Thomas Appleton

Born in England in 1941, Thomas Edmund ‘Tom’ Appleton has had a varied and influential career in Canadian aviation. His interest in aviation began early and led him to join the Air Cadets in Ottawa. Imperfect vision precluded qualification for an RCAF Flying Training Scholarship, but it did not stop him earning a pilot’s license at the Ottawa Flying Club. In the early 1960s Tom joined Spartan aviation as a navigator conduc­ting magnetometer and geophysical surveys in northern Ontario and the high arctic. He landed at de Havilland Aircraft of Canada in 1966 where he flew the Twin Otter, Buffalo, and Dash 7 respectively as a demonstration, instructor, and development test pilot. Along the way, Tom acquired time and experience while also developing management skills.

Following completion of an MBA in 1981, he was appointed Director of Customer Support and took on an increasing number of files, becoming Vice President of Marketing and Sales five years later. By 1991, Tom was Executive Vice-President of the Canadair Regional Jet Division, where he oversaw the successful production and sale of CRJs and Dash 8s. Throughout his career, Tom Appleton has been recognized by his peers, including his election as Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

In further recognition of his outstanding and ongoing contributions to Canadian aviation, Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame is pleased to induct Tom Appleton as a member for 2022.