AIMÉE TURNER WINS ERA JOURNALISM AWARD, OLAF DLUGI RECEIVES HONOURS

10/10/2008

An article on the subject of human factors in maintenance has won Aimée Turner, senior editor, Flight International, the Hank McGonagle Journalism Award 2008/9 from the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).

The Award was presented by Mike Ambrose, director general, ERA, at a prestigious Awards Ceremony in Manchester, UK last night, as part of the Association’s annual General Assembly.

Commenting on the win, Mike Ambrose, Director General, ERA said: “By focusing on the human factor element within aircraft maintenance, Aimée has highlighted one of the most important aspects of the issue of just culture and no-penalty reporting, an initiative which ERA has pioneered since the 1990s. We saw this article as a forerunner for many others on this topic as this issue becomes increasingly and progressively important.”

Introduced in 2002, the ERA Journalism Award is named after Hank McGonagle of GE-Aviation who recognised the important role played by the media in influencing the framework for the development of intra-European air transport. The Award recognises excellent, accurate and discerning reporting on topical issues related to the intra-European air transport industry. The winner is selected by the ERA Directorate.

Olaf Dlugi was honoured with the ERA Director General’s Commendation for services to the industry. The trophy was presented by Pat Ryan, director of operations of the Irish Aviation Authority which sponsors the award. Commenting on the honour, Mike Ambrose, ERA director general said:

“For more than two years, as Chair of the SESAR project, Olaf has played a pivotal role in the biggest infrastructure project that international air transport has had to face worldwide. His personal leadership skills have earned him the respect of all stakeholders and regulators. Real leadership can be described as making people who have no wish to go anywhere, enthusiastic to get to where they do not want to be. Olaf has been conspicuously successful in doing this.”

ENDS