Brandon Mitchener, the veteran journalist and communications executive who took the reins of the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) on April 3 as CEO, is hoping to elevate the association’s outreach and communications efforts to regulators and the public.

He said the opportunity to join EBAA was serendipitous, since he had developed a desire to move into the association realm after spending 25 years in the corporate world, leading communications in Europe with companies such as Monsanto and First Solar and writing for publications such as The Wall Street Journal.

In those roles, he was introduced to business aviation, having the opportunity to fly aboard charter aircraft for assignments or when arranging a charter for a company event. Those experiences drove home the utility of business aviation, he said.

Mitchener said he still has to evaluate long-term goals, but stressed: “I wasn’t brought in to fix things. EBAA has done many things well.” However, one area targeted for improvement is communications. Noting frustrations he hears from members about dealing with national regulators, he believes EBAA must do more industry outreach. Mitchener said the association must particularly stress the various niches of the industry. It is easy for regulators to dismiss jets as luxuries, but it is less easy to deny a slot, limit access or restrict operations of aircraft carrying donor organs or on key scientific missions.

He is targeting other issues that might need additional resources, such as Brexit, and believes that the association must also increase its focus on helicopters.

Another change ahead, he highlighted, is plans to hire a COO with a strong background in safety and operations, further strengthening the level of expertise at the association.