At Flight Options, we're proud to give you more--including more of a commitment to safety.
DEFINING INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES
Flight Options has, for the fourth time, been rated Platinum by the Aviation Research Group/US (ARG/US). This is the highest-status rating given by the aviation research firm. "Flight Options has demonstrated an unmatched commitment to continuous improvement in all areas of aviation operations, maintenance and safety," said Joe Moeggenberg, president of ARG/US. "Only companies which meet or exceed the established ARG/US standards for equipment, maintenance and crew experience achieve a Platinum rating."
The company was commended for taking on a proactive risk identification and modification posture that will keep this professional organization in the forefront of fractional ownership entities, according to the ARG/US Charter Evaluation and Qualification report (CHEQ).
Flight Options was also selected by the FAA as the only fractional operator, and only one of nine total operators, to partner with the FAA during the developmental phase of the FAA Safety Management System (SMS), which will become mandatory for all carriers in 2009.
Flight Options was the first fractional aircraft operator approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to participate in the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). The goal of the program is to enhance aviation safety by encouraging flight crews to voluntarily report critical safety information, helping to proactively identify and correct hazards. ASAP was previously approved only for commercial airlines. "Our dedication to continuous safety improvement has allowed us to become the first fractional carrier and Part 135 operator in the continental U.S. to partner with the FAA and institute ASAP," said S. Michael Scheeringa, Chief Executive Officer, Flight Options, LLC.
DIAMOND AWARD FOR MAINTENANCE TRAINING
In March 2007, Flight Options received the FAA Diamond Award for Excellence, presented to us by the Federal Aviation Administration. The Diamond award is the highest-level FAA award presented to recognize a company's commitment to provide training to its technical staff. A company is eligible for the Diamond Award when a minimum of 50 percent of the technical staff receives an Aviation Maintenance Technician Award. Technicians will receive an award based on the individual hours of training that year. The Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards are divided into five levels, from Bronze to Diamond. This is Flight Options' third straight year receiving the Diamond Award.
FAA OPERATIONAL SPECIFICATION A008
Officially implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration on March 15, 2007, Operational Specification (OpSpec) A008 provides operational control guidance for Part 135 Charter Operators and requires them to comply with the operations specifications. The FAA said in its notice publishing the new OpSpec, "the FAA has become aware of a problem in the air carrier industry relating to the development of commercial arrangements that, at the very least, call into question whether an air carrier has control of its operations purportedly conducted under the authority of its certificate." The notice further stated, "each part 119 certificate holder conducting operations under part 135 must maintain control and authority over the initiation, continuation, conduct, and termination of its part 135 flights." While a large segment of the industry has had to make changes to their businesses to ensure that the certificated air carrier is exercising direct control over the aircraft, flight crew and execution of the flight, Flight Options has always adhered to these standards.
SETTING THE STANDARDS IN QUALITY ASSURANCE
Safety done right. Flight Options' dedication to safety is evident in our fleet of more than 130 aircraft that are maintained to rigorous standards by the industry's largest dedicated maintenance network.
The maintenance network uses a unique program based strictly on checks and balances. Each dedicated maintenance facility has a Quality Assurance Manager in place to ensure our maintenance standards are not only met - but exceeded. This dedication to quality assurance follows the same standards used by commercial airlines. Under this program, we are not only meeting the FAA requirements for maintenance, but are also surpassing them. Just another way we are demonstrating our commitment to safety.
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS MAINTENANCE (OEM) PROGRAM
Exceeding industry standards for maintenance on our Owners' aircraft is our goal. Under the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) Maintenance Program we are doing just that. Through our partnership with the OEMs we are proactively handling annual aircraft inspections and preventative maintenance, making Owner flights as safe and comfortable as possible.
STATE-OF-THE-ART OPERATIONS CONTROL CENTER
Our State-of-the-Art Operations Control Center is modeled after NASA's Houston Control Center and Delta Airlines' Atlanta facilities. The Operations Control Center (OCC) boasts the most advanced proprietary software in general aviation today. The OCC has been arranged to provide Flight Options' dispatch and owner service professionals with complete information on everything from weather and maintenance, to crew status and flight tracking - 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The center is ergonomically designed, with a sophisticated array of nine front-projection screens, which enable our dispatchers to quickly determine the status of a flight. The OCC utilizes advanced design and computer technology to monitor and track the Flight Options fleet. |
