About us

Jules Kneepkens

Jules has worked in Aviation in senior management positions in National and International aviation Authorities. He has been Director of Civil Aviation in the Netherlands, Director General of Civil Aviation in Belgium and Director Rulemaking at the European Aviation Safety Agency ( EASA). Since 2 years Jules  is advising Authorities and Companies  issues like EU/EASA Regulatory Structure and regulations, preparation for ICAO USOAP audits, establish civil aviation authorities and introduce the Total Aviation system in regulations and organisations.

Almost three decades Jules has been involved in policy making in his various positions, re-structuring Aviation Authorities, oversight of operators/airports/ANSPs and manufactures, Security, privatisation of Airports, developing of Safety, Economic and Environmental national and International regulations.  As Director  Civil Aviation in the Netherlands Jules took the initiative to set up the training organisation JAA TO in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands.

During his Rulemaking directorship at EASA he was, besides having the responsibility for the developing of new EU/EASA safety regulations also responsible for the EASA International Department (work on establishing safety working arrangements with Non-EU states , Technical Cooperation projects) and for the EASA legal department.
Jules has also been over the years Vice-President of EUROCONTROL, Board member of EASA, JAA Board and Chair of the ICAO-IFFAS fund.  Jules has always had a pro-active attitude to find out where the aviation system could improve in safety and increase the efficiency.

Jules has been an Advisor of the Aviation Academy of the University of Amsterdam and I assistant Professor at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

RAY ELGY

Ray started his career as an undergraduate apprentice with British Airways, gaining aircraft maintenance engineer licences for airframe and engines, and an Honours degree in Air Transport Engineering.  Ray also obtained a Private Pilot’s Licence at this time. After spending some time in British Airways’ Technical Services working on the B747 and Concorde fleets, he moved to British Caledonian Airways as a Senior Development Engineer.

In 1989, Ray joined the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s Safety Regulation Group as a Design Surveyor where, amongst a number of significant certification projects, he was the Project Certification Manager for the Rolls-Royce Trent 700 and 800 engines. He was appointed as Head of the Propulsion Department in 2001 and moved on to become Head of the Aerodrome Standards Department in 2005. During his time in this role he was appointed Chairman of the European Group of Aerodrome Safety Regulators (GASR). In 2009, he was appointed as Head of Licensing & Training Standards Division where he was responsible for a number of departments overseeing personnel licensing, aerodrome safety, medical standards for pilots and air traffic controllers, and training and examination standards for pilots and engineers. Ray left the CAA in 2014 and is now Director of a number of companies providing consultancy and training services to the aviation sector.

Ray has worked extensively in the International and European aviation regulatory regime in various roles, working regularly with the UK’s Department for Transport in the provision of specialist advice on matters of policy. He continues to work as a consultant providing input to EASA’s regulatory development.

He is a Chartered Aeronautical Engineer, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a member of the Institute of Directors, and has written leading articles for major aviation magazines

ERIK W. HUIZINGA

the Netherlands, Groningen, 1956

Former teacher Dutch language and literature, commercial pilot,  aviation policy advisor; various management positions in leading aviation bound organizations;

founder/owner/producer of RTV- & Filmprodukties  (1986) and the Studiohuyz (2001), Hilversum, the Netherlands. Accredentials + More, USA (2013).

Huizinga is known as format designer/producer/director of well received and internationally awarded (TV-) programs for both public and commercial networks and the aviation industry in broadest sense.

New and predictive insights (2004) led to strong development from conventional TV-productions to the ultimate and endless possibilities of web based interactive television and innovative ICT-integration (focus on online educational post academic projects).

Full HD and 4K high end productions on broadcast level, compelling content, own software design on tamper proof authentication of (accredited) courses.

Owner of a full 4K equipped television studio in Hilversum, NL (Studiohuyz), a 4K mobile studio in the USA and a similar one in Europe.

Co-founder of TATA b.v. – 2017

Monica Ligtenberg

Since the very beginning I am involved with the TATA – Teases Aviation Training Academy. After my career in the airline industry, it is exiting to be part of the inspiring TATA team as Office Manager and to witness the future in aviation.