The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) approved Stage 2 IS-BAH certification of INAEC Aviation Corp. (INAEC) in December 2024, making it the first and only Philippine ground-handling service provider to achieve such status.
IS-BAH, or the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling, constitutes the international best practices for business and general aviation ground handling service providers, while IBAC is the non-profit international trade association representing the business aviation industry, through its official observer status at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
A Stage 2 IS-BAH certification means that INAEC’s safety management activities in its ground-handling and fixed base operations are appropriately targeted and its safety risks are effectively managed.
INAEC achieved its IS-BAH Stage 2 certification following a rigorous audit conducted in October 2024 by Jorge Roberto Lopez of Manny Aero, an accredited IS-BAH auditor based in Mexico.
The audit entailed the inspection by Lopez of all ground-handling activities and interview of personnel across all levels of the organization to determine how INAEC incorporated its safety management systems in its ground-handling operations.
This included covered INAEC’s 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.
“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 general manager Aldi Dexter Ampong.
“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,” said Lopez.
The finding underscores INAEC’s dedication to maintaining a robust safety culture and sets a positive tone for the INAEC’s future safety initiatives. INAEC will undergo a Stage 3 IS-BAH certification audit in 2026.
