American Aero FTW, based at the Mecham International Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, has become the first fixed base operator to earn recognition for establishing the highest level of safety and service. The company achieved Stage 3 registration from the International Business Aviation Council’s (IBAC) International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH).
IBAC’s IS-BAH was developed together with the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and was introduced in 2014. The IS-BAH standard is based on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and recommended practices in how best to handle business aircraft. Conformance to the standards is voluntary and there is no continued oversight by the organizations; however, an IBAC audit process provides certificate of registration if the standards are met.
In 2015, American Aero FTW earned IS-BAH Stage 1 registration, which confirms that a safety management system (SMS) has been established and that safety management activities are appropriately targeted. Stage 2 was registered for American Aero FTW in 2017 – a level that ensures that safety risks are being effectively managed. The recently achieved Stage 3 registration verifies that safety management activities are fully integrated and that a positive safety culture has been sustained.
