The International Business Aviation Council's IS-BAH programme is reaching its 10th anniversary at EBACE 2024, and the Council is honouring SRC Aviation of New Delhi, India as the first ground handling organisation to reach the 10 year IS-BAH milestone. To commemorate the founding anniversary, IS-BAH will introduce a campaign focusing on its objective: 'Elevating Ground Handling Safety'.

Kurt Edwards, director general for IBAC, says: "The idea for IS-BAH was based on the success of the aircraft operators' standard, IS-BAO, introduced more than 20 years ago. Its global recognition as an industry safety standard inspired us to develop something similar for the critical ground handling sector, complement the operational standard and get ahead of coming SMS requirements in this area. We are grateful for SRC Aviation and its proactive approach to safety. It became the first organisation to implement IS-BAH in 2014 with a successful Stage I audit and has continued its leadership in the programme. Today, we recognise Bobby Chadha and the entire SRC Aviation team for reaching 10 years with IS-BAH and thank them for their support and dedication to safety."

Bobby Chadha, managing director for SRC Aviation, comments: "We are very proud to have been the first IS-BAH recognised ground handler on the planet, and now achieving the 10 year mark makes it even more special. Implementing IS-BAH has significantly benefited us by reinforcing our commitment to ground handling safety and elevating our service quality. With the help of IS-BAH, SRC Aviation has developed rigorous training programmes that equip our team with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their duties safely and efficiently. Regular audits and performance evaluations under the IS-BAH framework ensure that any deviations from safety protocols are promptly addressed, helping us maintain operational efficiency and safety compliance. IS-BAH certification sets SRC Aviation apart from competitors by showcasing our dedication to maintaining high safety standards, which helps us attract and retain clients who value safety and quality in ground handling services."

Terry Yeomans, IS-BAH programme director, has a successful background in ground handling and flight support and was also a member of the IBAC governing board. Having led the programme since its inception, he says: "Congratulations to SRC for voluntarily going above and beyond to implement the IS-BAH for 10 years. We have accomplished much with IS-BAH and not without a significant commitment from all those who have implemented the IS-BAH over the past decade, but also the help and support of the IBAC governing board, secretariat, the entire IBAC international standards team and the IS-BAH standards board member volunteers, past and present. It is rewarding to see the hundreds of organisations that have committed to raising the safety bar to elevate their company's safety culture. They are making a difference in the safety and professionalism of our industry and should be commended for adopting this management system with safety as its core value."

The Elevating Ground Handling Safety initiatives throughout the year will include new case studies, such as the recently released Duncan Aviation's Journey to Stage III IS-BAH; a Top 10 series of Elevating Your Safety; and a View from the Ramp photo contest for IS-BAH organisations.