FDP) system;
- development and deployment of EXCDS Electronic Flight Strips and related technologies in towers, flight service stations and ACCs, now being marketed around the world under the NAVCANsuite family of integrated ATM products; and
- the evolution of the Gander Automated Air Traffic System (GAATS+) for oceanic air traffic control in the North Atlantic, in close partnership with NATS of the UK.
“When I arrived at NAV CANADA, it was an exciting, new private-sector ANS with committed senior managers and excellent people throughout the organization,” recalls Koslow. “It was an ideal environment to implement a new way of doing business.”
“It is been rewarding to be part of a Company where we are able to deploy new technologies and systems quicker, and at a lower cost than traditional models. We have been able to take advantage of the talent within the system to implement safe, reliable and cost effective technology solutions,” said Koslow.
“It is especially gratifying that NAV CANADA-developed technology is being used by so many ANSPs around the world. Our technology improves performance and reduces costs not only for the ANSP purchasing these systems, but for the industry as a whole, as our customers avoid the costs of duplicate development.
“I am truly honoured to receive this award, and to be able share it with the people of NAV CANADA, and the many others in the aviation industry with whom I have had the privilege of working with over the years,” Koslow concluded.
The Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award represents ATCA’s most prestigious honor. The trophy will be presented to Sid Koslow at an awards ceremony during ATCA’s 60th Annual Conference in Washington D.C. on November 4, 2015. Inscribed with recipient names, the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award is on permanent display at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum.
