John Armistead Wilson

John Armistead Wilson, C.B.E., was born in Broughty Ferry, Scotland, on November 2, 1879, and was educated there. At the age of sixteen he became apprenticed to an engineering firm in Scotland, and qualified as an engineer in 1901 at Leeds, England. He worked in Calcutta, India, as an engineer for four years, and in 1905 chose to settle in Canada. Until 1909 he worked as an engineer on the construction of Canada Cement Company plants at Exshaw, Alberta, and Hull, Quebec.

In 1910, because of his keen interest in early aviation, he joined the newly formed Department of Naval Service as Director of Stores and Contracts. In 1918 he was promoted to Assistant Deputy Minister of the Naval Service, responsible for organizing the Royal Canadian Naval Air Service (RCNAS) and the construction of naval air bases at Dartmouth and Sydney, Nova Scotia, for anti-submarine patrols. He was a member of the Governor-General's Foot Guards regiment from 1912 to 1920 and attained the rank of Captain.

Wilson was asked to draft the Air Board Act, later superseded by the Aeronautics Act. He became Secretary of the Canadian Air Board in 1920 and participated in drafting the first air regulations for Canada. The Air Board served three main purposes: to regulate civil aviation, conduct civil government operations, and organize and administer the aerial defence of Canada. A non-permanent Canadian Air Force (CAF) was formed in 1920.

The Department of National Defence (DND) was created in 1923, and all functions of the Air Board were assumed by the DND, in spite of the fact that most of the Air Board's dealings were purely civil. In 1924 the CAF was re-organized into a permanent force called the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Wilson was appointed Assistant Director and Secretary of the RCAF, responsible for civil aviation functions. The Air Board then ceased to exist.

During the summer of 1924, Wilson made a 10,000 mile (16,100 km) aerial survey trip across Canada in a flying boat, noting how aerial mapping could be done and the richness of the country's resources.

The rapid growth of aviation in Canada prompted the re-organization of the DND in 1927 into four directorates: the RCAF, Civil Air Operations, Control of Civil Aviation, and Aeronautical Engineering. Wilson was appointed Controller of Civil Aviation and during 1927-28, promoted the growth of flying clubs to train pilots and develop public interest in aviation. Twenty flying clubs were organized at major centres with DND financial assistance and instructor-training at RCAF Camp Borden. Airmail routes were established between these cities.

In 1929 the government directed Wilson to arrange for the survey and construction of a trans-Canada air route from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Vancouver, British Columbia, stretching some 3,100 miles (4,990 km). His branch would be responsible for surveying and selecting sites, constructing the airports, providing lighting, radio, and weather services. In 1932 economic constraints forced the discontinuation of inter-city mail service, but the airway development continued, and provided employment during the worst years of the Depression.

During the summer of 1934 Wilson made a 15,000-mile (24,000 km) trip from coast-to-coast, and north to the Arctic Circle, using aircraft, train and automobile, to see the progress being made on construction of the trans-Canada airway. He and Inspector Bob Dodds flew a land-plane over the new route between Ottawa and Winnipeg in 1935, and in July 1936, he accompanied Inspector J.H. Tudhope when he flew the Rt. Hon. C.D. Howe on a brief inspection tour of this route.

The Department of Transport was created in November 1936, with C.D. Howe as Minister, and all federal transportation and communication services, including Civil Aviation, were placed under this department. Wilson continued as Controller of Civil Aviation, and construction of the trans-Canada airways system continued without interruption. On April 10, 1937, legislation created Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA, and Wilson was appointed one of the government directors of the company.

When World War II was declared on September 3, 1939, civil aviation quickly became a military function. The Department of Transport took over almost all of the larger municipal airports so that their operation could be co-ordinated for both civil and military use. Wilson's responsibilities increased when the government decided to provide training for personnel for the war effort in Europe. The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), formed by agreement between Canada, Great Britain, Australia and New pilots, navigators, air gunners, bombers and wireless operators. Wilson's exceptional organizing, abilities and broad knowledge of all phases of civil aviation throughout Canada helped him to accomplish the gigantic task of providing the necessary facilities and personnel.

In 1942 Wilson assisted in arranging the Canadian Government Trans-Atlantic Air Service (CGTAS), which was later organized and operated by TCA. The first flight took place on July 22, 1943, using a modified Lancaster aircraft, carrying official passengers, goods and mail between Canada and the United Kingdom.

Wilson, who drafted many of Canada's early civil air regulations, received many honours in recognition of his achievements. He was awarded the Julian C. Smith Memorial Medal of the Engineering Institute of Canada in 1944 for his achievement in the development of air transport in Canada. He was chosen to receive the Trans-Canada (McKee) Trophy for the year 1944 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Canadian aviation and for his whole-hearted efforts in the development of civil aviation in Canada. In 1945 was appointed a Commander of the Order of British Empire (C.B.E.). He was presented with the Norwegian Medal of Liberation in 1948. He was named Honorary President of the Royal Canadian Flying Clubs Association.

Wilson retired from the position of Director of Air Services in 1945 after a 35-year career in aviation. He died in Ottawa on October 10, 1954.

J.A. Wilson was passionately committed to the growth and well being of civil aviation in Canada. He argued for the need to separate the control, administration and financing of military and civil aviation in order for civil aviation to develop and progress more rapidly. He felt that if civil aviation in Canada were strong, the military aspect would also be strong, for the civil branch could provide the basic training of personnel.

John Armistead Wilson was inducted as a Member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 1974 at a ceremony held in Edmonton, Alberta.