Orlando, FL, October 29, 2012 — Ninety-five aviation companies, including Part 135 on-demand air charter operators, fractional aircraft management companies, brokers, underwriters, consultants, and aircraft OEMs have become members of the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) since the 501(c)(3) was founded in 2007. The ACSF’s membership has more than doubled since November 2010, when the ACSF had 40 member organizations. Last year during NBAA, the association had 60 members.
“I’m extremely proud of the progress that the Air Charter Safety Foundation has made to grow the value we provide to our members,” said ACSF President Bryan Burns. “While we’re best known for creating the leading Industry Audit Standard, we’ve worked hard to launch several new member benefits, such as the Aviation Safety Action Program, which helps promote safety and mitigate risk throughout the air charter and fractional industry.”
Number of ACSF Members
- Regular members are aircraft operators, management companies and brokers;
- Associate members are insurance companies, training centers, maintenance facilities, FBO’s, aircraft manufacturers, and others.
- Affiliate members are other non-profit organizations and small businesses, hospitals/medical facilities, airport authorities, and government agencies.
Number of Programs Available to ACSF Members
- ACSF Industry Audit Standard (IAS) – The only audit program that comprehensively and independently evaluates an air charter operator’s and/or fractional ownership company’s safety and regulatory compliance. It helps alleviate the substantial costs and redundancies associated with today’s auditing environment, where operators are subject to multiple audits every year that consume precious resources. Participating independent auditors are accredited by the ACSF.
- Aviation Safety Information System (AVSiS) – A revolutionary software program for the on-demand air charter and fractional aircraft ownership industry that addresses the need to maintain a constant watch for emerging safety issues within their operations.
- Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) – ASAP is a voluntary, self-reporting program that identifies and reduces possible flight safety concerns, and mitigates risk. It encourages an employee of a participating member company to voluntarily report safety issues, by offering enforcement-related incentives. An ASAP is based on a safety partnership that includes the ACSF, the FAA and the participating company.
- Air Charter Safety Symposium – Annually the ACSF hosts the Air Charter Safety Symposium at the National Transportation Safety Board Training Center, offering two days of learning and discussion on topics such as reducing errors through empowered accountability and crew resource management.
- Illegal Charter Reporting Hotline – A toll-free hotline (888-759-3581) is available for anyone to file a report of suspected illegal commercial flights where an aircraft operator without a FAA Part 135 certificate is accepting compensation for transportation.
- Safety Updates – Topic-specific briefings are made available to members via email and the ACSF Web-site based on recent FAA publications, notices/directives, and industry research/data.
- Safety Management System (SMS) Resources – An online resource for members seeking research to either implement or support the ongoing operation of their SMS.
Number of Registered Operators who completed the ACSF Industry Audit Standard in 2012 (Valid for 2 years)
- Executive Fliteways
- Flexjet by Bombardier
- Key Air
- Jet Solutions
- Keystone Aviation
- M&N Aviation
- Mayo Aviation
- Priester Aviation
- Sun Air Jets
“I can attest to the fact that the ASCF audit changed my entire company for the better,” stated William F. Haberstock, President, Keystone Aviation. “Our entire team took ownership of the process—from senior executives to the front line—and we were able to complete the entire process in less than nine months.”
To become an ACSF member, download the membership application here.