Operating safety has always been our number one priority at Million Air Dallas. As believers in the benefits of a fully implemented SMS, we needed an solution that would engage the entire organization in developing a safety management culture. That’s where PRISM came in. Our partnership with PRISM has helped us continue on our path to a safer and more efficient organization. Utilizing PRISM’s online SMS tool and its customized access levels enables all of our employees to actively participate in our SMS anytime, anywhere. We are absolutely convinced that PRISM’s SMS solution has lowered our risk exposure.

Bob Schmidt
Director of Operations
Million Air Dallas

Managing safety has always been a top priority for the Costco flight department. We are well aware of the looming Safety Management System regulations and requirements, but our decision to create and implement a comprehensive SMS was driven more by our appreciation of the effectiveness of such a program rather than some approaching new regulation.

In August of 2006 Costco received its initial registration as an IS-BAO compliant company. As a department we had been working to achieve this goal for a couple of years and were now ready to implement and make safety management an integral part of our department. Although we had put in place many of the essential components of an SMS we still needed practical everyday tools to work with to make the SMS a functioning reality.

While researching the marketplace for companies involved in SMS solutions, we discovered the ARGUS’ PRISM program. ARGUS’ PRISM solutions provided all that we were looking for and more. We found ARGUS to be one of the most experienced businesses in this space, with nearly 10 years of SMS experience on a global level. Since June of 2007 PRISM has provided us comprehensive SMS solutions that are fully IS-BAO compliant.

PRISM’ safety experts have not only guided us through implementing and maintaining SMS solutions but continue to enhance and add additional value to those products. Considering all the value that we receive from our PRISM subscription, it has become one of the most cost effective assets of our flight department.

Corky Culver
Administrative / Safety Manager
Costco Flight Department

The Forest Service began the process of incorporating SMS into its aviation program in 2005. During the five years since that time we have continued to train personnel on SMS process and to implement policy and procedure changes that incorporate the systems approach. Now that our major program risk assessments have been completed, our next goal is to achieve IS-BAO certification by the end of 2012. We found that PRISM offers a comprehensive package of SMS services and tools that will lead us through the necessary changes to achieve this goal and further the effectiveness of our SMS. We are very satisfied with the progress we are making with the PRISM products. So satisfied that we have recommended the ARGUS-PRISM safety program to our contracted aviation service providers; over 300 of them.

Ron Hanks
US Forest Service
Branch Chief, Aviation Safety Management Systems
Boise, Idaho

ACP Jets began during a time filled with economic uncertainty. However, we chose to meet these challenges head on by developing a fiscally responsible, yet aggressive, two year start up plan. One of our main goals was to implement a strategy that met FAA and ICAO requirements in hopes of achieving IS-BAO registration and the ARGUS Platinum Rating.

As part of meeting the IS-BAO and ARGUS Platinum requirements we needed to implement a Safety Management System (SMS). From the beginning, the ACP Jets team recognized that a SMS is not a stagnant set of manuals and procedures that sit on one’s shelf. We know a quality SMS requires active participation from the flight operations personnel, management and administrative staff as well. PRISM, from ARGUS, is the turnkey solution that provided ACP with a SMS program that seamlessly integrated into our daily operations. With PRISM we have an SMS that meets the requirements of AC 120-92, AC 120-59A, and will be updated to meet any new requirements in the future.

Since implementing the PRISM SMS program, ACP Jets has seen improvement in our Emergency Response Plan, flight risk analysis program, and continuous safety awareness. PRISM’s highly intuitive and comprehensive web based solution fostered a safety culture within our organization that continues to grow. The online component also enables all employees to maintain a high level of risk management in real time and on a flight by flight basis.

After the first twelve months of becoming a part 135 Air Carrier, ACP Jets has a fully integrated SMS program containing a year’s worth of information and grew from one aircraft to six. We have developed a true partnership with the PRISM team of experts as they continue to help in our risk management efforts with comprehensive implementation support and on-going training. PRISM has become a crucial tool in our flight department.

Suran Wijayawardana
V.P. Flight Operations
ACP Jets

At Sierra Aviation, safety is a top priority. As we approach our 25th year of accident free service, our safety culture and operating philosophy reflect the importance of a safe operating environment for all employees and customers. We continually focus on self-improvement in all aspects of our operation, none being more important than the safe and efficient operation of our 3 aircraft fleet. Realizing the next step in the advancement of our safety program was the integration of a Safety Management System in our operation, we began the search for a fully compliant SMS provider to assist in our development and implementation efforts. During our exhaustive search, one provider stood out, head and shoulders above all of their competition - ARGUS International and their PRISM SMS Solution.

PRISM’s intuitive, web based interface allows all department personnel to be fully engaged in the SMS process, essentially making our system wholly functional from day one. The PRISM professionals provided individualized attention in the development of our program as well as expert guidance during our implementation. PRISM gave us the tools and empowered us to look at ourselves, integrating all aspects of SMS with our operations in a seamless, straightforward manner. Their follow-on support and continual updating of the SMS processes enhance the value, comprehensiveness, and functionality of our SMS.

Since implementation, our SMS progress has been rapid. We have fully integrated the SMS processes in our daily operations and have realized gains in many critical safety areas. The PRISM SMS solution has become the hallmark of our company operating philosophy and is considered the most valuable tool we have in assuring our operation remains fully compliant with current industry standards and accepted practices.

Enhancing the safety of our operations and ultimately allowing us to more efficiently perform our mission is the key benefit we have realized as a result of our partnership with the professionals at PRISM Solutions; they have truly set the industry “gold standard” for Safety Management.

Larry Walter
Captain
Safety Manager
Sierra Aviation, Inc.