Bombardier Names Antonio Cortés as Recipient of 2020 Safety Standdown Award

Antonio Cortés has been named the 2020 winner of the influential Bombardier Safety Standdown Award, as selected by the Safety Standdown Advisory Council members. Cortés, a senior advisor (U.S., Canada, South America) for GMR Aviation Consulting, is a long-time supporter of Bombardier’s Safety Standdown, delivering presentations and teaching workshops, as well as serving as chair of the Advisory Council.

Cortés accepted the award on Oct. 21 during the virtually presented 24th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown. This award is presented annually to an aviation professional who has demonstrated exemplary dedication to improving aviation safety through the Safety Standdown principles of learn, apply and share.

Cortés was nominated by Safety Standdown vice chairman Ed Coleman for his outstanding leadership in aviation safety management over the course of his more than three-decade aviation career. At GMR Aviation Consulting, he offers aviation safety management, business processes and expert witnessing to clients worldwide. Cortés has a varied aviation background as both a military and airline pilot, as well as a safety officer. His various professional roles include air safety investigator, university professor teaching and researching safety and human factors and, most recently, director of safety for Mitsubishi Aircraft.

“On behalf of Bombardier, I wish to congratulate Antonio Cortés for his unwavering commitment not only to Safety Standdown, but also to promoting aviation safety and professionalism at all levels of our industry,” said Andy Nureddin, vice president, customer support, Bombardier Aviation. “Antonio perfectly embodies what the Safety Standdown Award stands for: celebrating individuals who are role models in the field and have made a real difference day-to-day.”

Bombardier’s Safety Standdown is one of the most comprehensive safety conferences in the industry. Due to the realities presented by COVID-19, this year’s event was held virtually, enabling more aviation professionals from around the world to take part in the event. This year’s theme, “Safety in Focus 20/20,” encourages aviation professionals and organizations to be even more aware of standards to put them on the path for a safer, more productive future.