The International Business Aviation Council’s (IBAC) new FlightPlan Stage 1 IS-BAO program for small operators is now available. Unveiled at NBAA 2019, the program is designed to provide a pathway for operators with one aircraft and one base to gain IS-BAO recognition within 180 days.

Since then, IBAC has been prepping the materials and an initial operator has been in beta test with an audit slated to occur in February, said Katherine Hilst, IBAC’s operations manager of IS-BAO program. IBAC has highlighted and detailed FlightPlan Stage 1 (FS1) at recent events, including Heli-Expo last week, and Hilst said the program is drawing a number of inquiries.

The association called the program an all-inclusive option that provides a streamlined approach to demonstrating safe operations. “Many small flight operations have limited resources that make it challenging to task crewmembers with initiating a risk-management standard,” the organization said. “Now small operators can benefit from a simplified IS-BAO registration process that includes leadership from expert implementors and skilled auditors to achieve Stage 1 for one all-inclusive fee.”

IBAC's Stage 1 program involves three basic phases: obtaining IS-BAO documentation and conducting a web meeting with AviationManuals, a partner in the program; meeting with an FS1-approved implementor to prepare for the program and audit; and then undergoing the audit. The program also outlines a path to Stage 2 registration.