Melbourne, Australia – The Flight Safety Foundation is pleased to announce that National Airways Corporation based at Lanseria, South Africa, is the first aircraft operator to achieve the coveted Gold registration status under the BARS Program.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have been the first operator to achieve the Gold status. Our excellent team of people at NAC has worked extremely hard to meet and exceed the most exacting safety standards demanded by our customers across our operations,” said NAC CEO Martin Banner.
“Attaining the coveted Gold registration status is a significant achievement,” said BARS Managing Director, Greg Marshall. “But to be the first in the world to do so is historic.”
The Foundation is also pleased to recognize Alliance Airlines, based at Brisbane, Australia, as the first BARS registered aircraft operator in Australia to attain Gold status.
“This is a significant achievement for any aircraft operator and particularly for the first to achieve this in Australia,” Marshall stated.
“Alliance has been delighted to work with both the Flight Safety Foundation and our customers on the rollout and implementation of BARS. Equally, to be the first aircraft operator in Australia to achieve gold status is a great tribute to our staff and other stakeholders,” said Alliance Airlines CEO Scott McMillan. “Alliance, through its policy of continuous improvement, will engage in an ongoing manner with all parties to reinforce and grow the BARS Program.”
Gold status is issued to aircraft operators who maintain continuous registration for three consecutive years and close out any findings by the original due dates.
New Silver Registration Status
A new registration status level has been introduced to the BARS Program. The Silver level will recognize aircraft operators who have maintained continuous registration for two years and have closed out all of their findings within the originally planned due date. “The introduction of this status level recognizes aircraft operators who have placed considerable effort in acquitting their findings in a complete and timely manner,” said Marshall. Aircraft operators who proceed to their third year audit and acquit their findings in the same manner will progress to Gold status.
Contact: Emily McGee, Director of Communications, +1 703 739 6700, ext 126; mcgee@flightsafety.org