Damien Cazé replaces Patrick Gandil as director general of civil aviation

Patrick Gandil's term was exceptional for its length (almost 13 years) and above all for his widely recognised personal qualities: listening, passion and a sense of shared decisions, with a gentle and sure method. For the aeronautical federations, his term was very beneficial, with the creation of the General Light Aviation and Helicopter Mission (MALGH), which created a mediation space between an administration designed for airline aviation and the very varied practices of the CNFAS federations.

The partnership he formed with Maxime Coffin, the first director of the MALGH, left a lasting mark. With Patrick Amar afterwards and Pierre-Yves Huerre now, the MALGH has become an essential and lasting institution. As regards microlights, Patrick Gandil, who is himself a pilot, supported the growth of our activity by backing "L'ULM à la française" with its declarative system and by giving the Federation new means to carry out its actions. We often had the opportunity to thank him for it, even if we did not agree on everything.

The arrival of Damien Cazé in a context of exceptional crisis is a reminder that an administration is above all the extension of a ministerial will. The current Minister of Transport is a pilot, with excellent knowledge of all forms of aviation. This may be the opportunity to redefine together the priorities of the CNFAS federations: an ambitious youth policy, a strategy for defending and promoting airfields, reasoned and effective action on sustainable development avoiding conflation, and confirmed trust in the federations' role in organising their activities. There is a great deal of good work to be done, with the federations and other players. We offer our sincere best wishes for success to Damien Cazé in carrying out his term.

Sébastien Perrot

President of FFPLUM

Photo credit: DGAC