The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) has welcomed Steven Abreu-Hill to the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) as its new audit manager. He replaces Lawrence 'Fletch' Fletcher who will be retiring this year after 10 years of serving in audit manager roles for both IS-BAH and IS-BAO programmes.

As an accredited IS-BAH auditor, Abreu-Hill is an aviation and ground handling operations professional with 16 years of combined experience in emergency response, safety, security, environmental and SMS programme development. He earned a B.S. degree in Applied Meteorology and a M.S. degree in Aeronautics Safety and Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Based in Houston, Texas, Abreu-Hill helped to coordinate emergency management programmes for Houston Hobby airport and George Bush International airport.

The retiring Fletcher joined IBAC in 2012 as the IS-BAO audit manager. He served in the US military and later provided consulting services to business aviation companies regarding aircraft maintenance, pre-buy sales, and the import and export of aircraft. Fletcher was an auditor for ARGUS before coming to IBAC and is a graduate of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Terry Yeomans IS-BAH programme director says: “My extensive gratitude goes out to my friend and colleague as he prepares for his next adventure at the end of the year. We accomplished much in both the IS-BAH and IS-BAO programmes because of his dedication and professionalism and appreciate his commitment to advancing these safety standards.

“We also want to send out a warm welcome to Steven Abreu-Hill from everyone at IBAC, and I look forward to working with him. He is well versed on ground handling operations and the IS-BAH programme, and he will hit the ground running to fill Fletch's shoes.”