Duncan Aviation's FBO locations have passed the safety audit required for renewal of the company's Stage III accreditation for International Safety for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH). Duncan's FBO locations in Lincoln, Nebraska; Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Provo, Utah all have Stage III accreditation.

The Stage III accreditation represents the maturity of the safety management systems across Duncan Aviation's locations. Fewer than 10 per cent of IS-BAH operators reach the Stage III accreditation and even fewer have completed the accreditation twice. The honour was awarded after a rigorous on-site audit covering 12 areas of the operation including SMS, training, SOPs, emergency response, environmental management, occupational health and safety, GSE and maintenance, customer service, baggage handling and security. The audit also includes observations of ground handling towing, fuelling and evaluation of ground service equipment.

Matt Smith, Duncan Aviation's FBO services manager for the company's Battle Creek and Kalamazoo locations, represented Duncan Aviation as the audit location and worked with auditors from 30W Aviation Consultants, a global aviation safety auditing and services provider for both IS-BAH and IS-BAO.

“The Duncan Aviation team is a group of professionals who strive to challenge themselves and seek out ways to mitigate risks throughout their operation. This was evident as my team conducted the on-site audit in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo,” says 30W Aviation Consultants CEO and auditor Allison Markey. “It was truly a pleasure to work with these experienced and enthusiastic leaders in ground handling. They are well-deserving of Stage III and a model for all operators worldwide.”

The IS-BAH programme was launched in 2014 and is designed to enhance the safety and efficiency of business and general aviation aircraft handing on a worldwide level. It is based on the implementation of industry best practices blended through a robust and proactive safety management system. It is the first industry standard to bring the SMS concept to ground handling and enables handlers to meet ICAO SMS requirements. By adopting and implementing IS-BAH, handlers provide consistent environment and experience to their customers and instill accountability through their operation that is based on best safety practices. IS-BAH audits are conducted by an independent auditor who is accredited through the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC).

The IS-BAH certification shows aircraft operators and flight departments that Duncan Aviation has a culture that promotes safety and is centred on an SMS. Stage III is the highest level of SMS that can be obtained at this time and verifies that safety management activities are fully integrated into the business and that a positive safety culture is being sustained. To maintain this highest level of certification, Duncan Aviation has safety audits conducted every three years.

Terry Yeomans, IS-BAH programme director, commented, "This achievement demonstrates how Duncan Aviation continues to positively commit to enhancing ground handling safety and leading by example in supporting and promoting the IS-BAH global voluntary standards and recommended practices. It is independently assessed on-site through a robust and proven process, providing solid evidence of a core safety culture with the continued implementation of its own documented policies and procedures. This achievement is not easy, and I applaud it for its continued efforts."

Having six-plus years of safety data to analyse and evaluate helps Duncan Aviation continue to make a difference for its team and customers, according to Troy Hyberger, FBO services manager of Duncan Aviation's Lincoln location. “Since all four of our FBO locations have the same system and accreditation, the safety culture runs through us, making us very proud. The safety of customers and team members is a core value at Duncan Aviation, and the IS-BAH certification demonstrates that safety is not just a goal, but a daily practice.”

The Duncan Aviation team also likes to take the time to share their IS-BAH and SMS practices with others, including customers, and even with competing FBOs to increase awareness and share their safety culture story. Hyberger also talks with other organisations about IS-BAH and provides insight into the journey.

Duncan Aviation's FBO line service amenities include office space, conference rooms, pilot lounge, advanced weather planning and café service. Customers can also receive de-ice/pre-heat, GPU starts with fuel, baggage handling, on-site rental cars/courtesy cars, on-site fitness facilities, corporate hotel rates, quick turn service, NATA Safety 1st Certified representatives and certification to NATA's Sustainability Standard.

Duncan Aviation is well-known throughout the business aviation industry as a full-service MRO facility providing airframe and engine maintenance, exterior paint, interior completions and refurbishments, avionics installations, line service repairs, component and parts repair, and aircraft sales and acquisitions services. In addition to its full-service facilities in Nebraska, Michigan and Utah, the company offers avionics support through satellites stations at 28 additional business aviation airports throughout the United States and in-field engine rapid response team services worldwide.