IFPA
INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION for PUBLIC AVIATION
About us
The International Foundation for Public Aviation (IFPA) is an independent and non-profit organisation established under Belgian law. We are committed to providing with the highest standards of professionalism and independence, on a non-commercial basis, sustainable legal and institutional solutions for public aviation in Europe and beyond. The IFPA consists of selected and qualified legal and institutional professionals with an average expertise and experience of more than 30 years in Air & Space Law, International & European Law, Air Transport, Air Traffic Management and Civil/Military aviation.
Our Senior team
Roderick van Dam
IFPA president Roderick van Dam brings over 38 years of legal & institutional expertise in the field of civil aviation to our organization. Before co-founding the IFPA, Roderick was Head of the Legal Service and chief Counsel at the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL), served as Senior Legal Officer at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and is the former Head of Legal Service at Netherlands Civil Aviation Authority.
Eric Kroese
Eric Kroese started his 40+ years career in aviation as a commercial pilot. He worked in aircraft engines, commercial aircraft and air traffic management. He was CEO of LVNL, the air navigation service provider of the Netherlands for 10 years, served as vice chair on the executive committee of CANSO, the worldwide organisation of ANSPs and chaired its European branch. In this capacity he was closely involved in the Single European Sky program of the European Commission from the very start. He was co-initiator of FABEC, the functional airspace block that unites the airspaces of Benelux, France, Germany and Switzerland into one seamless airspace. He represented the Netherlands in various international organisations and institutions, like Eurocontrol and EASA.
Professor Peter Haanappel
Peter Haanappel has a keen and long standing interest in the legal and institutional aspects of international civil aviation. He acquired his experience and expertise in this domain, academically as a professor at McGill University and Leiden University, and practically as a senior staff member at the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Ian Weston
Ian Weston entered professional aviation in the late 1960s, working at the London Air Traffic Control Centre, the UK’s ATS investigation team where he worked on the Lockerbie disaster, UKCAA’s Senior Management Group as the Head of the Safety Investigation & Data Department, Head of Aviation Regulation Enforcement, and as Chief Security Adviser to the CAA where he also acted as the CAA’s Director of Public Prosecutions. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in recognition of his achievements in aviation and sits on the Eurocontrol Just Culture task Force.
Dr. Ronald Schnitker
Dr. Ronald Schnitker has been working in the field of aviation law enforcement for over 30 years. He served as Commanding Police Officer at the Aviation Investigation Department of the Dutch National Police Force, and later as Director Legal Affairs at Eindhoven Airport. He currently owns a law practice, specialized in Aviation Law. Next to practicing law, Ronald Schnitker participates in several expert groups (Dutch Safety Board, Fédération Aéronautique Internationale). He has been appointed Vice-President of the Royal Netherlands Aeronautical Association and has published widely, particularly on Aviation Accident Investigation and Enforcement of Aviation Law.