A Dutch native, Gerard van Es holds a BSc and MSc in aerospace engineering. He has an extensive background in aviation first with KLM (flight operations), followed by Fokker Aircraft (aerodynamics) and later with the National Aerospace Center (NLR) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands as principle consultant flight operations and flight safety.

His current and past activities encompass a wide variety of aviation related topics on areas such as accident/incident investigation, safety assessments, flight data analysis, runway-tire friction, runway texture analysis using surface laser scanners, data mining, aircraft performance analysis, and aircraft traffic control safety.

Gerard participated in numerous international working groups on aviation safety such as the ICAO Safety Indicator initiative, the FSF runway safety initiative, the Runway incursion and excursion prevention working group, the Airlines Risk Management Solutions (ARMS) Working Group and many more.