St. Louis, Mo., November 5, 2015 – Aero Charter, the charter, FBO and aircraft support company based at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Chesterfield, Mo. (KSUS), announced it has signed up for the Air Charter Safety Foundations (ACSF) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) in the FAA’s Central Region. Aero Charter, which operates a diverse fleet of jet and turboprop aircrafts, is the first charter operator in the Central Region to enroll in the program.
While Aero Charter has implemented a safety management system (SMS), ASAP helps enhance and improve the voluntary reporting process. Under the ASAP, reporters (pilots, mechanics, dispatchers and other personnel) have a mechanism for reporting any safety of flight issue, without fear of reprisal from the FAA. Reports are submitted online and reviewed by the FAA & Aero Charter’s event review committee (ERC). Reporters can also elect to fill out a NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System form automatically for that event.
Employee ASAP reports will not only help Aero Charter, but also other ACSF participants due to the organizations’ de-identified information with ASAP-using members. This will allow Aero Charter to view specific issues related to the types of aircraft it operates, airport concerns, and flight or maintenance issues that arise among fellow charter operators and flight departments. Aero Charter’s Director of Safety Ryan Sanders recommends that more charter operators and flight departments join the ASAP.
“This is a terrific opportunity to identify concerns and share with your colleagues,” said Sanders. “If a charter operator or flight department is considering participating in ASAP and think they don’t have the resources, the first call should be to the ACSF. They can alleviate a lot of concern.”
The ACSF, Sanders pointed out, handles “a lot of the heavy lifting,” including working with an operator’s FAA regional office to set up the memorandum of understanding that governs the program and provides protection for reporters.
“The process is relatively easy and there’s really no downside to it,” said Sanders. “It creates another avenue for pilots, mechanics and flight attendants to report safety concerns, without FAA repercussions and it will improve safety in our own operation as well as others.”
In addition to charter, Aero Charter provides full aircraft support services including aircraft management, maintenance, avionics, and Fixed Base Operation (FBO) ground support. Aero Charter’s avionics department specializes in custom installations and repairs. In 1995, Aero Charter introduced Aero Travel, a full-service travel agency. The recipient of numerous safety awards, Aero Charter recently expanded its facilities to include an additional hangar and expansive ramp area, which more than doubles its existing capacity. For information call 636-537-0005 or visit www.aerocharter.com.