The Wings Club to Honor T. Allan McArtor With the 2010 Distinguished Achievement Award

NEW YORK, April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wings Club, recognized as the premier aviation club in the world, will honor Mr. T. Allan McArtor, Chairman of Airbus Americas, Inc., with the 2010 Distinguished Achievement Award. Acknowledging outstanding accomplishments in the field of aviation, The Wings Club will present the Award on Friday, October 22, 2010 at its 68th Annual Dinner-Dance to be held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.  Airbus Americas is the parent company of Airbus Americas Sales and Airbus North America Customer Services, Airbus North America Engineering and Airbus Alabama.

McArtor boasts an exceptional career in aviation that has led him to his current position.  He was named Chairman in June 2001, with responsibility for overseeing the activities and strategy of Airbus in the U.S., Canada and Latin America in several key areas, including governmental affairs and Airbus industrial strategy in the U.S. plus the Tanker Steering Committee.  Before joining Airbus, McArtor was the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Legend Airlines, a regional carrier based at Dallas Love Field in Texas.  Prior to that, McArtor held a series of leadership and senior management positions in the military, civil and government sectors.

From 1979 to 1994, McArtor served on the senior management team of Federal Express Corporation as the head of all air operations except for two years (1987-1989) when President Ronald Reagan appointed McArtor to serve as the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  As FAA Administrator, McArtor was credited with helping to regain public confidence in air transportation, while accelerating the modernization of air traffic control (ATC).  He also increased FAA funding for ATC and other critical programs, including Extended Twin Operations (ETOPS) and Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS).  In addition, McArtor created the standards for current "Aging Aircraft" regulations and issued the industry's Stage III noise regulations.

McArtor was a highly decorated 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" Aerial Demonstration Team.  He is a 1964 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy (BSE) and holds a Master's Degree (MSE) from Arizona State University.  In 2009, he was awarded the Air Traffic Control Association's Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award for outstanding life-long achievements by an individual in the field of aviation.

In addition to his executive responsibilities at Airbus, McArtor serves on the Board of Directors for The National Air & Space Museum (NASM); The European Institute; Washington Area Airports Authority; Aviation Safety Alliance; GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems; Committee for Economic Development; and The Wings Club (and former President).  He also holds a board seat for a number of civic, industry, charity and educational groups, including the Falcon Foundation, Sabre Society, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital Professional Advisory Board, and the Air Force Memorial Foundation Board of Trustees.

The Wings Club's Distinguished Achievement Award has been presented annually since 1975. Past recipients include Astronaut Neil Armstrong, Senator John Glenn, former President George H. W. Bush, Brigadier General Charles E. Yeager, Steven Udvar-Hazy, as well as 13 present and former airline CEO's including Fred Smith, Bob Crandall, Herb Kelleher, Gordon Bethune, Sir Colin Marshall, Wolfgang Mayrhuber and Sir Richard Branson.

The Wings Club, founded in 1942, is the premiere aviation club in the world.  Dedicated to preserve the history and traditions of aviation, the Club provides a forum for discussion and debate on aeronautical and aviation issues. The Wings Club serves approximately 1,100 members including industry leaders, pilots, professionals in related service organizations and students of aviation.

Recognizing significant achievements that contribute to the advancement of aeronautical and aviation matters, The Wings Club recognizes and honors people throughout the year with the Distinguished Achievement Award, Distinguished Scholar Awards and Outstanding Aviator Award.  The Club also hosts Aviation Leader Series Luncheons that feature keynote speeches by industry leaders.

For more information on The Wings Club please call 212-867-1770, e-mail [email protected] or visit http://www.wingsclub.org.

SOURCE The Wings Club