Suren Meras has been promoted to FlightSafety International’s senior director of operations. Meras will be responsible for customer support and media technology management operations. He joined FlightSafety in 2007 as assistant center manager and director of training at its Toronto learning center. Previously he was chief pilot, head of training and JAA senior examiner at Tyrolean Airways.
Morton Beyer & Agnew, an aviation consultantcy, has promoted Kim Seward to head of helicopters to focus on analyzing and valuing the rotorcraft market. She is an ISTAT-certified appraiser. The company also promoted Lindsey Webster, also a certified ISTAT appraiser, as the company’s VP of asset valuations.
Larry Roberts has been appointed Kopter Group’s SVP of U.S. business development. Based in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, he is responsible for the sales and marketing of the SH09 in North America. Roberts previously worked at what is now Airbus Helicopters Inc. and Bell. He served as captain of criminal investigations for the Citrus County, Florida, Sheriff’s Department and as patrolman and watch commander with the Gainesville, Florida, Police Department before his aviation career.
FreeFlight Systems VP of sales and marketing, Pete Ring, has been elected to the Aircraft Electronic Association’s board of directors. Commonly referred to as “the ADS-B expert,” he is known for NextGen technology implementation.
Wayne Fry, FAA flight standards division manager for General Aviation Safety Assurance, has been named the new government co-chairman of the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team. Fry oversees nine general aviation offices with an emphasis on helicopters. He was at the FAA for 20 years and previously worked in the oil and gas industry for operator Air Logistics in maintenance and quality assurance.
Dallas Airmotive has appointed Keith Moreland as the company’s rotorcraft regional engine manager for technical and sales support among operators in the eastern U.S. His previous work was at Rotorcraft Services Group, Uniflight and Airbus Helicopters. He is a licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic.
Airbus Helicopters and Safran Helicopter Engines have new CEOs. Former Safran Helicopter Engines CEO Franck Saudo replaces Airbus Helicopters CEO Guillaume Faury, who moves to president of Airbus Commercial Aircraft. Read more here.
Louise Robertshaw as been appointed London’s Air Ambulance’s director of marketing and communications. She comes from Guide Dogs where she was head of communications and campaigns.
Corporate Service Supply & Manufacturing has appointed Scott Ashton as president and CEO. Ashton served as president of Associated Aircraft Group. He holds a degree in aero engineering, a Master’s degree in engineering and an MBA in finance.
Kenny Morrow has been appointed Metro Aviation’s COO to manage the company’s daily operations. He began at Metro in 1995 and was previously director of finance and business development. He has a degree in business and accounting and an MBA.
The Abingdon Foundation has awarded Holly Gardel with a trip to Heli-Expo last month in an effort to introduce more women pilots to the rotorcraft industry. The foundation’s president, Abingdon Mullin, founded The Abingdon Watch Co. in 2007. In 2011, she began offering an annual scholarship to bring a woman to the Women in Aviation Conference.
Thales and Safran, shareholders of Sofradir Group, appointed Jean-Francois Delepau as its new chairman. He was previously managing director of Sofradir’s ULIS. He will oversee all defense, aerospace and commercial market operations of Sofradir’s companies. RWI
