IS-BAO Substantiates Wide Recognition as the Global Standard for Business Aircraft Operators

Montreal, Canada, 15 December 2009 – The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) announced a new milestone for the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) with the 200th operator achieving IS-BAO Certificate of Registration, demonstrating implementation of the business aircraft industry’s gold standard for safety operations.  IS-BAO was conceived by business aviation associations from around the world as a safety standard for all business aircraft operations, small and large, including operators of corporate fixed and rotary wing aircraft and commercial on-demand operations.

The IS-BAO was developed by the business aircraft industry for the benefit of the industry in recognition of the need for a single global industry supported safety standard that facilitates international harmonization and common application of industry best practices. Over 100 flight departments were involved in development and testing between 1999 and 2002.  Since IS-BAO launch in 2002, a Standards Board consisting of business aircraft operators (including maintenance and training managers) have ensured the safety standard is dynamic and continuously current with best practices and international regulatory requirements.

Since launch in 2002, IS-BAO has increasingly been accepted by companies and government agencies as the gold standard for business aircraft operations.  Over 900 copies of the standard are in circulation, and this month the number of operators achieving Certificate of Registration surpassed 200. The IS-BAO Certificate of Registration signifies that a third party accredited auditor has verified that the flight department has met the IS-BAO standard.  Many benefits to the operator are gained such as recognition by the company CEO and Board, pride in achievement, and of course, potential for reduction in insurance rates.

Other IS-BAO achievements since inception include:

• *  Recognition by the President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO);
• *  Implementation of a Safety Management System that has become the model program for other SMS developments;
• *  Acceptance as a European Standard by the European Standardization Committee (CEN);
• *  Recognition by State Civil Aviation Authorities around the world as a quality safety standard that can be accepted as demonstrating safety compliance;
• *  Global acceptance, with business aviation flight departments gaining Certificates of Registration from:  USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Bermuda, Singapore, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Greece, Brazil, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Malaysia, Australia and UAE.
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For further information, please contact Kathy Perfetti, IBAC Standards Manager at IS-BAO@ibac.org and Ruth Tostevin, MEBAA Marketing & Events Manager at ruth.tostevin@mebaa.com.