Marinus Heijl has joined the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA) as that organization’s first representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal (ICAO).

Heijl retired from ICAO last December after a 27-year career. He served as acting director and deputy director of the Air Navigation Bureau as well as chief of the Air Traffic Management Section.

Marion Blakey, president and CEO of the U.S. Aerospace Industries Association and chair of ICCAIA, said Heijl will provide a much needed voice for manufacturers at ICAO, the U.N. body governing civil aviation.

“Civil aviation is going through a transformational period as Europe and the United States both develop new air transportation systems and the industry addresses global climate change,” Blakey said. “Marinus brings a strong suite of skills to the table ensuring that the manufacturing industry is well represented.”

Heijl joined ICAO in 1980 as a technical officer and during his career managed the panel that demonstrated the feasibility of reduced vertical separation above Flight Level 290, now widely implemented. He was also a member of the ICAO fact-finding teams concerning the downing of several civil aircraft, including Korean Air Lines Flight 007 in 1983 and Iran Air Flight 655 in 1988.