WIREDGOV

The Secretary of State for Transport has appointed Gretchen Burrett as a member of the Board of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). She will take over as Group Director, Safety Regulation on 1 April 2010.

Ms Burrett is an internationally recognised expert in human factors in safety-critical systems. She is respected throughout the aviation industry for her knowledge and leadership of safety performance improvement. She trained with the US Air Force and developed expertise in human factors and safety management in the defence industry before joining NATS in 2000, where she is currently Group Director of Safety, a position she has held since April 2006.

As Group Director Safety Regulation at the CAA, Ms Burrett’s key tasks will include contributing to the continuous improvement of international safety standards in aviation and ensuring that CAA standards are achieved in a co-operative and cost-effective manner. The appointment is for four years and will initially be at a salary of £180,000 per year.

Notes to Editors

1. The CAA is responsible for the regulation of civil aviation in the United Kingdom and is the Government’s principal advisor on civil aviation matters. It has specific responsibility for aviation safety, consumer protection, airspace policy and the economic regulation of the industry. It is funded through the charges it makes on the industry that it regulates.

2. The Safety Regulation Group is the largest directorate of the CAA and is based at Gatwick. It assures air safety standards by working within the international and European regulatory framework, in partnership with the European Aviation Safety Agency. The group oversees the design, manufacture, operation and maintenance of aircraft, the competence of airlines, flight crews, air traffic controllers and maintenance engineers, and the safety of licensed aerodromes, air traffic services and general aviation activities.

3. Ms Burrett will replace Captain David Chapman as Group Director Safety Regulation. Her appointment does not come within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, but has been made using a process which took into account the Commissioner’s Code of Practice as best practice. Ms Burrett holds joint American/British citizenship; she has no political affiliations.

Press Enquires: 020 7944 3118 Out of Hours: 020 7944 4292 Public Enquiries: 0300 330 3000 Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk

Contacts:

Marine and Aviation
Phone: 020 7944 3118
Mobile: 020 7944 4292
nds.dft@coi.gsi.gov.uk