Terms of Reference
Specialists' Committees

 



1. Introduction.

2. Tasks of a Specialists' Committee.

3. Structure and Regulations.

 

 
 

1. Introduction 

The Confederation of European Aerospace Societies (CEAS) was founded in 1992 and is constituted of eight aerospace societies from France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. CEAS has the objective to promote the interests of the constituent societies on a European scale and European aerospace activities internationally. Further, it intends to support the European Aerospace Community by promoting the highest standard of professional expertise and by facilitating the resolution of key issues which extend beyond the constraints of competitive commercial scenarios. To help realise the above objectives CEAS has instituted Specialists' Committees (SC) in specific technical fields. This document represents the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the different Specialists' Committees of CEAS.

 

 
  2. Tasks of a Specialists' Committee 

A Specialists' Committee is instituted to help realise the above CEAS objectives and to serve the scientific and engineering community in its specific technical field in the CEAS member states. To do so a Specialists' Committee should:

 

 
organise European (in one of the CEAS member states) conferences in the area of its technical field, preferably on a regular basis;

participate in the organisation of internacional conferences in the area of its technical field;

propose venues and subject areas and provide key technical/scientific speakers for such conferences;

organise European symposia and workshops, primarily open to members of the CEAS constituency;

publish an annual survey paper, highlighting progress in the CEAS member states in the SC technical field;

encourage and/or initiate the timely formulation of position papers on relevant subjects in its technical field;

encourage and/or initiate the writing of CEAS publications by selected outstanding experts on special subjects in its technical field;

offer short courses on appropriate subjects in its technical field and encourage such courses at universities to interest students in the field:

provide the CEAS Council with information on major technical or scientific develop which may have an impact on the European aerospace industry;

bestow a CEAS scientific and technical award to an outstanding researcher or scientist, or to a group of researchers and/or scientists (including non-CEAS members) at the occasion of its European conference. The award can be a joint award with other specialists' or technical committees in its technical field.

 

   3. Structure and Regulations

 
Membership
Membership of a Specialists' Committee is automatically open for at a maximum 2 (two) representativas from each CEAS member state. At invitation by the SC. outside (non-CEAS) members may serve on the Committee as an observer or contact person.

Chairman / Vice-Chairman
The SC elects its Chairman and Vice-Chairman with a two-third majority were each CEAS member state has one vote. Preferably, the chairmanship and vice-chairmanship rotate among the CEAS member states. Their terms will last 1 (one) year, renewable only once. A Vice-Chairman can become the next Chairman. The primary obligation of the Chairman (and Vice-Chairman) is to lead the SC towards best achieving its stated objectives, thereby promoting the overall CEAS objectives.

Subcommittees
The SC may institute special subcommittees (as a body inside the SC) if and when the need arises.

Meetings
Normally the SC wili hold two meetings per year at a venue decided by the SC, during which individual specialists in a specific area may be invited. These meetings will be called by the Chairman at least one month before they are held. The agenda will be drafted by the Chairman in dialogue with the Vice-Chairman. The Chairman is responsable for the drafting of the minutes and will provide them to the CEAS Programme Co-ordination Committee. Voting will occur with simple majority of those CEAS member states represented.

Relation to CEAS Bodies and Constitution
The SC shall be accountable to the CEAS Council through the CEAS Programme Co-ordination Committee (PCC). To this end the SC shall report, preferably twice yearly, to the PCC on their planned future activities. In order to have a true European harmonisation of CEAS activities, the SC shall be open to suggestions of the PCC as to arranging date and location of their activities. In case of any incompatibility or contradiction between a SC-ToR and any future CEAS Constitution, the Constitution will prevail and the SC-ToR will be modified accordingly.