Stéphane Jacques Succeeds Retiring Christian Briand

EADS Socata announced Monday the appointment of Stéphane Jacques as Chief Test Pilot for the general aviation manufacturer. He succeeds Christian Briand, who retired after a 40-year aviation career, including 19 years as EADS Socata’s test pilot – during which he logged more than 19,000 flight hours.

The 44-year-old Jacques joined EADS Socata in May 2007 as a test pilot, having completed a career with the French Air Force as lieutenant-colonel.

A military aviator and engineering graduate from the French Air Force Academy (class of 1986), he flew Mirage F1 combat aircraft within various squadrons at the Reims French Air Force Base. Then he was selected to follow the Test Pilot course after which he served at Cazaux flight test center.

Jacques’ experience includes serving as a Test Pilot Instructor at the prestigious EPNER French Test Pilot School in Istres, France, where he became the chief pilot in 2005.

Representatives with EADS Socata tell ANN Jacques has flown more than 67 aircraft types from fighter jets and commercial airliners to light aircraft, with a total of some 4,000 flight hours in his logbook.

FMI: www.socata.eads.com