Former FAA Chief Dies

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One of the most powerful figures in American aviation during the 1970s — and possibly the reason you can use a GPS in your airplane — died last week in Alexandria, Va. John L. McLucas, 82, was secretary of the Air Force and FAA administrator. He died of respiratory failure. McLucas spent his whole life in aviation, working on early radar systems in the Second World War and heading research companies before landing in the Pentagon in 1962. He rose to become secretary of the Air Force in 1973, spearheading the move to allow women in the Air Force Academy and in the cockpit. After his stint as FAA administrator ended in 1977, he went to work for Comsat where he campaigned to make global positioning satellites available for civilian use.

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