Contacts: Dan Hubbard, (202) 783-9360, dhubbard@nbaa.org
Ana Baptista, EBAA, +32 2 766 00 73, abaptista@ebaa.org
Geneva, Switzerland, May 21, 2013 – The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) announced today that Patrick Goudou, who has served as the executive director for the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) since its establishment in 2003, has been honored with the 2013 European Business Aviation Award.
The award was presented during a May 21 luncheon on the first day of the 13th annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2013), the only European exhibition focusing solely on business aviation.
In presenting the award, EBAA Chairman Rodolfo Baviera lauded Goudou’s work in establishing EASA as an aviation rulemaking authority, as well as for his collaboration with the business aviation community in determining aviation policy.
“Thanks in large part to Patrick’s work, it is well understood at EASA that effective regulations are those that have been informed through input from industry stakeholders, who have a first-hand understanding of what business aviation operations look like on a day-to-day basis,” Baviera said. “Not only has his collaborative approach been successful in the formation of effective business aviation safety regulations; it has also been successful in setting the tone for how EASA, as an agency, approaches its policymaking work with the business aviation community – one example being the recognition that business aviation needs different flight-and duty time rules from airline operations.”
Goudou’s extensive background in the aerospace industry includes a 22-year career with the French General Delegation for Armaments (Delegation Generale pour l’Armement – DGA). Prior to joining EASA, Goudou served as chief executive of the French Aeronautical Maintenance Agency (Service de la maintenance aeronautique – SMA), where he oversaw that organization’s responsibilities for engineering, maintenance and repairs to aircraft, engines and aircraft equipment, as well as for the design and production of aeronautical parts.
“Patrick came to EASA with a long-standing aviation background, which is a good thing, because he certainly needed that solid foundation to build an entire agency from the ground up,” Baviera added. “In spite of the countless priorities that would confront anyone trying to stand up a whole new agency, Patrick always had an open door to the business aviation community.”
Goudou will step down from his position at the end of August. He will be succeeded by Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) Joint Undertaking Executive Director Patrick Ky.
The annual European Business Aviation Awards have been given since the inception of EBACE in 2001. Past recipients are as follows (titles and affiliations shown were current at time of award presentation):
- David McMillan, director general of Eurocontrol, and Don Spruston, director general of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) (2012).
- Peter Lonergan, former Biggin Hill Airport director, and Richard Gaona, Comlux Aviation Group president (2011).
- Elie Zelouf, senior vice president of Jet Aviation, and officials at Aéroports de Paris (2010).
- Marwan Khalek, CEO and co-founder of Gama Aviation Limited, and Lyon-Bron Business Airport (2009).
- Mark Booth, chairman and CEO of NetJets Europe (2008).
- Judith Moreton, Bombardier Skyjet International, and Mark Wilson, British Business and General Aviation Association (2007).
- Geneva PALEXPO and Flight Safety International (2006).
- TAG Aviation and Cannes/Mandelieu Airport (2005).
- Jean-Francois Georges, Dassault Aviation, and Fernand Francois, European Business Aviation Association (2004).
- Ahid Quntar, Royal Wings/Arab Wings, and Andrew Walters, Regional Airports Ltd. (2003).
- Richard Gooding, London City Airport, and Jean-Pierre Jobin, Geneva International Airport (2002).
- Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, LEGO, and Frederik Sørensen, Head of Unit, European Commission (2001).
For more information on EBACE2013, visit www.ebace.aero/2013.
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About EBAA: The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) was founded in 1977 to defend the interests of business aviation. Today, more than 500 business aviation companies (direct members or members of associate organizations) rely on the EBAA to protect their business interests. It is the only voice to represent business aviation among the European institutions. For more information, visit www.ebaa.org.
About NBAA: Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The Association represents more than 9,000 companies and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at www.nbaa.org.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.