IBAC and Member Association Develop SMS Toolkit for the IS-BAO

Montreal, Canada (October 05, 2008) – The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and its Member Associations have developed an SMS toolkit which will be part of the IS-BAO – an International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations. Don Spruston, the IBAC Director General said “the Toolkit is designed to assist business aviation operators in developing, implementing and maintaining an appropriate and effective safety management system.”

The Toolkit will be part of the IS-BAO – an International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations, and will be included with the Jan. 1, 2009 amendment to the IS-BAO. Thereafter, it will be included with the IS-BAO on initial purchase. The Toolkit will also be available from IBAC and it is member associations as an individual product.

The SMS Toolkit includes a hard copy of the SMS Tools booklet that provides a step by step process to develop and implement an SMS plus a CD that contains numerous reference documents and more than 15 individual tools for operators to use in developing, implementing and maintaining their SMS.

Included is material from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), several civil aviation authorities and aviation associations plus best practices from a number of operators and individual experts.

The tools will help operators identify what exactly they need to do to develop their SMS and then to manage the work program.

The tools also provide examples of SMS components and help operators to adapt them to their individual situation.

Ray Rohr, the IBAC Director, Regulatory Affairs said “IBAC member associations will be organising SMS Toolkit workshops for operators. The workshops will cover the basics of aviation safety, safety management systems and how to use the tools to develop, implement and mature an SMS.”