In memoriam - Bert Kraan, father of AviAssist

The AviAssist Foundation was born out of a pioneering EuroAfrican collaboration in 1995. Then ICAO Air Navigation Commissioner Bert and Director General Lot Mollel from Tanzania came together to strengthen crucial safety infrastructure in Tanzania. During his time in ICAO, Bert was frustrated to see that technical cooperation and safety promotion was not affordable and he was determined to change that. The Foundation emerged from that initial project as an independent non-profit to ensure continuity of affordable safety promotion.

To this day, AviAssist embodies that partnership approach from the start: bringing together European & African expertise and resources to realise opportunities for safety improvements. Bert always worked hard to ensure that he and AviAssist coordinate activities with ICAO and other stakeholders.