Alexandria, VA, April 17, 2012 - The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an aviation safety action program (ASAP) manager and to conduct a demonstration program for on-demand charter operators. The program will begin with two charter operators under the jurisdiction of the FAA Minneapolis Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), and will eventually expand to other charter operators in the FAA Great Lakes Region that are interested in participating in the ACSF ASAP program.
"We are extremely pleased that the FAA is allowing the ACSF to offer this invaluable safety tool to charter operators," said ACSF Chairman Jim Christiansen. "Companies using ASAP have benefited greatly by learning about and resolving safety issues before an unfortunate safety event occurs."
An ASAP is a reporting program that allows employees of participating air carriers and repair station certificate holders to identify and report safety issues to management and to the FAA for resolution, without fear that the FAA will use reports accepted under the program to take legal enforcement action against them, or that companies will use such information to take disciplinary action.
"The ACSF appreciates the support and hard work of the FAA Great Lakes Region and Minneapolis FSDO staff that made this program a reality," noted Christiansen. "We believe this effort will raise the safety bar in the on-demand charter industry."
The objective of the ACSF ASAP program is to expand to other FAA regions, and to encourage charter operators that lack the resources to establish their own ASAP program to participate and benefit from this valuable safety tool.
Through research, collaboration and education, the Air Charter Safety Foundation advances charter and shared aircraft ownership industry standards and best practices; promulgates safety, security and service benchmarks; and promotes the universal acceptance of safety management systems.
