The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) has added a new layer to its Industry Audit Standard, rolling out IAS Lite, to offer a streamlined audit program for independent charter and non-commercial operators.
IAS Lite provides a means for operators to become ACSF-audit registered and achieve compliance with FAA Part 5 safety management systems (SMS). ACSF said the program was “meticulously crafted” to enable operators to achieve a higher level of safety management without the complexity and cost of more extensive audits.
Under the IAS Lite process, operators begin by submitting the Operator Pre-Audit Checklist, which helps with audit preparation and provides a preliminary overview to the audit team. An audit team professional will then help guide the operator through the program. Audits are valid for 24 months, but operators can request them sooner to affirm their SMS progress.
"IAS Lite represents a significant advancement for independent charter and non-commercial operators, providing them with a customized, affordable, scalable approach to safety management," said ACSF president and CEO Bryan Burns. “This program ensures that even the smallest operators can meet and exceed the highest safety standards, ultimately enhancing their operational safety culture.”
Burns added that the program helps small and medium-sized operators to complete IAS registration and comply with Part 5 even if they don’t have the resources to complete full registration.