2014 James C. Floyd Award Recipient for Aerospace Excellence

OTTAWA, ON--(Marketwired - November 19, 2014) - Mr. Dave Caddey and Mr. Ron Holdway have been awarded the James C. Floyd Award by the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) for their exceptional contribution in the development of Canada's space industry. Mr. Caddey and Mr. Holdway were honoured by the aerospace community at a ceremony during the Annual Aerospace Dinner on November 18^th in Ottawa. This marks the first time the James C. Floyd Award has been awarded to two individuals at once.

"I offer my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Caddey and Mr. Holdway. These two deserving space pioneers exemplify Canadian leadership and innovation," said AIAC President Jim Quick. "Mr. Caddey and Mr. Holdway have been at the forefront of the Canadian space industry for many years, providing exceptional leadership both in their companies and through their involvement with AIAC. On behalf of the Board and members of AIAC, we are proud to honour their commitment and celebrate their achievements."

For the past 25 years, Ron Holdway was the public face of COM DEV. He is an innovator and a passionate supporter not only of COM DEV's position as a leading Canadian space company, but in promoting Canada's global contributions as a space faring nation.

Dave Caddey retires from McDonald Detwiler and Associates, where he held numerous positions since 1986. Mr. Caddey was responsible for overseeing several major programs during his time at MDA, lending his management and leadership skills to some of Canada's most advanced space systems projects. 

Both recipients are long-standing members of AIAC's Board of Directors, where they played leading roles in providing a permanent and prominent place for space in the AIAC bylaws and governance structure, creating a Space Committee that would become the voice of the space industry 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. 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 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada. The AIAC would like to thank Bell Helicopter and its President Barry Kohler for supporting this prestigious award. 

For more information on the James C. Floyd Award and its recipients, please visit http://www.aiac.ca/news-and-events/Floyd-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.

2014 was an eventful year for Mr. Floyd, which saw the passing of his wife Irene after 74 years of marriage and the celebration of a centennial birthday on October 20^th.

"On behalf of the members of Canada's aerospace industry, and from all of us at the AIAC, I would like to take this opportunity to wish Mr. Floyd a very happy birthday," said Jim Quick. "We are thrilled to celebrate this important milestone birthday with Mr. Floyd, who has given so much to Canadian aerospace and will forever be considered one of the forefathers of Canadian aviation."

For information on the 2014 Canadian Aerospace Summit, please visit www.aerospacesummit.ca

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 nearly $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 172,000 Canadians. AIAC represents the interests of over 700 aerospace companies across Canada.

Attachment Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2014/11/19/11G026823/Holdway_BIO_Final-575334324647.pdf
Attachment Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2014/11/19/11G026823/Caddey_BIO_Final-1140169320474.pdf
Attachment Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2014/11/19/11G026823/Floyd_Award_NR_FINAL-20315942673.pdf