Jack Grose was honored Thursday during Opening Ceremonies at the 48th AEA Convention and Trade Show in Dallas, Texas as the recipient of AEA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2005.

A native of Canada, Grose played a vital role in expanding the association across the northern border and beyond, as he was the first individual outside of the United States ever to serve as an international officer of the AEA.

Grose was born in 1929 on his grandfather’s farm in the southwest corner of Manitoba. After high school, he graduated from Ryerson Polytechnic Institute in Toronto with a degree in Radio Technology.

He worked for Aerial Survey Co. where he was an engineering assistant on the design of analog high speed air position indicators for jet fighters. He spent a number of years flying in B-17s and Lockheed Hudson’s for the survey company and flew missions all over North, Central and South America.

As the company grew, they soon found it necessary to supply avionics service for their own equipment and soon extended their services to commercial customers. Grose was given the job of avionics department manager. In 1971, aviation took a downturn, the aerial company was hurting, and Grose and a partner bought the avionics department—and Navair Limited was born.

From that point, Grose says, they never looked back and Navair became one of the largest avionics service and sales companies in Canada. Soon after Navair was incorporated, he met Leo Bronee—who at the time was on the AEA board of directors representing Canada. He convinced Grose that being an AEA member was essential to a healthy avionics business. Navair immediately joined and for over 30 years, Grose was an active participant in the Association.

He became a regional director for AEA, and then advanced to Canada’s Regional Vice President. From there he was elected Vice President (now called Vice Chairman) and in 1984, was elected AEA President (now called Chairman). During his tenure as president, his presence alone commanded respect and admiration from the industry. The association was at a stage of international growth, and Grose helped advance that growth. In 1975, he was named AEA Member of the Year.

During his career, Grose not only volunteered his time and talents for the AEA, but he also served on the Executive Board of the Canadian Business Aircraft Association and the advisory boards of two community colleges. He also served on the board of directors for IFR Test Systems in Wichita for many years.

Grose retired as president of Navair in 1998, and stayed until 2002 working as a consultant for the company. Looking back over his career and his achievements, Jack points out two special moments that stand out.

The first is the day that Navair was incorporated and put his staff and him on the road to so many wonderful things in the industry. The second was on April 15, 1984—the day his first grandchild, Lianne, was born and he was elected AEA president the very same day. He counts that day as two unforgettable milestones in his life.

FMI: www.aea.net