Aviation safwety accolade potential catalyst for commercial agreements with fellow IOSA recipients

(TRAVPR.COM) SOLOMON ISLANDS - March 23rd, 2015 - Marking yet another major benchmark in its 53-year history  Solomon Airlines has been awarded with its second IATA Operational Safety Audit Certification* (IOSA).  

Announcing the news, Solomon Airlines’ CEO, Captain Ron Sumsum was quick to recognise each one of the national carrier’s team members, all of whom he said played a key role in helping the airline achieve this highest of international aviation safety standards. 

“Year on year we have continued to perform and achieve those highest of standards based on our International Air Operator Certification (AOC),” Captain Sumsum said. 

“This in itself has been the forerunner for Solomon Airlines ensuring these safety principles apply to all our operations, both domestic and international. 

“The IOSA Certification previously achieved has already resulted in a much stronger commercial alliance with our fellow Melanesian regional partners Air Niugini and Air Vanuatu, both of which are IOSA-certified. 

“We are now awaiting further audits by other potential airline partners who view our IOSA certification as a means to developing new code-share agreements and other partnerships with Solomon Airlines. 

“Having achieved this secondary IOSA certification, we will now begin the process of implementing the recently introduced E-IOSA** procedure, the applied process intended to become a systematic approach in the way we do business well into the future.”

Captain Sumsum added he hoped this second IOSA achievement will be the catalyst for a review of the airline’s current associate membership with a view to it achieving its goal of full IATA status in short time.

*IOSA is an international flight safety standard and a mandatory requirement of International Air Transport Association (IATA) membership.

In order to receive IOSA certification, Solomon Airlines has again successfully completed an  operational safety audit covering all aspects of the carrier’s operations  – from air safety and  inflight procedures, engineering and maintenance, management, ground and cabin crew performance and cargo handling. The audit is required to be performed every two years.

** E-IOSA is the result of industry demand for a more effective IOSA audit. Under E-IOSA, an Operator will be required to complete ongoing internal assessments using the IOSA Standards and Recommended Practices (ISARPs).

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