Patrick Ky, SESAR’s Executive Director, has been appointed as Director of EASA, the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Ky has been an integral driver in the set-up and execution of Europe’s first ambitious air traffic management modernisation programme. “This is great news for Patrick but of course the organisation, and in particular Vice- President Kallas, is disappointed to see him go. Patrick has been invaluable to the successful accomplishment of every step of this Joint Undertaking and we are sad to lose him, however, we can at least revel in the fact that he will not be too far away, ” says Matthias Ruete, Director-General Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), European Commission and Chairman of the Administrative Board of SESAR.

“It has been a privilege to lead SESAR’s incredibly talented people through times of great challenge and great opportunity. I am extraordinarily proud of what we have accomplished together and I am confident that my departure will not jeopardize the future of SESAR. The team is ready, prepared and skilled to face future challenges and build on the good work that has already been achieved. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with SESAR in my new position – which, after all shares a common objective,” says Patrick Ky on his new engagement.

Indeed, the team at SESAR sees his appointment as a compliment and strong recognition of the important work being delivered to date. “On behalf of the team at SJU and personally, I would like to congratulate Patrick for his new high level and key position. I can already say that we will miss his leadership and friendship in the SJU,” said Carlo Borghini, Deputy Executive Director, Administration and Finance at SESAR.

The effectiveness of the appointment will be communicated at a later stage although it is already expected that he will start at EASA in early September.  SESAR’s Chairman, Matthias Ruete, stresses that “the organisation is confident that our recruitment process will identify a new leader who will bring SESAR to the next stage of its important journey and development. An official announcement on the recruitment process for his successor will be announced in the coming weeks.”