The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) has elected Massachusetts-based Sentient Jet chief safety office Charles Starkowsky to its board of governors. Starkowsky will join his fellow ACSF board of governors members in their responsibility to establish the foundation's strategic goals, policies and programmes. This group of distinguished aviation professionals also provides expertise on several aviation-related issues, including flight operations and safety management systems, aircraft manufacturing and maintenance and aviation law.

“Chuck Starkowsky has already proven to be an invaluable member of the Foundation,” says ACSF president Bryan Burns. “During the Foundation's inception, he helped us create the ACSF Industry Audit Standard (IAS), and he has been active with many of the trade organisations, including the NATA Safety Committee. On behalf of the board, we very much welcome his insights.”

Since 2004, Starkowsky has been responsible for the management of Sentient's safety programmes, and, in addition, he was one of the founders of the company's independent safety advisory board, an industry first. With the ACSF board's assistance and direction, he managed the creation of Sentient's safety programme, including the development and implementation of its safety policies and procedures, as well as the Sentient certification process and its proprietary air carrier monitoring programme.

During his tenure at Sentient, Starkowsky has overseen the monitoring of the company's approved network of operators, as well as having provided active support to the company and the air carriers themselves, making continual improvements to each.

“I am indeed honoured for this opportunity,” says Starkowsky. “I look forward to participating alongside the other members and their efforts to promote the ACSF's goals. There is a tremendous amount of aviation safety experience and expertise within our industry, and seeking various ways for us to share it is something I believe we should all get behind and support.”

Starkowsky holds a bachelor's in Aviation Science from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts, and a BA in Philosophy from the University of Nebraska. He is a former flight instructor with both land and sea ratings.