Europe’s superior EASA Executive Director selection process
Cover image is a random set of pictures of Past Administrators, the White House and the Senate
Transitions in aviation safety positions should not look like this (only a sampling of the “process”).
- October 2023 Senate Confirms Michael Whitaker as FAA Administrator
- October 2023 The Assignment that the Senate bestowed on Mr. Whitaker by giving him the key to 800 Independence Issues inside and challenges outside #FAA #DOT
- June 2023 What’s with the Biden Administration’s inability to find a suitable AOA-1 Candidate?
- May 2023 FORBES’ assessment of FAA Fractures GOOD; here’s more diagnoses#FAA #DOT too many ACTING positions in challenging times and too little support from Congress
- March 2023 Senate Commerce Committee hearing on FAA Administrator confirmation
- March 2023 Biden’s FAA nominee withdraws after Sinema scuttles committee vote
- March 2023 Ted Cruz tries to trip up Biden’s FAA pick – POLITICO
- March 2023 Past FAA Administrators Endorse Phil Washington, Biden’s Nominee for FAA Administrator
- January 2023 FAA without permanent leader as Biden’s nominee faces criticism – CNN
- January 2023 UPDATE 2-Biden renominates stalled picks for key administration posts
- December 2022 Why is Mr. Washington’s nomination for FAA Administrator being delayed?
- December 2022 Biden’s Pick to Lead F.A.A. Faces Murky Road to Confirmation
- June 2022 Biden nominates for FAA Administrator someone with no real aviation experience–Report: DIA leader Phil Washington set to be nominated by Biden as FAA administrator (msn.com)
Sadly, this is not an isolated example of disruption in the nation’s Top Aviation Safety position. There have been 20+ individuals who have accepted this job since 1958. Though Congress enacted legislation setting a five year term, the actual time in place has been mostly 2-4 years. Abrupt departures have further diminished the continuity of leadership so critical to this safety executive. While most have brought exceptional experience to the job, the public opinion gurus complain that experience in aviation equates to bias in favor of industry with the interests of passengers and shipper second. Even a superficial assessment of the FAA’s history technical talent at the top is essential to meet the agency’s mission.
Nomination by the President and Confirmation by the Senate have been the selection process since 1958. The hiccups have occurred under Presidents of both parties and with Senates led by both parties. There have been excellent Administrators, but the delays, series of Acting Administrators and long interregnums between them have impacted the ability to continue the excellent aviation safety records.
As a self-acknowledged US Chauvinist, it grieves me to point to Europe.
The European Union, the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the European Union Safety Administration announced a transition in both the Chair of the EASA Management Board and the Executive Director of EASA. As the two press releases make clear both selections have tremendous experience and relevant education—resumes demonstrating the qualifications that would well suit the FAA. Please read their biographies.
While the US political process involves 50 states and two parties, the EU is an international organization that comprises 27 European countries and governs common economic, social, and security policies. Its Parliament is composed of eight parties and these officials are elected in their home countries but represent a broad range of views. The European Commission oversees the work of EASA Management Board and EASA. So many inputs into the selection of the Aviation Safety executive with authority over 27 sovereigns would suggest a difficult decision. HOWEVER, THE EUROPEANS DELIVER TIMELY, WELL-QUALIFIED EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS!!! It is difficult to acknowledge that the EU does it well.
Piotr Samson re-elected as Chair of EASA Management Board
13 Dec 2023
Piotr Samson, [biography]President of the Civil Aviation Agency of Poland, has been re-elected as Chair of the Management Board 1of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Samson, who has headed the Polish CAA since 2016, was first elected as Chair of the Board in 2019. As a result of today’s vote, he has been accorded a further four-year mandate. The Chair is elected by the Management Board members [All but one is either a Director or Deputy Director of national CAAs; the exception is 1 from the Office of Building and Infrastructure Division Civil Aviation. 1 is listed with the title Captain] from among their members.
