The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) recently conducted its annual International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) Standards Board meeting virtually. The outcomes include a new chair and vice chair of the Standards Board, new members, plans for updates to the standard and development of additional guidance materials.

IBAC welcomes Benjamin Hammond, vice president of FBO services, Pentastar Aviation, as the new IS-BAH Standards Board chair, and Jennifer Van Winkle, marketing and quality manager, Sundt Air, as the new vice chair. IBAC also thanks Lou Sorrentino, CEO, AvMaSSI, for his years of service as IS-BAH Board chair and his engaging support for the IS-BAH programme and its registered organisations.

Terry Yeomans, IS-BAH programme director, says: “The Standards Board continues to be represented by active professionals from around the world in the ground handling service provider sector, demonstrating these are truly industry-driven standards. I am very grateful for Lou Sorrentino's dedication as chair over the past few years and truly appreciate his commitment to our IS-BAH mission.

“Congratulations to Ben Hammond, our new chair, and to Jennifer Van Winkle's as the new vice chair. We look forward to working closely with them and thank them for their leadership, expertise and passion for ground handling safety. Also, a big welcome to the new members who have joined the board and thank you to the returning members. They are all voluntarily participating in and sharing their valuable time and expertise for the future of IS-BAH.”

The IS-BAH Standards Board has delegated responsibility for the content of the standard by the IBAC Governing Board. Suggested improvements are received throughout the year from industry users and from upcoming changes identified by IBAC within the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). The updates to the IS-BAH 2027 will be released next month.

The IS-BAH Programme has registered more than 360 unique locations globally since its inception in 2014 and is designed to enhance the safety and efficiency of business and general aviation ground handling service providers (GHSPs). IS-BAH is internationally recognised as the only ground-handling standard for business aviation included in ICAO's Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) for 2026–2028 and recognised by the ICAO Council. As a voluntary programme, IS-BAH is the first industry standard to bring the SMS concept to ground handling and will enable handlers to conform to the ICAO SMS framework.

The 2026–2027 IS-BAH Standards Board members include: Chair, Benjamin Hammond, Pentastar Aviation; Vice chair, Jennifer Van Winkle, Sundt Air; Lou Sorrentino, AvMaSSI, member, former chair; Kevin Donnelly, Jet Aviation; Paul Kraft, Tastefully Yours/DaVinci Training; Jose Rubinho, United Aviation Services; Phil Bartle, Signature Aviation; Rick Hooper, VistaJet; Troy Hyberger, Duncan Aviation; Whitney Schultz, Modern Aviation; and Dawit Lemma, Krimson Aviation.