Solairus Aviation Awarded IS-BAO Certification
Growing Private Aviation Management Firm Achieves International Recognition
Solairus Aviation today became the first business jet charter company in 2010 to secure the highly respected International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) certification, marking the latest in a series of milestone achievements by this leading business aircraft management charter company. Solairus is only the 33 air charter operator in the US to achieve full IS-BAO certification.
The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) introduced the IS-BAO program in 2002 as an industry code of practice to foster standardized, safe and highly professional aircraft operations. Today IS-BAO is recognized by aviation authorities worldwide as the highest standard for safety, security and efficiency in business aircraft operations. The program provides a quality management approach to analyzing, controlling and mitigating risk via performance based-standards and guidance protocols for the operator’s Safety Management System (SMS), including management structure, training programs, operating procedures, and manuals.
“IS-BAO certification is a fitting capstone to a remarkable first year for Solairus,” said CEO Dan Drohan. “Since March of 2009 we have grown to a fleet of more than 40 business turbine aircraft nationwide, earned our ARG/US Platinum rating and obtained international operations approval for large aircraft carrying 10 or more passengers. Our successful IS-BAO audit demonstrates Solairus’ uncompromising commitment to safety and the fundamental quality of the team we have in place at the company. Solairus’ IS-BAO audit ensures that our management and charter clients will have safe and uninterrupted access to airports the world over.”
IS-BAO certification requires a complete third-party audit by an IBAC accredited auditor. Solairus selected Aviation Research Group/US (ARG/US), one of the leaders in aviation safety auditing. “The IS-BAO standard mandates that safety will not be compromised under any circumstances,” said ARG/US president Joe Moeggenberg, “which is why ARG/US sends a team of trained and accredited operations and maintenance experts, rather than a single auditor, to meticulously review IS-BAO candidates. We thoroughly examined all Solairus’ safety and operational practices, and found that it met or exceeded all standards set by IBAC as well as ICAO. “In fact,” Moeggenberg added, “they did so with zero discrepancies – a first in ARG/US’ extensive IS-BAO audit experience.”
Comparable to ISO-9000, IS-BAO is the result of collaboration between the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and aviation organizations like the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) throughout the world. The European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the official standards-setting organization within Europe, is expected to grant IS-BAO official European recognition as, “Business Aircraft Operations – Code of practice for the management of commercial (charter) operations with complex motor-powered aircraft.”
“Safety is the single most important operating rule for IS-BAO-certified business aircraft operators,” said Jake Cartwright, Solairus Vice Chairman, “which aligns perfectly with our three primary commitments to our clients – uncompromising safety, superior service and outstanding fleet economies of scale – and always in that order.”
The IS-BAO Certificate of Registration is valid for two years.