Allan McArtor is Chairman of Airbus Americas, Inc. Named Chairman in June 2001, McArtor oversees the activities and strategy of Airbus in the United States, Canada and Latin America, and was instrumental in establishing Airbus’ industrial presence in the U.S. with the A320 Family assembly line in Mobile, Alabama.
Before 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In this role, 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, under McArtor’s leadership, the FAA created the current standards for “Aging Aircraft” regulations and Stage III noise regulations.
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”. McArtor 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 (BSE) and holds a Masters Degree (MSE) from Arizona State University.
McArtor serves on several boards, for both corporate and non-profit companies.
In 2009, he was awarded the Air Traffic Control Association’s Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award for outstanding lifelong achievements by an individual in the field of aviation. In October 2010, The Wings Club honored McArtor with the 2010 Distinguished Achievement Award, acknowledging his outstanding accomplishments in the field of aviation.
Allan and his wife, Grace, reside in Virginia and have two sons and five grandchildren.