After an audit by the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) earlier this year, Duncan Aviation’s Flight Department received its Stage III Safety Management System (SMS) Certification in April 2017.
“The significance of this certification to Duncan Aviation is the independent recognition and verification that our SMS is not just operational but mature,” says Mike Brown. “Safety for our customers, team members, and everyone living in the communities around our facilities is something we care deeply about as a company. This certification recognizes that our Flight Department is operating in a manner that is as safe as possible.”
The goal of SMS is to identify risks and implement policies and procedures company-wide that will mitigate those risks. For instance, fatigue is a recognized risk throughout the aviation industry, for members of maintenance teams, as well as members of flight crews. Duncan Aviation took a proactive look at issues related to fatigue and strengthened and formalized policies to prevent on-the-job fatigue.
For the purposes of SMS, the company has to apply for two different certifications: One for the flight department, which schedules and flies in-house business flights and charter flights and provides pilot services, and one for the repair station side of the business, which involves maintenance, paint, avionics, engines, etc.
Duncan Aviation is currently implementing an SMS on the repair station side of the business.
