For Posterity's Sake         

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar 

McCARTY, Bennett Luke (Ben) - was born on April 7, 1935 in Sussex, NB, son of the late Bennett Arthur and Elodie (Hebert) McCarty. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy in June of 1954 and served in the fleet air arm as an aircraft technician, attended Naval Aircraft Maintenance School in Dartmouth NS. After 15 years service he resigned and was employed by Survair Ltd. in Ottawa, Ontario, maintaining DC-3, DHC-6, Douglas A-26, and Aero Commander aircraft.

In 1970 he formed Woodlands Aviation Ltd. and operated his company in Kingston and Ottawa, Ontario. In 1979 he moved to Fredericton, NB and continued with Woodlands Aviation (NB) Ltd. Woodlands Aviation provided aircraft maintenance for several specialty operators in Canada. He also owned and operated Tardi Aero Engine Ltd. engaged in the overhaul and repair of piston engines. He was also the owner of Benella Holdings Ltd., an aviation consulting and reality holding company.

Ben has been very active in the Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Association being a founding member of the Atlantic Region Association, serving as its President until 2014. He was instrumental in getting the six regional Associations together and forming the Canadian Federation of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers’ Association to suitably represent the AME’s at the national level. He has served as the Executive Secretary of this association several times. He also served on the technical committee of the Canadian Aviation regulation advisory committee to Transport Canada. He was very instrumental in having many changes made to proposals put forth by Transport Canada in the development and implementation of the new Canadian Aviation Regulations which resulted in improved rules and procedures that are enjoyed by Canadian AME’s today.

Ben has been honoured with many awards during his aviation maintenance career including the Order of Canada 2019, The Standard Aero Award 1982 for outstanding aircraft maintenance performance presented by the Atlantic AME Association, The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association President’s Award 1999 for outstanding contributions to private aviation in Canada and The Glen Goslin/Joe Price Memorial Award 2000 for outstanding service to the AME, Associations. Ben also received The NAASCO award 2002 for the outstanding AME presented at Winnipeg by the Central AME Association, The Transport Canada Aviation Safety Award 2004 for exceptional contribution to the promotion of Canadian Aviation Safety, and in 2005 Ben was inducted in the Canadian Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Hall of Fame

Ben was a member of the Fredericton Garrison Club, Fredericton City Club, and the John Albro Masonic Lodge, Dartmouth, NS. He was also a member of The Luxor Shrine and was past president of the Luxor Mini Car Unit.

Ben enjoyed golfing, fly fishing and the camaraderie of his associates, friends and family. His main passion was his work and dedication to the aviation industry.

Ben is survived by his loving wife, Ella (Urquhart); his son, Ben Jr. (Denise) of Vancouver; daughter, Cathy of Tampa, Florida; stepsons, Randy Shanks (Kathy) of Fredericton, Tony Shanks (Esther) of Fredericton, Troy Shanks (Aya) of Japan, Mike McCarty of Halifax; grandchildren, Benjie, Ryan, Tyler, Josh, Michele, Nicholas, Michael, Luke, Amanda, Mary, Katie, Ben, Shannon and Melissa, and 15 great grand children. Ben was predeceased by his parents and his daughter, Debbie McCarty.

Visitation will be held at McAdam's Funeral Home, 160 York Street in Fredericton, on Tuesday, August 13, from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. A funeral service will be held from the J.A. McAdam Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at 2:00 pm with Rev. Peter Thomas officiating. For those who wish, donations in Ben's memory can be made to the charity of the donor's choice.