Mark Jayson Hojilla, avionics technician; Carlo Conti, aircraft mechanic; Deecap Pocopio, aircraft mechanic supervisor-fixed wing; Jerome Mendoza, aircraft mechanic supervisor-rotary wing; Donald Hammer, IS-BAO auditor; Reymark Villafuerte, aircraft mechanic; Ghandie Martinez, aircraft mechanic; and Glenn Perez, corporate services headINAEC Aviation Corporation on May 9, 2019 earned its International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (ISBAO) Stage One certification. This marks the first time that a holder of an air operator certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has been accorded the distinction.

The certificate was awarded by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) based in Canada after INAEC passed a comprehensive audit conducted by Mente Group, a US firm certified by IBAC to audit companies.

Stage One certification is achieved when the operator’s safety management system (SMS) has been documented, approved and resourced, and implemented at the time of the audit.

IS-BAO adopts international standards consistent with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization to prepare the operator for domestic and international operations. This is anchored on the SMS to enable the operator to achieve a risk-averse, generative safety culture.

According to the IBAC website, audits are conducted every two years to determine the operator’s continued conformance with the standards and recommended practices and to provide feedback to the operator on its practices.

Kurt Edwards, director general of IBAC, congratulated INAEC on its accomplishment and for joining the expanding list of flight departments and operators around the world that have implemented the IS-BAO to manage the safety, security, efficiency and effectiveness of their operations.

There are over 700 IS-BAOregistered operators around the world. INAEC is one of only two such operators from the Philippines.

INAEC will continue to work for the Stage Two and Stage Three levels to attain its goal of having an effective SMS and sustainable culture of safety.