Hoping to end months of turmoil on the Chicago Executive Airport board, officials in Wheeling and Prospect Heights have selected a retired airline pilot as the new board chairman.
The appointment of E. Allan Englehardt, a flight instructor and a former United Airlines pilot, was effective Saturday, said Judy Abruscato, Wheeling's acting village president, and Patrick Ludvigsen, acting mayor of Prospect Heights.
The two communities share ownership of the airport, formerly known as Palwaukee Municipal, and the chairman of the seven-member airport board is chosen jointly by the top elected officials of the two suburbs.
Englehardt, 60, also a designated pilot examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration, replaces Kevin Dohm, who resigned as board chairman in September after a controversy over his dealings with an airport consultant.
In announcing the appointment Monday, Ludvigsen and Abruscato said that Englehardt was chosen from a field of four candidates.
"He had the appropriate experience," Ludvigsen said. "He knew the airport very well and he was experienced with United, experienced with the FAA and just his familiarity with the Illinois and federal transportation people."
Abruscato said Englehardt would bring "a nice fresh view" to the board.
Englehardt, of Lake Bluff, retired in February after 37 years with United, most recently flying Boeing 777s in international service. Englehardt was one of the pilots who spoke out in May against a controversial proposal by airport officials to close Runway 6-24, which was used by smaller planes and recreational fliers.
