Biographical Sketches

CHARLES INGRAM STANTON

Born: July 28, 1893    In: Medford, MA
Died: January 1, 1986    

Charles Ingram Stanton. Pilot, engineer, and aviation administrator. After graduation from Tufts College (BS, 1917) he joined the Army Air Service, serving in the 122nd Aero Sqn (1917-18). Following WW1 he joined the Air Mail Service of the Post Office Dept (1918-22), advancing from test pilot through Assistant General Superintendent. Stanton resigned from the Post Office in 1922 and became General Secretary of the National Aeronautics Association (1922-24). He worked briefly in the Army Engineer Corps (Surveyman, 1924) before moving to Miami to work as a civil engineer (1925-27). He then joined the Commerce Department and served in the Aeronautics Branch and its successor, the CAB (1927-48).

Stanton was involved in all areas of airways work, from layout to administration, as Acting Administrator (1940-42), Administrator (1942-44) and Deputy Administrator of Civil Aeronautics (1944-48), and was involved in international negotiations on air navigation (1944-46). In 1948 he resigned and joined the Technological Institute of Aeronautics of Brazil as professor of Air Navigation and Chief of the Airways Division (1948-52). After his contract expired in 1952, Stanton returned to the U.S. as operational advisor to Bell Labs (1952-56), assisting in their work to improve the Air Traffic Control System. From 1956 on he worked in several capacities on airways and navigation, including periods on the Air Navigation Development Board (1956) and Airways Modernization Board (Chief, Airport Development Division, 1957). In 1958 he became Chief of the Airports Division, Research and Development Bureau (1958-62), of the newly established FAA, where he remained until he retired.

Denotes an individual known to have soloed an aircraft prior to December 16, 1917, whether they were members of the "Early Birds of Aviation" Organization or not.