Former Airbus Americas chairman Allan McArtor joins Airflow’s Advisory Board
eSTOL aircraft developer Airflow has announced the appointment of veteran aviation executive Allan McArtor to its advisory board.
The company, which was founded in 2019 by five former members of the Airbus Vahana project, is currently building its aircraft which will bring eSTOL capabilities to the middle-mile logistics market.
In in new role, McArtor will advise Airflow as it works to build this solution amid the global surge in e‑commerce. He spent nearly two decades as Chairman of Airbus Americas, overseeing all activities in the United States. During his time at the helm, McArtor’s strategic vision increased the company’s commercial aviation market share significantly.
Marc Ausman, Co-founder and CEO, Airflow, said: “We are honoured to have Allan on board as we enter thisThe explosive e‑commerce growth of the last five years, which was further accelerated by the global pandemic, has outpaced existing logistics modalities.
“The time is now for a solution that enables same- and next-day e‑commerce in a low cost, sustainable way. Adding Allan’s expertise to our wealth of aviation knowledge makes me more confident than ever that Airflow will be the company that delivers such a solution to global logistics and retail businesses.”
A longtime member of the senior management team at FedEx prior to Airbus, US President Ronald
Reagan appointed McArtor as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As administrator, McArtor’s modern outlook proved to be instrumental in growing public confidence in air travel.
A decorated Air Force veteran and combat fighter in the Vietnam War, he is a graduate of the U.S. Airforce Academy, where he served as an Associate Professor of Engineering Mechanics.
Commenting on his new role, he said: “Marc and the Airflow team are pursuing an incredible market opportunity with the potential to disrupt aerial logistics as we know it and enable companies to sustainably meet the demands of today’s customers.
“I’m proud of, and energised by, the chance to apply my expertise as Airflow develops and brings to market aircraft and software systems to evolve the logistics industry with a new aerial solution.”
Ausman was a guest on the eVTOL Insights Podcast, where he spoke about Airflow’s vision for the eSTOL market and how its capabilities can benefit the growing urban air mobility market.
The company began flight testing of its first sub-scale demonstrator in August 2020, and announced it will use VerdeGo Aero’s hybrid-electric powertrain for its production aircraft, after both companies announced a partnership in December 2020.
Development of Airflow’s full-scale version aircraft began in January 2021.