The AusIMM – The Minerals Institute has recognised the Flight Safety Foundation’s Basic Aviation Risk Standard (BARS) Program for improving the safety of chartered resource support charter flight operations.
The Australian-led initiative was awarded the Jim Torlach Health and Safety Award in recognition of the BARS program which evaluates contracted aircraft operations used extensively for carrying mining company personnel, and which has raised the level of minimum standards for charter aircraft operations worldwide.
“We’re really proud to accept this award from the mining industry and are encouraged in knowing that the program is internationally respected and is helping to improve aviation safety,” BARS Program managing director Greg Marshall said in a statement. “Under our program aviation suppliers work to comply with one standard – not with the multiple and varying safety standards and protocols that existed previously. Mining companies can be assured their aviation suppliers meet the exacting standards required of the BARS Program.”
The BARS Program was developed by the FSF in conjunction with the resources sector and is a consensus-based industry standard consisting of four components: A risk-based international aviation standard; an auditing program, tailored to the standard; a range of aviation safety training programs; and a global safety data analysis program.
