Gama Aviation has enhanced its safety and security capabilities with the introduction of a new SMS initiative in advance of business aviation regulatory requirements.

The company says that its team operates services in some of the world's most challenging locations and environments, and that this requires on-going investment in enabling its employees to deliver a supportive and even safer operational environment for its customers.

One of the first of these new initiatives is the launch of Gama's 'safety in numbers' campaign, which highlights ten areas of safety, operational and environmental risk.

"Meeting and exceeding our business aviation regulatory requirements has been an integral part of our business since Gama Aviation began operating nearly 30 years ago," says Hannah Smith, safety manager. "Our 'safety in numbers' campaign ensures everyone in the Gama team can respond to the challenges that face us all in the industry and further demonstrates our commitment to enhancing our safety culture in particular. The campaign is one way to ensure our team understand the risks that exist in our industry, so that we can support them to make the smartest and safest decisions."

Meanwhile, Gama has been approved for all-weather winter operations to Chambery-Savoie airport. Its Falcon 2000 and Challenger 604 aircraft and flight crew are now able to reduce many of the limiting weather factors usually associated with flights to and from this gateway to numerous Alpine ski resorts, including Courcheval, Meribel and Val d'Isere.

The Falcon 2000 is the most recent addition to Gama's European-based charter fleet. It is based at Farnborough, along with a number of the company's charter aircraft, including Learjet 45, Learjet 60XR, Hawker 800 and 1000 as well as a Challenger 604 types.

"Chambery airport has long been a favourite for our clients wanting the best access to the ski slopes during the busy winter season," says Paul Cremer, commercial manager.

"With our Falcon 2000 and Challenger 604 wide-bodied business jets we are now approved to operate in the vast majority of challenging weather conditions at this popular destination for our winter sports customers."

Over the course of the past two months Gama has also added an Embraer Legacy 600 and a Challenger 604 to its UAE-based charter fleet and an Embraer Legacy 650, Hawker 800XP and vip Boeing 737 to its growing management fleet in the region.

Although Gama is firmly established at Sharjah International Airport, with an additional base in Dubai, this major fleet growth marks the company's expansion into the UAE's capital, Abu Dhabi.