Story ID: 
Gulfstream Flight-test Unit Elevates IS-BAO Status
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: Department has 43 pilots who conduct more than 2,200 annual test flights.
Word Count: 184
Gulfstream Aerospace’s flight operations test organization received IS-BAO Stage 2 certification, demonstrating it commitment to adopting industry best safety practices. Its flight operations test department is responsible for experimental and production test flights for new and pre-owned aircraft. The department has 43 pilots who conduct more than 2,200 test flights per year.

“Gulfstream is one of the first OEMs to have its flight operations test department obtain IS-BAO certification,” said Dan Nale, Gulfstream senior vice president for programs, engineering and test. “We pursued this voluntary certification to validate our safety management system processes and best practices and to set a new standard in the business aviation industry. This certification is significant as we begin two flight-test programs for the new Gulfstream G500 and G600.”

To get the Stage 2 certification, the Gulfstream flight operations test group worked with IBAC auditors to adapt IS-BAO protocols of operational practices to effectively evaluate flight-test processes. IBAC auditors scrutinized the department’s standard operating, scheduling and dispatch procedures, and how they coordinate with the company’s more than 16 production and service facilities around the world.