Named Executive Of The Year
Chelton Flight Systems' President
Gordon Pratt has been awarded 2004 Aerospace and Defense Executive
of the Year by independent industry analyst and market research
firm Frost & Sullivan. Frost & Sullivan tracks over 50
industry sectors and, every year, recognizes outstanding
achievements across a group of sectors. Industries analyzed this
year included Aerospace and Defense, Automotive, Biometrics,
Chemicals, Energy and Power, Food and Beverage, Electronics and
Semiconductors, Process Control, and Measurement and Test. At the
annual awards ceremony, held in Miami, awards were presented for
Executive of the Year, Product of the Year, Company of the Year,
and Technology of the Year.
Based in Boise, Idaho, Chelton Flight Systems makes flight
displays, guidance systems, and control technologies. Pratt
co-founded Sierra Flight Systems with Rick Price in 1997 and the
company was acquired by Chelton, a UK aerospace and defense
conglomerate. Chelton Flight Systems developed and gained FAA
certification of the world's only synthetic vision flight display
system, a revolutionary technology that enables pilots to see
through foul weather and darkness to make every flight as easy and
safe as one on a sunny day. They also pioneered the concept of
"highway in the sky" in which a pilot uses a computer screen to
guide his airplane through an imaginary aerial tunnel from takeoff
to touchdown, rather than relying on complicated dials and
pointers.
Frost & Sullivan's Executive of the Year award is bestowed
each year to the executive who demonstrates leadership excellence
within his or her industry. Gains in market share, decision making,
successful risk taking, customer service, innovation, marketing
strategies, industry impact, the competitive environment, employee
policies, and community participation are among the many metrics
used for evaluation. To choose the award recipient, Frost &
Sullivan tracks market developments and measurements in the
industry and then uses interviews, extensive primary and secondary
research, and considers market share, growth, and market
penetration in relation to corporate organizational and strategic
business actions in the selection process.
"I've always valued the opinions of Frost analysts and I'm
flattered by their recognition," Pratt said, "but the honor really
goes to our employees for making it happen."
Pratt also thanked the FAA. "Our technology will save lives and
it could have never been completed and certified without the
vision, support, and tireless efforts of the FAA and its Capstone
Program." Capstone is an FAA initiative to rapidly certify new
advances in aviation safety.
Thirty-five other companies received awards this year including
IBM, Bayer, Agilent Technology, ConAgra Foods, GE, and
Honeywell.