Press Release
Issued by International Business Aviation Council.
February 3, 2015
Effective immediately, the globally recognized Wyvern Wingman Operator Program will adopt the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) standards and recommended practices as the benchmark for achieving the most demanding aviation safety achievement, Wingman certification. Combined with the newly issued Revision 3.0 of The Wingman Standard, the IS-BAO standards and audit protocols will serve as the foundation for air carriers to achieve appropriate IS-BAO stage certification and enter the Wingman program at the same time offering a cost effective and time saving solution to the marketplace.
“Wyvern recognizes that the IS-BAO standards reflect an operator's commitment to industry best practices in aviation,” says Art Dawley, Wyvern ceo. “We will not compromise the Wingman program in any way. We are solely making the audit process simpler and more cost effective, which is the primary goal. We could not be more confident this is the correct path for Wyvern.”
“We are pleased to see Wyvern recognize the IS-BAO as the Wingman benchmark. Wyvern's new approach only reinforces the value and benefits of operators' implementation of industry best practices through IS-BAO,” says Sonnie Bates, IS-BAO program director. “This sensible approach will further promote safe operating practices in the aviation community.”
The Wingman Standard was first released in 1994 as a ground breaking effort in establishing air charter aviation safety parameters which exceeded current regulations and were intended to address the needs of the company's corporate clientele. Eight years later in 2002, IS-BAO was introduced by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) to promote a flight department's commitment to industry best practices on a global basis, consistent with the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Each standard has evolved, emphasizing in the respective audit programs the criticality of a safety management systems (SMS). The Wingman Standard will remain as a separate measure by which a Wingman operator is qualified into its preferred vendor program and will include some additional requirements that would contribute to its highly recognized Pilot and Aircraft Safety Survey (PASS) program.
Operators who are already IS-BAO-registered and satisfy the requirements of the Wingman program will have met the basic requirements for certification which may eliminate the need for additional audit visits. Wyvern will offer special opportunities for operators seeking or holding both certifications but will continue to offer standalone Wingman Standard audits, as well as exclusive IS-BAO certification audits to customers who do not qualify or wish for Wingman certification.
