Centrik director Julian Tubb says that it is business as usual for his firm amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Just like many others the aviation industry is reeling from the COVID-19 outbreak but, despite the hardship, the show must go on," he says. “The strict regulatory landscape of our industry means that, even in a world of social distancing and international lockdowns, audits must be completed, compliance must be evidenced, documents updated, safety and risks assessed, meetings carried out and training allocated. The ability for companies and their staff to manage operations remotely has become a differentiator, offering a way to at least try and carry on as usual.

“Many cloud-based systems offer the flexibility of remote access, but the most powerful allow you to manage everything through a single point, with information that is accessible and actionable from anywhere. Take, as an example, charter operator Jet Exchange. It was able to carry out its annual CAA Flight Operations audit remotely, thanks primarily to its long-standing use of the Centrik operational management system. Alongside additional systems, like Microsoft Teams, the process was completed without any need for a physical visit, yet as rigorously as if there had been.

“Because the regulator has always had complete access to Jet Exchange’s Centrik system, the inspectors already had the ability to review and verify all completed audit checklists, risk registers, safety reports, meeting notes and any relevant evidence-based element of the management system. With the scope of the audit unchanged, Centrik was vital, giving the inspectors access to all necessary information. With some minor findings recorded that required action, Jet Exchange used Centrik to remotely allocate these to relevant team members who, upon completion, uploaded the required evidence for the CAA to review – allowing them to sign off the findings and the audit."

As Ian Austin, CEO at Jet Exchange, says: “Using cloud-based technology to handle complex regulatory actions like this in the current climate was phenomenal. With Centrik we can evidence our excellence, even if the regulator isn’t able to actually visit in person. It makes huge savings in both time and resources.”

Tubb concludes: “Our sector may be facing a challenging time but with skilful use of technology and advanced cloud-based systems, operators can still maintain operational continuity, all while maintaining the highest levels of compliance.”