Philippines VVIP charter company INAEC Aviation Corporation has earned the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) Stage I certification. This marks the first time that a holder of an AOC issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has been granted the distinction.

The certificate was awarded by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), based in Montreal Canada, after the company passed a comprehensive audit conducted by a US-based audit firm. The Stage I certification is achieved when the operator’s safety management system has been documented, approved and resourced, and implemented at the time of the audit. IS-BAO adopts international standards consistent with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to prepare the operator, whether large or small, for both domestic and international operations. This is anchored in the safety management system (SMS) to enable the operator to achieve a risk-averse, generative safety culture. Audits are conducted every two years to determine continued conformance of the operator with the standards and recommended practices and to provide feedback to the operator on its practices.

Established in 1932 by Don Eugenio H. Lopez, Sr., Iloilo-Negros Air Express Company (or INAEC) was the first Filipino-owned private airline in the Philippines. Its fleet comprises two King Air 350s, a Bell 429, two EC135s, two AS350B2 and two AW139s. It works with large offshore oil and gas producers, medical service providers, high value cargo movers, news and events broadcasters, local and foreign companies and high net worth individuals.

There are over 700 IS-BAO registered operators around the world, and only two from the Philippines.

INAEC will continue to work for Stage II and Stage III level to reach its journey of having an effective safety management system and sustainable culture of safety.