Global Ground-handling Standard Available Today
/The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) released the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH). A set of global industry best practices for business aviation ground handlers, IS-BAH features at its core a safety management system (SMS) designed to meet the coming requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
“The business aviation community—operators and handlers—welcomed the IBAC-NATA announcement of IS-BAH in May,” said Kurt Edwards, Director General of IBAC. “We are pleased to be able to make it available now. The ISBAH will further enhance safety and standardize practices at airports handling business aviation around the world.”
“This is a fantastic moment for NATA, IBAC and our entire industry,” said Thomas L. Hendricks the President and CEO of the National Air Transportation. “The release of IS-BAH marks the establishment of a world-wide standard for SMS implementation and standardized operations in business and general aviation aircraft ground handling.”
A global industry code of best practices, IS-BAH provides standardization to handlers and operators around the world. Announced in Geneva by IBAC and NATA, the IS-BAH follows the long established structure of the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) Program and incorporates the NATA Safety 1st Ground Audit Program.
The IS-BAH has a central SMS component and similar program content, voluntary registration process, auditor credentialing, and audit approval process. The program also features a manual and fully integrated implementation guide. IBAC will provide workshops on the fundamentals of and auditing for IS-BAH at locations around the world. The first is scheduled to take place August 27, 2014, at Paris Le Bourget. The schedule for the additional IS-BAH workshops will be posted on the IBAC website (www.ibac.org). Interested organizations may also go to the IBAC website, www.ibac.org, or the NATA website, www.nata.aero, for further information or contact their local business aviation association that is a member of IBAC.