The European Cockpit Association (ECA) has hired a new Secretary General, Philip von Schöppenthau, who took up his functions on January 3, 2005. This will reinforce ECA's representation of European flight crew community's interests in EU aviation policy-making.

Philip's focus will be threefold: preventing that future new EU rules on Flight Time Limitations threaten passengers' safety; ensuring successful EU-US Open Sky negotiations while safeguarding social conditions; and continuing ECA's contributions to the European Commission, EASA, EUROCONTROL and other relevant bodies in their task to keep European aviation safe, secure and sustainable.

ECA Chairman, Teppo T. Tyrmi, stressed that the Aviation industry will see a dramatic revolution in the next years. "Having Philip on board, who has extensive experience in European Affairs, will ensure that our flight crew community plays a proactive and central role in the shaping the future of aviation in Europe and beyond."

Philip von Schöppenthau added: "the future restructuring and growth of the aviation industry and the legislative and regulatory changes ahead will require the expertise and full involvement of the flight crew community. It is with the aim of flight safety, security and sustainability that ECA will represent pilots' interests in the enlarged European Union. Preventing the deterioration of social conditions and keeping flight safety standards at the highest level are our primary concerns."

Philip started as ECA Secretary General on 3 January 2005, representing 35.000 European pilots at EU and intergovernmental level. Before joining ECA, he worked as senior Public Affairs consultant for a major Brussels-based consultancy (since 1999) and as policy advisor for a European business association (1996). Born in Germany, he has a French-German university education and holds a Ph.D. in European affairs.

See Press Release (PDF)