Honors Presented At EBACE In Geneva

The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and NBAA have announced that David McMillan, director general of Eurocontrol, and Don Spruston, director general of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), are the recipients of the 2012 European Business Aviation Awards.

The honors were presented during an awards luncheon on May 14, the opening day of the 12th Annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2012), the only European exhibition focusing solely on business aviation.

McMillan and Spruston both were honored for their outstanding service to the business aviation industry.

In presenting the first award, EBAA Chairman Rodolfo Baviera stated that McMillan "has been a true friend to business aviation for a number of years." Since McMillan became its director general in January 2008, Eurocontrol has produced a number of studies pointing to the industry’s value. As just one example, a 2009 report highlighted the fact that with business aviation, many cities have a lifeline for commerce that they would not otherwise have.

McMillan's perspectives about business aviation draw from decades working in Europe’s transportation sector. Prior to joining Eurocontrol, he held a range of posts in the UK Department of Transport, including a variety of positions focusing on domestic and international aviation policies. He also has served as vice president of the European Civil Aviation Conference and the spokesman for Europe on aviation and environment at the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The second award recipient, Don Spruston, is an esteemed business aviation leader who has been responsible for shaping many of the advances in today’s business aviation industry – from best practices in safety to international flight operations – as the director general of the International Business Aviation Council from 1999 to the present.

Under Spruston's leadership, IBAC has effectively advocated for the interests and concerns of business aviation before the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the global standard-setting body for civil aviation around the world. For example, one key milestone in the history of IBAC was the development of new safety standards for Annex 6, Part 2 of the Chicago Convention governed by ICAO. That annex addresses the modernization of operational rules and safety for general aviation worldwide, and its development owes much to Spruston's leadership.

In his presentation to Spruston during the awards luncheon, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said, "Simply put, the global business aviation community would not be the same without people like Don Spruston. He has been a tremendous advocate and leader in promoting the industry’s agenda and furthering its cause."

The annual European Business Aviation Awards have been given since the inception of EBACE in 2001.

FMI: www.ebace.aero