April 11, 2013
In its ongoing effort to promote safety, the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) is presenting two full-day workshops on the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) in conjunction with the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE2013) in Shanghai, China, from April 16 to 18.
The Fundamentals of IS-BAO Workshop will be held on April 19, followed by the Auditor Accreditation Workshop on April 20.
IS-BAO is a voluntary multi-step process that raises the level of operator safety. It starts with a self-evaluation that compares a business aircraft operator’s current practices to the manual of best practices developed by flight departments on four continents. Implementation of those practices and a self-audit prepare the operator for a third-party audit should an operator wish to obtain a certificate of IS-BAO registration.
Business aircraft operators interested in earning an IS-BAO certificate of registration are not required to attend a workshop, said Jim Cannon, the program’s director, but it is the most efficient and economical way to get started. Presented in four modules, after introducing IS-BAO, the fundamentals workshop addresses safety management systems, standards and recommended practices and audit considerations.
It’s an interactive session, Cannon explained, where the participants can pose questions and get answers specific to their operation. Individuals seeking initial or recurrent accreditation as third-party IS-BAO auditors attend the fundamentals workshop in preparation for the workshop on this topic the following day. Companies that want to establish their own internal program can attend the audit session as well.
There are many benefits to complying with IS-BAO’s voluntary safety standards, ranging from self-education to learning from peers, assisting in the creation or growth of flight departments and increasing the level confidence in the flight department among its passengers and the board of directors. Perhaps the most important benefit is the operator’s biennial recertification.
Safety is a dynamic process, said Cannon, and IS-BAO keeps pace with new operational requirements, procedures and technology.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.