Story ID: 733
EBAA Bestows Service and Safety Awards
By: Mark Phelps
Caption: Two luminaries lauded for service to business aviation, and six companies take honors for accident-free records at EBACE 2017.
Word Count: 308
EBAA honored two supporters of business aviation with its 2017 European Business Aviation Awards on Monday. The honors went to Marian-Jean Marinescu, member of the European Parliament from Romania, and Carlo des Dorides, executive director of the European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency (GSA).

Marinescu was recognized for his contributions in “promoting the interests of business aviation in the European Parliament,” said EBAA CEO Brandon Mitchener, adding, “Mr. Marinescu helped to make the EBAA’s ‘Meet your MEP’ campaign a reality by hosting an insightful discussion with some of our Romanian members in his hometown of Craiova.” Marinescu is a member of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee.

des Dorides was honored as a strong supported of EBAA in its talks with the European commission, contributing key input to EBAA’s position paper on EGNOS. Mitchener said, “As executive director of the GSA, Mr. des Dorides sets the vision of the agency and ensures Europe’s satellite navigation systems are effectively operated, well maintained and secure.” He has nearly three decades of experience managing space-service focused teams.

EBAA also presented safety awards to noteworthy business aviation operators.

Six companies were honored. Cat Aviation received the Silver Safety of Flight Award, bestowed for 30 years or 60,000 hours of accident-free operation. FAI rent-a-jet won the Gold Award for 40 years or 80,000 hours of unblemished safety of flight. PrivatAir took the Platinum level safety award, having recorded at least 50 years or 100,000 hours of accident-free flying.

Three companies took Diamond Safety of Flight honors, given for more than 50 years or 100,000 hours of safe aviating. They were DC Aviation, Flying Group and Gama Aviation.

EBAA president Brian Humphries said, “By following safety best practices and achieving accident-free operations, these companies have proven to be admirable safety standard-bearers for the business aviation industry.”