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Operator Resources
Q.
Could you tell me more about the ARG/US On-Site
Safety Audit?
A. The ARG/US audit
is a true Process and Systems audit that verifies that the air
carrier or flight department is managed, organized, and run
in a manner conducive to continued safe operations. Focusing
on all areas of a flight department
– from maintenance to flight operations – the non-intrusive ARG/US On-Site
Safety Audit provides a method to gain an objective insight into all segments
an operation.
- Non-intrusive
- Minimum time-on-station
- Efficient and targeted
written recommendations
- Best value on the market
(valid for 24 months)
- Process and systems audit
- Conducted by experienced
professional aviation auditors
Click here to learn more
Click here to request an On-Site Safety Audit
Q. What are the differences
between the various ratings assigned in the CHEQ
System?
A. The CHEQ
scoring method was developed and refined with the help
of noted aviation data analysis expert Dr.
James T. Luxhøj, Ph.D. This rate-based
scoring method is designed to provide a general peer
to peer comparison of the relative safety histories
of like-sized operators based on available data. A
copy of Dr. Luxhoj's report is available to qualified
personnel upon request.
DNQ Rating - An
ARG/US rating of DNQ, or Does Not Qualify, can result
from three areas: A poor historical safety rating based
on the data collected and analyzed, a significant safety
issue with a pilot or aircraft operated, or a failure
of an on-site safety audit. Most issues that cause a
DNQ rating stand a good chance of being corrected over
time
Silver Rating -
ARG/US conducts in-depth research into multiple public
databases to uncover accidents, incidents, enforcement
actions, and certification data relating to the operator.
Records that are located are assigned a score based
on the official cause, violation, or other data on record.
Older records have less impact on the score and are
omitted after ten years. The total of all found records
results in a Historical Safety Record score, with the
higher score reflecting a greater number of negative
events. Those operators with CHEQ scores better than
one standard deviation from the median score for their
size of operation are assigned a silver rating. Operators
with the worst (highest) historical safety ratings do
not qualify for the ARG/US silver rating.
Gold Rating -
For those operators who provide data on the aircraft
operated, and the pilots employed, ARG/US will evaluate
for a Gold Rating. The Gold level is assigned to operators
who meet or exceed the established ARG/US standards
for equipment and crew experience.
Gold Plus Rating - This rating is awarded to operators who meet all Gold rating requirements, and have undergone an ARG/US on-site safety audit. The operator has been found to have effective and documented policies and procedures which should be conducive to safe future operations.
Platinum Rating -
The highest level of ARG/US safety ratings is awarded to those operators who meet the criteria for Silver and Gold, and successfully pass an ARG/US on-site safety audit. The ARG/US audit is a true process audit administered by trained and experienced aviation auditing professionals to evaluate the operator against industry best practice standards. A Platinum rating requires a functioning Safety Management System, and clear and workable Emergency Response Plan, and appropriate written standards, implementation, and records for all major aspects of Operations and Maintenance within a flight department or Charter company (see http://www.aviationresearch.com/onsite_audit.asp ).
Q. Ok, now that I have an understanding of the ratings, how can I turn my Silver rating into Gold, Gold Plus or Platinum?
A.
There is no cost to obtain an ARG/US Gold rating. The process is outlined below.
- The Part 135 certificate holder must have operated with their certificate for a minimum of one year.
- We set up a Username and Password so you can access our Operator Data Maintenance Program (ODMP) via the internet.
- We provide a short online training orientation so you know what information we will need entered into the ODMP.
- You input your aircraft and flight crew data into the ODMP.
- Fax us a copy of your current D-O85 from your Ops Specs – to fax # 866-414-6218.
- We do background checks on the flight crew and aircraft (takes approximately 30 days)
- We perform analysis of all historical safety data that we have collected – on your 135 certificate, the aircraft, and the pilots. If the final score is below our cutoff for the Gold Rating, you will be awarded the ARG/US Gold rating.
- To maintain your rating, you are required to
update your information in the ODMP at least every 90 days, and
incorporate the ARG/US rating verification banner on your website, see sample below.
The Gold Plus and Platinum ratings are the result of an on-site ARG/US Safety Audit. If the operator is found to have good, well documented policies and procedures, good management structure and performance, and can show that these procedures are followed in practices conducive to safe operations, the operator is awarded the Gold Plus rating.
The Platinum rating is awarded to operators who show the highest level of industry best practices throughout the organization. Specific programs must also be in place such as a working Safety Management System, a functioning and exercised Emergency Response Plan, and Full Motion Sim training for all pilots.
That’s it. If you would like to initiate, simply send us an [email ] or call 215-345-6782 and select Option #1 Customer Support.
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