(Posted 01st August 2025)
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Mr. Bert Kraan founding father of the AviAssist Foundation, aviation consultant and tireless safety pioneer in the world of aviation.
Bert spent his early years in the Dutch East Indies and New Guinea, as the son of a government accountant. After attending secondary school (HBS) in The Hague, he enrolled at the Maritime Academy in Amsterdam. His first career began as a deck officer with the Royal Dutch Steamship Company, taking him to Central and South America. Due to his seafaring experience, he was exempted from military service.
In 1962, he set his sights on aviation. He voluntarily joined the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Aviation Service and trained on the Beechcraft T?7 Navigator. He later served as a navigator/observer on the Grumman S?2F Tracker aboard the aircraft carrier Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman. He later qualified as a jetfighter pilot. In that role and later flying Cessna Citation jets, he clocked 3.000 flying hours. In 1964, he married Tilly, and together they had two daughters. Later he transitioned to civil aviation, where he was involved in internationalization and implementation of new developments such as (CAT III) automatic landings, instrument flight procedures, satellite navigation, and the transport of dangerous goods. He finished his civil service career as deputy director of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Netherlands.
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. AviAssist embodies that partnership approach from the start: bringing together European & African expertise and resources to realise opportunities for safety improvements. Bert has always worked hard to ensure that he and AviAssist coordinate activities with ICAO and other stakeholders.
Image above: Bert (left) coordinating AviAssist activities at the ICAO Offices in Nairobi, Kenya with IATA’s Regional Director Safety Trevor Fox (right). AviAssist Director Tom Kok (middle) listens and learns
Although he could have comfortably retired at 65, Bert refused to slow down. He remained active for another fifteen years as an aviation consultant, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Only after his 80th birthday did he allow himself a well-earned (though too brief) rest. He remained in good health and sharp-minded well into his later years.
Bert was an aviation multi-talented professional – with experience on both sea and in the air, and a profound passion for technology, navigation, and consultancy. His career was one of service, adventure, and connection. He shared his knowledge across international settings and was known for his critical and operational insight, in combination with a gentle voice and an inspiring sense of humor.
We remember a man who was ahead of his time, who remained energetic and curious throughout his life – and who enriched the aviation world with his expertise and spirit. In some ways, he is an uncle or a father to all those involved with AviAssist, now and in the past.
Bert passed away on Wednesday the 30th of July after a short illness. His burial service will take place on the 7th of August in the Netherlands.
Any memories you want to share about your work with Bert or messages of condolences can be send to inmemoriam@aviassist.org – please indicate if you want your messages to be shared with his wife and daughters who would certainly appreciate that.
Rest in peace, Bert.
