The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) officially approved INAEC Aviation Corporation’s Stage 2 International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) certification in December 2024, making it the first and only Philippine ground handling service provider to achieve such status.

IS-BAH constitutes the international best practices for business and general aviation ground handling service providers. IBAC is the nonprofit international trade association representing the business aviation industry through its official observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The Stage 2 IS-BAH certification means INAEC’s safety management activities in its ground handling and fixed base operations are appropriately targeted and its safety risks are effectively managed.

“Safety in the air starts with safety on the ground. Our efforts in attaining IS-BAH Stage 2 certification demonstrate our commitment to elevate the safety of INAEC’s operations according to established international standards. This is also how we can help promote Philippine aviation and encourage international flights into the country,” said INAEC general manager Aldi Dexter Ampong.

INAEC achieved the certification following a rigorous audit conducted in October 2024 by Manny Aero’s Jorge Roberto Lopez, an accredited IS-BAH auditor based in Mexico. The audit entailed the inspection by Lopez of all ground handling activities as well as interviews of personnel across all levels of the organization to determine how INAEC incorporated its safety management systems in its ground handling operations. This covered ground handling activities, including aircraft marshaling and towing, parking, fuel supply and catering, aircraft cleaning, maintenance services, flight coordination, baggage and cargo services, and passenger services.

After the audit, Lopez said: “INAEC has a genuine commitment to its safety policies and procedures. Everyone demonstrated strong familiarity with and active encouragement of the company’s hazard reporting system. And, they showed an optimistic and enthusiastic approach to safety goal setting.”

The finding underscores INAEC’s dedication to maintaining a robust safety culture and sets a positive tone for its future safety initiatives.

The company will undergo the Stage 3 IS-BAH certification audit in 2026.

The auditor cited INAEC for its ‘genuine commitment to its safety policies and procedures’

(Story by:Maila Banaag)