Sky Valet Starts Off IS-BAH Stage II Validations

Sky Valet, which operates 22 FBOs in France, Spain and Portugal, announced that its location at Cannes Mandelieu Airport is the first to achieve stage II registration under IBAC’s International Standard for Business Aviation Handling (IS-BAH). The voluntary set of industry best practices was launched at EBACE in 2014, and the Sky Service location was the first European handler to be recognized with Stage I approval the following year. “Sky Valet is the leader of its sector in Europe and aims to be the market leader in terms of quality of service,” said Michel Tohane, Sky Valet director (he is also director of general aviation for parent company Aéroports de la Côte d’ Azur). “This world first is a source of pride that allows us to strengthen our position, highlight our ground handling expertise and maintain a partnership with our business aviation customers based on trust.”

The company (Booth C34) plans to implement IS-BAH approval throughout its network as part of its development strategy. “Our level I IS-BAH [registration] validated an organizational principle based on the mastery of safety of our ground handling expertise as a whole,” noted Joseph Azzaz, who heads up the company’s ground handling department. "IS-BAH level II confirms and guarantees the daily implementation of our safety management system. This means that we have integrated it into each of our actions and that it is now part of our DNA, but also that of our partners because the [registration] is the result of true team work involving the employees of Cannes Mandelieu Airport, suppliers and subcontractors.”

Aéroports de la Côte d’ Azur also signaled its approval of the French Council of State’s decision last week to overturn the closing of the border crossing at Golfe de Saint Tropez International Airport. According to the company, which manages the airport in addition to Nice Côte d’Azur and Cannes Mandelieu, the decision will guarantee the long-term activity and viability of the airport by authorizing the return of incoming flights from outside the Schengen area all year round.