Ronald Peel

Ronald Peel, D.F.C., B.Sc., was born in Leeds, England, on March 10, 1922. His family immigrated to Canada two years later to settle in Toronto, Ontario. After graduating from high school he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as an Observer. He graduated in 1941 at the top of his class and was posted to England. While serving as a navigator/bomb aimer, he was burned in a near fatal crash on December 6, 1941. Following his recovery, he completed a tour of 30 operations and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.). He was Mentioned in Despatches for distinguished service to the Royal Air Force (RAF) Transport Command.

In 1943 he was seconded to Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA) to assist in the operation of the Canadian Government Trans Atlantic Air Service (CGTAS). Following his discharge from the RCAF he became TCA's first Chief Navigator, a position he held for eight years. During this time his aviation innovations included the use of Long Range Aerial Navigation (LORAN), periscopic sextants and the Lambert Conformal Plotting Charts. He developed techniques for the selection of optimum routes, flight altitudes and cruise control for long range flights. His contributions to the development of Pressure Pattern Navigation were published in 1953 in the Journal of the Institute of Navigation in England. He also assisted Canadian Pacific Air Lines (CPA) in setting up its overseas department and was a founding officer and president of the Canadian Institute of Navigation.

In 1953 Peel became Supervisor of Flight Operations Ground Training for TCA. He also participated, until 1969, in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) activities related to improving flight crew training standards and overcoming problems in making the transition to the jet age. He presented a paper to the Airline Pilot's Association (APA) in Chicago to help the aviation industry meet this challenge. He also checked out as a First Officer with a Class I Instrument Rating and flew the Douglas DC-3 and later Viscount aircraft to ensure his ground training program met all requirements. In 1959 Peel set up a computer system for maintenance inventory, and introduced courses for the Vanguard, DC-8 and DC-9 aircraft.

While working full time at TCA, which became Air Canada in 1965, Peel attended Sir George Williams University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree (with Distinction) after eight years of evening studies. He was appointed Manager of Flight Operations Training Administration and enrolled in an evening program at McGill University for courses in finance and business statistics. Peel contributed to the development of Canada's first community college pilot education program. He also participated in the study group that established the feasibility of a computerized flight planning system for Air Canada, and of a no-reservation service between Toronto and Montreal.

Between 1969 and 1971, Peel held a number of operational positions, culminating as Flight Operations Special Project Director, the latter post until 1978. He presented recommendations to the Air Canada board of directors which resulted in the use of Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) and redeployment of navigators. He developed and implemented policies during the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) energy crisis as well as assisting IATA to reduce airline costs over north Atlantic routes. In 1979 he was appointed Chairman of the IATA North Atlantic/North American Technical Panel where, for a 20 year period, he made recommendations concerning world wide navigation, communications, and Air Traffic Control systems.

Peel was seconded to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 1981 to prepare its course (Ml) on the training of Flight Dispatchers and Operations Officers. As an aviation consultant, he prepared a "Manual of Guidance for Member States on the Preparation of Operations Manuals" for ICAO, and developed the IATA M10 course "Flight Operations and Management". He was also responsible for the script and development of visual aids when Air Canada obtained a contract for the de Havilland Dash-8 audio-visual training program. Using lATA's Program for Developing Nations, he assisted the management of airlines from twenty countries to improve the safety and efficiency of their flying operations. He retired in 1989.

Throughout his career, Ron Peel maintained his competency to navigation. Since his retirement from aviation Peel devoted considerable time and energy to improving the quality of Canadian Power and Sail Squadron courses as Navigator Course Director. He revised and updated that organization's most advanced celestial navigation course, and used his aviation knowledge and experience in the preparation of a comprehensive electronic marine navigation course. He retired from those endeavours in 1997.

Ronald Peel was inducted as a Member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 1991 at a ceremony held in Edmonton, Alberta and sadly passed away just before his 98th birthday on February 10, 2020.