Mar 18, 2010 10:49 GMT Department for Transport: New Assistant Chief of the Air Staff appointed to the Board of the Civil Aviation Authority

The Secretary of State for Transport has today appointed Air Vice-Marshal Barry North OBE MA RAF to the Board of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), on the nomination of the Secretary of State for Defence. He replaces AVM Tim Anderson, whom he succeeded as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff on 1 March 2010.

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 airspace policy, aviation safety, consumer protection and the economic regulation of the industry. AVM North will act as a non-executive member of the Authority, with particular responsibility for national security matters. His role at the CAA is unsalaried.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. Air Vice-Marshal North joined the RAF in 1982 and trained as a transport helicopter pilot. He flew Wessex, Pumas and Chinooks and saw service in Northern Ireland and the Falkland Islands. He became Senior RAF Officer Northern Ireland in 2003 and after promotion to Air Commodore in 2006 took command of all UK air operations within the Gulf region and Afghanistan. After a period overseeing RAF planning activity he was promoted to Air Vice- Marshal in 2009, becoming Air Officer Commanding 22 Group and Chief of Staff Training at HQ Air Command.

2. As Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, AVM North is a member of the Air Force Board and Head of the Service’s Operations Support Branch. His primary responsibilities range across the development of the ’s strategy, including leading the MoD’s Through Life Capability Management process for aircraft and leading the Service’s engagement in annual financial planning rounds. He is the Release to Service Authority for all Royal Air Force aircraft and is Chairman of the MoD’s Military Aviation Regulation and Safety Board.

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