LONDON -- Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon and Defence Secretary John Hutton have appointed Air Commodore Mark Swan as a member of the Board of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). He will take over as Director of Airspace Policy on March 1, 2009, when the term of office of the present Director, John Arscott, comes to an end.

Air Commodore Swan is a serving RAF officer with almost 30 years experience of aviation. A former fast jet pilot, he has served in a range of operational and staff positions, and is currently Director of Operational Capability at the Ministry of Defence.

As Director of Airspace Policy, Air Commodore Swan's key tasks will include taking decisions on changes to airspace in the UK and leading CAA engagement on the Single European Sky initiative.