Ir. H.W.C.L. Schoevers

The passion for aviation started during military service where Herry Schoevers was an Air traffic controller. He had his maiden flight in the Harvard, S11 and S14. In 1956 he studied Aerospace Engineering in Delft, graduating in 1963. He became vice-president in 1960, and in 1961 the President of the VSV ‘Leonardo da Vinci’. At that time, as KLM employee, he made his graduation assignments at the Scientific Bureau of KLM. In following years, Schoevers was assigned to different positions within KLM Technical Services, he was chief Maintenance and chief Central Engineering. In 1967/1968 he was posted in Venezuela as Technical Assistant at VIASA, partner of KLM. Especially as Chief Engineering he had a great international network. Special was the KSSU cooperation consortium with KLM, SAS, SwissAir and UTA, but the most satisfying job was as technical expert within KLM. His last job at KLM was Chief Helicopters, from 1988 to 1994, which later merged with the American Helicopter company ERA. This proved to be a fascinating company that facilitated the transport from and to the oil platforms, starting with transport in the North Sea region, later operating under UN command. After retirement, he joined the board of the KNVvL and the European small private aviation, as secretary-general of the Europe Air Sports, the head organization of National Airsport Federations. Within that organization, he was involved with the regulations organized by the European Aviation Authorities EASA and Eurocontrol. At his parting, he received the Medal in Gold of the KNVvL and the Diplôme Paul Tissandier of the FAI. In 1998/1999 he had an advising role within the Ukranian Airliner Aerosweet. In 2009 he parted the aviation business. Schoevers had served in all sectors of the operational aviation: military, the large commercial airliners, helicopter sector as well as small and sports aviation. Since then, only the relation with the VSV ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ has remained active.