Successful visit of General Dick Berlijn

NETHERLANDS CHIEF OF DEFENCE FLIES THE SKIES OVER  OTTAWA

On March 11, 2008, during a brief visit to Canada, the Netherlands Chief of Defence General Dick Berlijn, encountered a ‘surprise opportunity’ to fly the Canadian skies once again in a Beechcraft, a primary training aircraft, similar to the one he flew when he started his military pilot training in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba in 1973.

The Netherlands top soldier visited Canada for a number of official engagements with the Department of National Defence Headquarters in cooperation with the Bureau of General Rick Hillier, the Canadian Chief of Defence Staff. Furthermore, he participated in a round table discussion in Toronto within the framework of the joint engagement in Southern Afghanistan. The delegation also visited CAE in Montreal, where one of the newest flight simulators of this company was tested by the General. The visit of General Berlijn positively contributed to the bilateral relations between The Netherlands and Canada.

General Dick Berlijn has been Chief of the Netherlands Defence since September 2005 and fulfilled various positions at senior levels in the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Prior to becoming the Netherlands top soldier he served as Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. On April 17 (2008) General Berlijn will handover command of the Netherlands Armed Forces to General Peter van Uhm.

General Berlijn started his military career as an Air Force fighter pilot in Canada. At the Canada Aviation Museum he had a close encounter with his past flying career. He happily put on the pilot jacket, handed over by Lieutenant Colonel Henri Schevers, before boarding the small airplane.