Death of Yves Lambert
Yves Lambert, honorary member of our Academy, passed away on March 27, 2021.
A former student of the Ecole Polytechnique (X56) and then of the National School of Civil Aviation (ENAC), he devoted his entire career to the field of civil aviation, especially in international positions of very high responsibility. His debut in Algeria in 1961 quickly led him to head the Aeronautical Management and Safety Organization (OGSA), which had to manage the transition between the French and Algerian administrations. He returned to France in 1968 in the Directorate of Air Navigation, then was a member of the cabinet of transport ministers Raymond Mondon, and Jean Chamant. In 1972 he was France’s representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal.
In 1976 he was elected Secretary-General of ICAO, a position he held for 12 years, which was exceptional. Returning to France in 1988, he was Director of Air Navigation for 5 years, and in 1994 was appointed Director-General of EUROCONTROL in Brussels, an organisation from which he increased the number of member states from 15 to 29, and where he helped the European Commission launch the concept of “Single European Sky”. Having retired in 2000, he leaves to all those who have rubbed shoulders with him the memory of an outstanding diplomat, very attentive to everyone, warm and courteous, with whom it was particularly pleasant to work. Yves Lambert was an Officer of the Legion of Honour, Commander of the National Order of Merit, and of the Order of Leopold (Belgium), medalist in aeronautics and in 1997 he received the “Glen Gilbert Award”, awarded by the Association of American Controllers (ATCA). Finally, Yves Lambert was a member of the Air and Space Academy and the Royal Aeronautical Society (UK).
