The CSeries Aircraft Program Team, led by Mr. Rob Dewar, Vice President of the CSeries Aircraft Program at Bombardier Inc., has been awarded the James C. Floyd Award by the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) for their important contributions to Canadian aerospace innovation and leadership, both domestically and in the global marketplace.

“The development and launch of the CSeries aircraft is an industrial achievement of the highest order. Rob Dewar and his team have dedicated over a decade to the creation of the CSeries, making it the biggest Canadian commercial aerospace program ever launched in history,” said Jim Quick, President and CEO of AIAC. “Their achievement highlights everything that we celebrate about Canada’s aerospace industry: innovation, perseverance, and a commitment to world-class products and services that drive our economy and push the limits of human ingenuity and creativity. It is my pleasure to congratulate Bombardier, Mr. Dewar, and his team, on this outstanding contribution to Canada’s aerospace industry.”

“The James C. Floyd Award is a tremendous honor, and it is with great pride that I accept it on behalf of Bombardier and the CSeries team,” said Rob Dewar, Vice-President CSeries Program, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “For over a decade, I have enjoyed the privilege of leading a team of men and women with the goal of delivering one of the most ambitious and innovative aerospace projects in the world. This award is a testament to their perseverance and dedication; they are each equally deserving of this recognition. Wherever the CSeries takes to the skies, it will be an ambassador for our aerospace industry and a symbol of Canadian innovation and achievement, and this is something that can make us all proud.”

Development of the CSeries began in 2004, and the first aircraft entered service earlier this year. Featuring the Canadian-made Pratt & Whitney PurePower 1500G engine, the aircraft is a world leader in environmental performance and emissions reduction. The CSeries program involves over 200 suppliers in Canada and provides direct employment to over 2000 persons in Canada.

The James C. Floyd Award

Established in 2009 in honour of the chief engineer on the Avro Arrow project, AIAC’s James C. Floyd Award for aerospace achievement is an annual award that honours exceptional contributions to the Canadian aerospace sector. Nominations are submitted by AIAC members and evaluated by an independent review panel. Presented during the Canadian Aerospace Dinner, which is held at the annual Canadian Aerospace Summit, the James C. Floyd Award is given to visionary individuals or teams whose contributions have made a difference in the industry.

This year’s James C. Floyd award is sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Canada. The AIAC would like to thank Pratt & Whitney Canada and its President John Saabas for supporting this prestigious award.

James C. Floyd

James C. Floyd is one the great figures in Canada’s aviation history. As chief designer for Avro Canada, Mr. Floyd played a central role in the development of some of the greatest planes ever produced in Canada – including the C102 Jetliner, the CF 100 fighter and the Avro Arrow. Members of his design and engineering team later played key roles in America’s Apollo project to put a man on the Moon.

After the cancellation of the Avro Arrow project, Mr. Floyd established his own international aviation consulting company and made contributions to a number of state-of-the-art projects around the world.

In 1950, Mr. Floyd became the first non-American recipient of the Wright Bros. Medal for his work on jet transport technology, specifically the design of the Avro Canada Jetliner, the world’s first regional jet passenger aircraft. He was consultant to the British Ministry of Technology on the Concorde project from 1965 to 1972.

Mr. Floyd was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in 1993.

About AIAC

AIAC is the national association representing Canada’s aerospace manufacturing and services sector.  As the world’s fifth-largest aerospace industry, Canada’s aerospace sector contributes over $28B to the economy in GDP, exports 80% of its output, and dedicates over 20% of its activity to research and development (R&D). Aerospace is responsible for the employment of 211,000 Canadians. 

For Information:
Kristen VanderHoek
Director of Communications
Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
613 232-4297 x225
kvanderhoek@aiac.ca