Jerome F. Lederer
Encyclopedia
Jerome F. Lederer was an American aviation-safety pioneer, known as "Mr. Aviation Safety."
He was born in New York City
. He received a BSC in mechanical engineering with aeronautical options in 1924 and an M.E. in 1925 from New York University
. In 1926
, he was hired by the United States Postal Service
to oversee its plane maintenance. Lederer helped reduce pilot fatality by devising film crash tests and redesigning the exhaust stacks and other systems. From 1929
-1940
he served as chief engineer for aviation insurance underwriters. In 1940
, he accepted an appointment as director of the Civil Aeronautics Board's Safety Bureau. He resigned in 1942
to become director of the Airlines War Training Institute. He trained 10,000 airmen and 35,000 mechanics for the Air Transport Command, and was a safety consultant to the 2nd Air Force.
In 1947
, he organized the Flight Safety Foundation and was its director until 1967
. The Foundation provides global exchange of information on aircraft accident prevention. In 1967, following the deaths of three astronauts at the Kennedy Space Center
, NASA
appointed him director of the Office of Manned Space Flight Safety for the Apollo Program
. In 1970
, he became director of safety for all of NASA.
In 1987, Lederer was the recipient of the Tony Jannus Award
for his distinguished contributions to commercial aviation. He died of congestive heart failure in Laguna Hills, California
, at the age of 101
.
before Charles Lindbergh
's trans-Atlantic flight. "I did not have too much hope that he would make it," he admitted years later. "I just went out because I was a friend of his, and I wanted to see the airplane, to look the situation over."
The International Society of Air Safety Investigators yearly awards the Jerome F Lederer Award for "outstanding contributions to technical excellence in accident investigation."
He was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He received a BSC in mechanical engineering with aeronautical options in 1924 and an M.E. in 1925 from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. In 1926
1926 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1926:- Events :* United Airlines established.* Award of the Harmon Trophy begins. A set of three trophies is awarded annually to the worlds outstanding aviator, aviatrix , and aeronaut for the year, and a fourth trophy is awarded to the outstanding...
, he was hired by the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
to oversee its plane maintenance. Lederer helped reduce pilot fatality by devising film crash tests and redesigning the exhaust stacks and other systems. From 1929
1929 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1929:- Events :* Greatest number of fatal civil aircraft crashes in US history.* Cubana de Aviación begins service.* Pan American World Airways begins service.* The Canadian Siskins aerobatic team is formed....
-1940
1940 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1940:- Events :* The worlds first high-performance, purpose-built night fighter, the British Bristol Beaufighter, enters combat.* The Consolidated Aircraft Corporation absorbs the Hall Aluminum Aircraft Corporation....
he served as chief engineer for aviation insurance underwriters. In 1940
1940 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1940:- Events :* The worlds first high-performance, purpose-built night fighter, the British Bristol Beaufighter, enters combat.* The Consolidated Aircraft Corporation absorbs the Hall Aluminum Aircraft Corporation....
, he accepted an appointment as director of the Civil Aeronautics Board's Safety Bureau. He resigned in 1942
1942 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1942:- Events :* The United States Coast Guard begins to use the national insignia for U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps aircraft on its own aircraft for the first time. The practice has continued ever since.-January:* The U.S...
to become director of the Airlines War Training Institute. He trained 10,000 airmen and 35,000 mechanics for the Air Transport Command, and was a safety consultant to the 2nd Air Force.
In 1947
1947 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1947:-January:* January 11 – The BOAC Douglas C-47A G-AGJX crashes into a hill at Stowting in southeast England, killing eight of the 16 people on board and injuring all eight survivors...
, he organized the Flight Safety Foundation and was its director until 1967
1967 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1967:- Events :* The Canadian Golden Centennaires aerobatic team is formed and performs all year to celebrate the Canadian centennial year....
. The Foundation provides global exchange of information on aircraft accident prevention. In 1967, following the deaths of three astronauts at the Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
appointed him director of the Office of Manned Space Flight Safety for the Apollo Program
Project Apollo
The Apollo program was the spaceflight effort carried out by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration , that landed the first humans on Earth's Moon. Conceived during the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Apollo began in earnest after President John F...
. In 1970
1970 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1970:-January:* January 1 – Nord-Aviation, Sud-Aviation, and SEREB merge to form SNIAS .* January 31 – Mikhail Mil dies, aged 61-February:...
, he became director of safety for all of NASA.
In 1987, Lederer was the recipient of the Tony Jannus Award
Tony Jannus Award
The Tony Jannus Award recognizes outstanding individual achievement in scheduled commercial aviation by airline executives, inventors and manufacturers, and government leaders. The award is conferred annually by the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society and was first bestowed in 1964 in Tampa,...
for his distinguished contributions to commercial aviation. He died of congestive heart failure in Laguna Hills, California
Laguna Hills, California
Laguna Hills is a city located in southern Orange County, California, United States. Its name refers to its proximity to Laguna Canyon and the much older Laguna Beach. Other newer cities nearby—Laguna Niguel and Laguna Woods—are similarly named.-Geography:...
, at the age of 101
Centenarian
A centenarian is a person who is or lives beyond the age of 100 years. Because current average life expectancies across the world are less than 100, the term is invariably associated with longevity. Much rarer, a supercentenarian is a person who has lived to the age of 110 or more, something only...
.
Trivia
He inspected the Spirit of St. LouisSpirit of St. Louis
The Spirit of St. Louis is the custom-built, single engine, single-seat monoplane that was flown solo by Charles Lindbergh on May 20–21, 1927, on the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris for which Lindbergh won the $25,000 Orteig Prize.Lindbergh took off in the Spirit from Roosevelt...
before Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
's trans-Atlantic flight. "I did not have too much hope that he would make it," he admitted years later. "I just went out because I was a friend of his, and I wanted to see the airplane, to look the situation over."
The International Society of Air Safety Investigators yearly awards the Jerome F Lederer Award for "outstanding contributions to technical excellence in accident investigation."