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Dan McLaren works at the Hamilton Airshow in 2012. Mike Reyno Photo
At its 48th annual convention on Dec. 9, the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) presented its highest honour, the Sword of Excellence, to a Troy, Ont., businessman in front of nearly one thousand airshow industry professionals.
Dan McLaren, owner of Mach 1 Productions, an airshow and special event sound and communications company, has for nearly 30 years contributed to presenting the airshow industry to the U.S. and Canadian public. He pioneered the Canadian Air Show Association (CASA), which opened the borders and a played a significant role in helping simplify a system that allows performers and support services professionals from the U.S. and Canada to work in both countries.
McLaren’s production team has been instrumental in moving airshows into the digital age and set the standard for airshow public address systems, for air-to-ground radio, and has helped shape entertainment and regulatory standards.
Throughout McLaren’s career he has taken on leadership roles: first, at the regional level with the North West Council of Air Shows (NWCAS), and then at the North East Council of Air Shows (NECAS) where he served as chairman. He served on the ICAS board as the Canadian representative for a decade, ultimately sitting as chairman during one of the industry’s most challenging times which included high-profile performer fatalities and the beginning of U.S. military sequestration. As a member and chairman of the ICAS Ethics Committee, he guaranteed that association membership had a venue to air their grievances and keep and maintain the industry’s business principles and professionalism.
He has also been named an honorary member of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds jet demonstration team and the Canadian Forces SkyHawks parachute team.
