Paragon Aviation Group, a collection of FBOs, says it considers safety as one of the most important aspects in the aviation industry. To show its commitment, the group is funding a safety programme to all of its 100 FBOs worldwide for free for 2021. The Online Safety Officer (OSO) programme, spearheaded by aviation consultancy FBO Partners, provides consistent safety communication, training and regulatory compliance through its monthly safety meetings. Regardless of the FBO's size, staffing level or stage of SMS, FBO Partners offers a complete framework for an effective safety promotion and communication programme meeting several IS-BAH and SMS requirements.

Megan Barnes, president of Paragon Aviation Group, says, “As an elite group of the best independent FBOs in the world, safety is far more than a buzzword for a Paragon member FBO. The Paragon Network's emphasis on safety is an investment in our members' success and the consistent, safe handling of customers and their assets when visiting a Paragon FBO location. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a reduction in travel, which has forced many businesses to reduce overhead to compensate. I wanted to make sure that our members would have the support they needed to not only remain in compliance, but ensure their teams' monthly and annual training requirements were met. As our network continues to grow, we're pleased to have partnered with FBO Partners and its comprehensive OSO programme.

“The safety initiative by Paragon Aviation Group and partnership with FBO Partners through the OSO programme, cements our leadership in advancing safety within the FBO industry and offering a complete solution for like-minded FBOs to compete on a level playing field with any FBO in the industry.”

FBO Partners senior associate Patrick Moylan, who leads the Online Safety Officer programme, adds: “The OSO programme is unlike anything in the industry today. Often, the biggest barrier to creating a strong safety culture is consistent communication and promotion. For most FBOs that barrier is in the form of time, which OSO gives back to its subscribers by providing a complete, turn-key solution to those challenges.” Moylan, who joined FBO Partners in 2019, is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), IS-BAH auditor and OSHA trainer.