IBM’s business aviation flight department has become the first in Europe to qualify for the certificate of registration which signifies achievement of the requirements of the International Standard for Business Aviation Operations (IS-BAO).

Developed by the International Business Aviation Council, the IS-BAO standard was introduced at the company’s operational bases in Le Bourget, Paris, and White Plains, New York, with development of

two company operations manuals with 95 per cent commonality, reflecting the different operational environments and regulations of Europe and the US.

Director of aviation Jeff Lee said: “The IS-BAO has given us the motivation, methodology and guidance for uniting the European and US operations to a common standard. Having an international standard that is applicable around the world is a tremendous step forward for the business aviation community.

“We are pleased to not only have the first European flight department to qualify, but also the first flight department to introduce a standard common to operations in more than one country.”

Although many flight departments in the US and Canada have qualified for the new standard, IBM Euroflight is the first to complete an audit in Europe.

Patrick Lebeyrie, director of air operations IBM Euroflight, added: “We were very active in assessing

and helping with the new standard during its development by flight departments worldwide.