News
IS-BAO receives European standards recognition

Aug. 27, 2009 – On August 25, 2009, The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) announced that the IS-BAO – an International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations – has been granted official European recognition as an industry standard for business aircraft operations. This recognition was achieved through a CEN Workshop Agreement (CAW). CEN (European Committee for Standardization) is the official standards setting body of the European Union and CEN Workshop Agreements are one of their principle standards products. The IS-BAO CWA involved a 10-month open process that was managed by the Nederlands Normalisatie-instituut (NEN) and involved business aviation and regulatory authority representatives.

This official endorsement will facilitate recognition of the IS-BAO in the upcoming EASA Implementing Rules. "EASA is pleased with the efforts that IBAC and EBAA made to have the IS-BAO recognized as a European Standard. This action will enable an operator’s IS-BAO registration to be recognized within the proposed EASA Implementing Rules system,” said Jules Kneepkens, EASA Rulemaking Director.

It is anticipated that non-commercial operators of complex motor-powered aircraft will be able to use their IS-BAO registration in their declaration to the civil aviation authorities as the means they use to meet the regulatory requirements and their associated responsibilities. It is also anticipated that national regulatory authorities will take into account IS-BAO registration in their regulatory oversight of business aviation operators engaged in commercial operations.

Brian Humphries, EBAA President and Chief Executive Officer commented, “The ISBAO was developed as a professional safety code of practice for business aviation operators and we encourage those operators to move forward with IS-BAO implementation so that they will be ready for the upcoming EASA Implementing Rules.”

Because a Safety Management System (SMS) will be required of all commercial operations and operators of complex motor-powered aircraft engaged in noncommercial operations, the IS-BAO includes an SMS Toolkit that can be used to develop an appropriate and effective safety management system. The SMS Toolkit is also available as a standalone product and can likewise be requested through IBAC and its Member Associations.

“An effective SMS enhances the safety, efficiency and effectiveness of flight operations, – it should save you money, not cost you money,” said Don Spruston, IBAC Director General.

For further information, please contact IBAC Director General, Don Spruston at dspruston@ibac.org or 1-604-614-5459, or IBAC Director Regulatory Affairs, Ray

Rohr at rayrohr@telusplanet.net or 1-780-915-6972.