Flight Safety Foundation’s BARS Program Conducts 300th Safety Audit

Dec. 22, 2014
Airlines PNG, a domestic operator in Papua New Guinea, has successfully completed the 300th Basic Aviation Risk Standard (BARS) safety audit.

The Flight Safety Foundation announced today Airlines PNG, a domestic operator in Papua New Guinea, has successfully completed the 300th Basic Aviation Risk Standard (BARS) safety audit.  The BAR Standard was developed in conjunction with the resource industry, which identified a need to establish a common global aviation safety audit protocol that could be applied to on-shore resource sector aviation support activities.

Greg Marshall, managing director of the BARS program and the Foundation’s vice president for global programs, applauded Airlines PNG’s participation in the audit and reiterated BARS’ importance to the industry.

“One of the biggest advantages of the BARS program is the Standard provides a consistent audit model that allows member companies to share in the audits of participating operators,” Marshall said. “Knowledge gleaned from BARS audits, especially for aviation in remote areas, is already benefitting a wider community of fixed- and rotary-wing operators, including governments and humanitarian agencies. Achieving the 300-audit milestone within a five-year period demonstrates the inherent market need for the BAR Standard.”

BARS is a consensus-based industry standard consisting of four components:

  • A risk-based international aviation standard
  • An auditing program, tailored to the standard
  • A range of aviation safety training programs
  • A global safety data analysis program.

On completion of the audit, Airlines PNG will attain Gold status. Craig Chapple, Airlines PNG’s general manager of safety and airline technical, said the Gold-level accreditation is an important step for the airline. Chapple emphasized how BARS has streamlined the safety audit process. 

“Previously we undertook numerous audits each year as each resource company had its own process,” he said. “BARS has streamlined those requirements now, with one audit covering multiple resource companies and saved both time and money for all parties.”

Flight Safety Foundation (www.flightsafety.org) is an independent, non-profit, international organization engaged in research, education, advocacy and publishing to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to be the leading voice of safety for the global aerospace community.