Photo by garten-gg from Pixabay

There are many reasons to fly private instead of commercial. Some of those include comfort and a reduced travel time. For many, however, safety plays an important role in their decision to fly on a private jet charter instead of even first class on a commercial jet. West Palm Jet Charter values the safety of its passengers and seeks to work with only the safest possible crew and aircraft.

One of the rating systems that West Palm Jet Charter accepts is IS-BAO. But what exactly is IS-BAO and how do private jet charter passengers know how it keeps them safe?

What Is IS-BAO?

IS-BAO stands for International Standards for Business Aircraft Operation. The IBAC, or International Business Aviation Council, established the IS-BAO in order to provide a set of best practices for operators and flight departments across the world. The intention was to create an industry standard that would keep flight operators running at the highest levels of both professionalism and safety.

The FAA recognizes the IS-BAO standards as meeting ICAO requirements and encourages business aviation operators to meet IS-BAO requirements.

What Is IBAC?

The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) is an international non-profit organization that seeks to promote the growth of the business aviation industry. The IBAC is an official observer for ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) and advocates worldwide for business aviation. It also is the promoter of the IS-BAO set of voluntary aviation standards.

IS-BAO Qualifications

There are many requirements that aviation operators must meet in order to qualify for IS-BAO. Aircraft operators seeking to qualify for IS-BAO standards must meet IBAC’s requirements regarding the following:

• SMS (safety management system)
• Personnel
• Organization
• Standard operating procedures
• Flight operations
• Training programs
• International airspace operations
• Aircraft maintenance
• A company operations manual
• Aircraft equipment
• An emergency response plan
• Occupational health and safety
• Environmental management
• Security
• Dangerous goods transportation
• Fatigue management

Any operator must prove that they meet all of the IBAC’s requirements for each of the above items. Plus, there’s an audit that focuses on developing the operator’s SMS in three different stages.

Stage One

Stage One involves confirming that the operator has SMS infrastructure in place. It also checks to make sure that all supporting safety standards are being met and that safety management activities are appropriately being carried out.

Stage Two

Stage Two of the IS-BAO audit involves ensuring that operators are appropriately targeting safety management activities. It also includes checking that the operator is effectively managing safety risks.

Stage Three

Stage three is the third and final stage of the IS-BAO audit process. The IBAC auditor verifies that the operator is sustaining a positive culture surrounding safety procedures. This stage of the audit process also involves verifying that the operator has fully integrated all safety management activities into their regular business practices and operations.

Recertification

IS-BAO certification isn’t just a one-time process. Aircraft operators must prove to IBAC that they are maintaining the safety standards required for IS-BAO certification. Stage Three of the audit and certification process must therefore be redone every three years to ensure that operators are maintaining the best practices and standards IBAC requires.