“I am very honoured to be offered this extension of my appointment as Chair of the EASA Management Board,” Samson said. “I thank my colleagues on the Board for the trust placed in me. I firmly believe that, working together with the new Executive Director of EASA, Florian Guillermet, who I have known for many years, we will be successful in further strengthening EASA in Europe and internationally and overcoming all challenges we may face.”
Samson is a manager and air transport expert with over 25 years of professional experience. He completed the full-time MBA at the Cranfield University, United Kingdom (1994-1995). He also graduated from the Warsaw University of Technology – Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management (1989-1994).
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EASA Management Board selects Florian Guillermet as future EASA Executive Director
13 Dec 2023
COLOGNE, December 13 – Florian Guillermet [biography] has been selected as the future Executive Director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, following a decision by the Agency’s Management Board.
“I am pleased to announce that we have selected Florian Guillermet as the Executive Director of EASA,” said Piotr Samson, Chair of the EASA Management Board and President of Civil Aviation at the Polish Civil Aviation Authority. “I have known Florian for many years and deeply respect his operational knowledge of aviation as well as his high-level strategic thinking. I am sure that, under his leadership, EASA and the European aviation community will grow and prosper even further.”
Magda Kopczyńska2, Director-General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission, said. “Ensuring the highest levels of safety in the sky will always be our top priority, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency continues to lead efforts to keep passengers safe. I am very pleased with the selection of Florian as the future Executive Director of EASA. Based on his impressive track record, I can be very confident that the future of aviation safety in Europe and beyond is in capable hands. I look forward to our continued cooperation!”
GUILLERMET is currently the Director at DSNA, the Air Navigation Services Provider designated by the French State. He has over 26 years of aviation experience, with a particular emphasis on Air Navigation and Air Traffic Management.
From 2014-2021 he was Executive Director at SESAR Joint Undertaking, which he joined in 2012 from EUROCONTROL where he had held several roles since 2004. Earlier in his career he held positions at the French Civil Aviation Authority (Direction générale de l’aviation civile (DGAC)) and in Air France.
He is a graduated engineer from Ecole Polytechnique and has a specialised Master Air Transport Management and Aeronautics.
“I am honoured to have been selected to take over the leadership of EASA, which has gained a strong reputation in its 20 years’ existence for its professionalism and expertise,” Guillermet said. “EASA will have an instrumental role in accompanying the transition to greener aviation while maintaining the sector’s strong safety record. I look forward to steering the Agency through these challenges and to building a positive, multicultural working environment on a basis of trust and transparency.”
The nomination follows an OPEN AND TRANSPARENT PROCEDURE LAUNCHED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, AND A PRELIMINARY SELECTION TO IDENTIFY THE CANDIDATE BEST SUITED IN TERMS OF MERIT, COMPETENCE AND EXPERIENCE RELEVANT FOR CIVIL AVIATION. A shortlist of candidates was then proposed to the EASA Management Board to make its selection.
The Management Board selection process was concluded in Cologne on December 13.
The next step is for the selected candidate to make a presentation to the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN). This is currently expected to take place on January 22, 2024, and a notice of formal appointment to the role is planned for February 15. The actual start date remains to be confirmed.
The selected candidate will replace Luc Tytgat, who is currently serving as Acting Executive Director. Tytgat took over as head of the Agency on September 1, 2023, succeeding Patrick Ky, who vacated the Executive Director post on August 31 when his 10-year mandate expired.
EASA is the centrepiece of the European Commission’s aviation strategy, ensuring that aviation is safe for passengers and meets their expectations in all other respects. In addition to its primary responsibility for aviation safety, the Agency has a wide remit in increasing the sustainability of aviation. This has recently been reinforced by the assignment of NEW RESPONSIBILITIES AS PART OF THE REFUELEU AVIATION LEGISLATION, related in particular to the ramp-up of Sustainable Aviation Fuels. EASA is supporting innovation in Drones and Urban Air Mobility and all other areas of aviation. The Agency celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023.
