Elena Mª Carrera, new Director of Aircraft Safety at AESA

• This body of the Agency is responsible for the oversight of the safety of air operations, airworthiness, the issuance of commercial permits to foreign operators, sustainability and operations with unmanned aircraft, among other functions.

Madrid, 30 March 2026 (AESA)

The State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) has appointed Elena María Carrera Toucedo as the new director of Aircraft Safety, after a career of more than fifteen years in the Agency.

His appointment, approved by the Board of Directors of AESA at its last meeting on March 19, was published last Saturday in the Official State Gazette (BOE).

Elena Mª Carrera is an aeronautical engineer at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, joining AESA after joining the State Aeronautical Engineering Corps in 2009. In the field of management, in 2021 he completed the Leadership Programme for Public Management at IESE and, in 2023, he participated in the Management Missions promoted by INAP.

She has developed her professional career in different areas of the Agency and, since 2019, has served as coordinator of the Aircraft Safety Directorate, promoting work in the areas of competence of this Directorate.

Within her career at AESA, she has been involved in the improvement of standards and efficiency in the supervision and inspection of organizations in the aeronautical sector, as well as in the development of different regulatory initiatives in the field of operations under national competence, such as firefighting or general aviation. For this reason, in 2023 she was recognized with the Icarus-Regulators Award of the Real Aeroclub de España (RACE) for her promotion of regulations for general aviation.

In addition, since 2025 it represents Spain in the Better Regulation group of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), responsible for improving the quality and efficiency of European aviation regulations without compromising safety.

The Directorate of Aircraft Safety (DSA) is the operational body of AESA responsible for the supervision of the safety of air operations, the airworthiness, both initial and continuous, with the essential support of the Offices of Flight Safety (OSV); the economic supervision of commercial air transport companies; the issuance of commercial permits to foreign operators; sustainability or operations with unmanned aircraft, among other functions. The Register of Aircraft Registration is also integrated within this Directorate.

After taking office, Elena Mª Carrera has reaffirmed her commitment to AESA and her vocation at the service of the sector: "I want to continue contributing to the safe and sustainable development of aviation in Spain, from a firm vocation of public service. It is an honor to work hand in hand with the great team of AESA, listening and supporting their work, because they are the true engine of that continuous improvement in safety and competitiveness of our sector.