INAEC Aviation Corporation reaffirmed its commitment to advancing safety in Philippine aviation as its president, Benjamin R. Lopez (BRL), took part in the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) State Safety Summit held at Casa Ibarra, Pasay City, on Nov. 5-6, 2025.
With the theme “FutureProofing the Philippine Aviation Ecosystem for Growth,” the summit gathered more than 300 senior aviation leaders, operators and regulators for a two-day dialogue on the State Safety Program and the Philippine Aviation Safety Plan.
INAEC was the only general aviation air operator’s certificate or AOC holder invited to speak, joining a high-level panel that included representatives from major airlines and global aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus and Boeing. The invitation highlighted CAAP’s growing recognition of the vital role that general aviation plays in strengthening the country’s safety ecosystem.
Community-centered
In his presentation titled “Safety Culture in Action: Our People, Our Strength,” BRL emphasized that effective safety management systems or SMS are built not only on procedures, but on people. He stressed that winning hearts and minds—earning trust, showing genuine care and fostering open communication— remains essential to sustaining a strong safety culture.
Drawing from his participation earlier this year at the Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety in Singapore, BRL shared global insights on collaboration, noting the “closeness of the international aviation community” and its willingness to share lessons that save lives.
“We cannot do this alone. It takes a community,” BRL said. “Gatherings like this show what a learning community looks like—supporting each other so that together we can build a safer Philippine aviation industry.”
INAEC’s safety journey
BRL also highlighted INAEC’s continued alignment with CAAP’s safety vision through its progressive adoption of global best practices. Over the years, INAEC has earned IS-BAO Stage 3 and IS-BAH Stage 2 certifications, underscoring its commitment to a performance-based safety approach that is both scalable and relevant to real-world operations.
“This journey never ends,” BRL stressed, noting that INAEC just completed its latest recertification audit days before the summit. “Safety is worth every investment of time, manpower and resources.”
He shared how INAEC integrates safety into all business pillars, from flight operations and maintenance planning to customer interface and ground handling. The company’s organizational interventions—such as weekly employee huddles, open discussions of obstacles and the promotion of faithbased practices and prayers— strengthen psychological safety and deepen camaraderie in the workplace.
Cornerstone of safety
In closing, BRL emphasized that the cornerstone of aviation safety is, and will always be, people. Sustained improvement requires trust, respect and genuine engagement at every level.
“When people feel heard, they act safer,” he said. “Safety is not achieved in isolation—it is lived, owned and shared by everyone.”
INAEC’s participation in the summit reflects CAAP’s trust in the company to help advance safety leadership within the general aviation sector. More importantly, it reinforces INAEC’s belief that when safety culture is strong, the entire aviation community stands strong.
(Story By: Ian Alvarez)
