BAR Standard Program

Basic Aviation Risk Standard (BARS) managed by the Flight Safety Foundation is a new audit program aimed at the resource sector and aviation organisations servicing the mining industry.

The purpose of the program is to increase the level of safety in flight operations by companies and aircraft operators through a rigorous audit model and the use of a risk based approach to the conduct of air operations. The audit program encompasses fixed and rotary wing operations, regularly scheduled, charter and special operations for short term and long term contracts. The program was initially aimed at the resource sector operations but any operator that aims to achieve a higher standard of safety can become BARS registered. The UN World Food Program has joined in partnership with the Flight Safety Foundation and the BARS Program to use BARS as a tool to enhance the level of safety of services delivering humanitarian aid.

ACS, as the first 'Audit Company' to be accredited in Australia to conduct BARS Auditing, is well positioned to deliver best practice as an Audit Company working for this important program.

Our BARS Auditing capabilities leverage from our robust internal structure and processes to assist our clients from planning through to execution and, finally, the follow-up phase of the BARS registration audit. ACS has dedicated staff to assist and support the auditee through the planning phase and the audit follow up stage as well as the BARS qualified auditors who conduct the onsite audit.

Benefits of the program to the operators are:

• Reduction in the audit burden, instead of an annual audit from each and every contracting organisation, a BARS Registered operator need only undergo a single audit. The report once completed is available to each contracting company for review.
• A standardized, objective audit checklist is used each and every audit. The Standard and supporting audit checklist is developed and managed by the BARS Technical Advisory Committee. The checklist is objective and uses defined criteria in the examination of the auditee to establish the auditee's level of conformity with the elements of the BARS program.
• Consistent and standardized examinations by the auditors as all auditors have completed the BARS Auditor training from an independent training organisation.
• A structured and organized audit with a documented program manual. At each step of the process of becoming BARS Registered the operator has clear information on what to expect from the Audit Company and the BARS Program Office via the BAR Standard Procedures Manual (BSPM).

ACS has a large team of BARS trained and qualified auditors available to conduct you next BARS Audit. These ACS auditors are also qualified under the IATA IOSA Audit program and bring a wealth of auditing skills and abilities to the BARS Audit program. All ACS auditors have a wide and varied background and have exposure to operators of all sizes and services, from single aircraft charter and RPT, through to large flag carriers offering worldwide services.

All ACS Auditors receive annual Recurrent Training and ongoing support through the Quality Feedback system within the company.