Alexandria, VA, October 27, 2010 — The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) welcomes Priester Aviation, of Wheeling, Illinois, and Sterling Aviation, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the latest charter operators to be added to the ACSF Industry Audit Standard (IAS) Registry. Both companies have completed the IAS audit and achieved Registered status with the ACSF.
“The Air Charter Safety Foundation audit experience was most beneficial because it required an extensive review of every detail of company operations,” said Rob Gort, president and chief operating officer of Sterling Aviation. “Our addition to the ACSF audit Registry places Sterling in an elite group of companies and proves to our clients that we take their safety seriously.” The IAS, conducted every 24 months, is the first and only extensive audit program specifically created for on-demand operators and shared aircraft ownership companies, and evaluates both regulatory compliance and the operator’s Safety Management System (SMS) program.
“Priester Aviation is thrilled by its addition to the Air Charter Safety Foundation registry,” said Andy Priester, president and chief executive officer of Priester Aviation, LLC. “All of us at Priester Aviation have worked hard to achieve the high level of performance required by the ACSF standards.”
The IAS consists of a rigorous review of an operator’s processes and procedures and regulatory compliance, as well as the business’ implementation of, and adherence to, an SMS.
“The audit process was the most comprehensive we have been through and was not easy, but it clearly enhanced our already strong operations. I thank the Air Charter Safety Foundation for this opportunity that will help keep Priester Aviation ‘Above it all,’” concluded Priester.
Customers should look for the ACSF IAS registered logo and encourage their preferred charter provider to participate in the program. The ACSF makes its operator registry and key company details available at no charge, so verification of IAS registration is quick and easy. Charter consumers can view the registry at acsfdev.com/registry.
Supporting materials are available at acsfdev.com/audit. Operators wishing to initiate the audit process should contact either Russ Lawton or Alison McHugh at 1-888-SAFE-135 (888-723-3135).