We keep you informed.

ISM 5th edition

IATA has just issued the new IOSA Standards Manual (ISM) Edition 5. You can download it on our website: Click here. The changes can be reviewed in the Revision Highlights section on pages DOC 1 to DOC 8.

IPM 5th edition

The new IOSA Programme Manual (IPM) Edition 5 has just been published by IATA. Please click here to download the document from our website.
The changes can be reviewed in the Introductory Content, Description of Changes on page 18.

Gain basic knowledge on Fatigue Risk Management Systems

AQS offers an introduction seminar, which provides an overview of the latest regulations and information on managing fatigue. The workshop is based on ICAO and EASA regulations. After completion of this seminar you will understand what an FRMS is, what it consists of and how it works. Our speakers have first hand experience in managing and implementing an FRMS and will share their lessons learned with the participants.

Apply for your AQS Quality Card

The AQS Quality Card was introduced to give you the opportunity to benefit in two ways. One advantage is that you receive a 10 % discount on each training registration (except for the IOSA Auditor Training). Pass your AQS Quality Card ID on to colleagues, friends and business partners and be rewarded with Miles & More bonus miles. The recommended participant profits by receiving the 10 % discount on the regular course fee.

Order your personal AQS Quality Card here.

ISM 4th edition

The new IOSA Standards Manual (ISM) Edition 4 has just been released by IATA and is available for download on our website: Click here

Changes have been done in the Flight Operations (FLT) and Operational Control and Flight Dispatch (DSP) area. To learn more about the adaptations of the ISM please check out the Revision Highlights section on pages DOC 1 to DOC 13 of the new ISM.

The new IPM Edition 4, effective 1st of April 2011 is available

IATA released the new IPM Ed4. A list of the most significant changes is provided in the introduction chapter.

A new section has been developed to address "Airline Responsibilities for IOSA Registration" to introduce and guide Operators through the IOSA programme.

Have a look at the latest version and use our service to download the IPM Edition 4 from our website. Click here.

New IOSA Payment Model and revised Audit Agreement Templates

IATA published their new IOSA Payment Model for IATA airline members as well as new audit agreement templates for both “member” and “non-members”. We of AQS would like to take the opportunity and inform you about the new payment model, which came into effect on 1 January 2011.

New IOSA Payment Model
- IATA member airlines shall pay directly to IATA a sum of USD 57,000 including the AO Audit Fixed Fee of USD 55,000 plus an IATA Administration Fee of USD 2,000.
- The Non-Member Audit Agreement payment model remains unchanged. They still have to pay directly to IATA USD 55,000 plus USD 5,000 administrative fee.

Revised Audit Agreement Templates
Updated audit agreements for both “member” and “non-member” airlines have been released. IATA requires the use of the new audit agreement model for audits taking place as of 1 January 2011 except agreement for non-member airlines, which has been signed before December 31st, 2010.

New Business Aviation Safety Standard Introduced

Frankfurt, Germany and Trenton, NJ, USA. - December 6, 2010
Wyvern, an Avinode Group company, and Aviation Quality Services, a Lufthansa subsidiary, have entered into a strategic partnership to introduce a common safety standard to the European business aviation market. The objective of the partnership is to increase safety transparency in the air charter industry while at the same time offering to quality operators a means of distinguishing their product from the fragmented executive travel market.

Wyvern and AQS have agreed to use “The Wyvern Standard” (TWS), a well-established and widely recognized U.S. quality audit standard, as their framework and will adjust it to the needs and requirements of the European market. The Wyvern audit consists of a 4 man-day onsite audit, evaluating operations and maintenance practices. Effective immediately AQS, an IATA accredited Audit Organisation, will conduct all Wyvern audits in Europe.

Over 100 business aviation operators around the world are currently Wyvern certified and some of the largest corporate flight departments in the U.S. require “The Wyvern Standard” for all their air charter purchases. The standard also offers operators a new way to distinguish themselves within Avinode, the world’s largest marketplace for air charter.  Used by over 1800 companies, Avinode gives its users the capability to both display their certification and to search for aircraft based on certification type and level.

“By combining the leading business aviation audit standard with the quality and expertise AQS is known for, I am confident the partnership will be able to deliver a quality product, giving operators a means of distinguishing themselves in the marketplace and providing confidence to companies when buying air charter” says Niclas Wennerholm, CEO of Avinode Group.

Patrick Ockens, Managing Director of Aviation Quality Services, says: “We have audited more than 200 airlines around the world under IATA’s IOSA program, covering a wide variety of operational scopes. Our extensive expertise in flight safety will deliver a great value to the Wyvern program. Wyvern and Avinode are the right partners to set up a successful co-operation for safety auditing in the business aviation sector in Europe.”

Through the partnership, Wyvern certified companies will have access to AQS’ various products for auditing, training and consulting services thereby enhancing the safety and quality of their complete operation.

About Wyvern
Since 1991, Wyvern is a global leader in aviation safety auditing, consulting and information services. Corporate flight departments, travel departments, fractional programs and charter brokers use Wyvern as their primary source of aviation safety information. Wyvern also works with business aviation providers to develop safety programs that far exceed minimum regulatory standards.  The Wyvern data products provide charter buyers with timely and crucial operator, aircraft and crew safety information.  Wyvern is headquarted in Trenton, NJ, USA and Gothenburg, Sweden, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avinode.  Visit www.wyvernltd.com for more information.

About Avinode

Avinode serves the global air charter industry as the leading online marketplace to buy and sell charter flights.  Over 4000 aviation professionals use Avinode daily to charter flights worldwide. The marketplace currently lists over 3000 aircraft with online pricing, aircraft availability reports, empty leg postings and picture galleries. Avinode AB is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Avinode Inc., is located in Miami, Florida, USA. For more information, visit www.avinode.com.

 
Meet us at the ILA Berlin Air Show on June 8th, 2010

Aviation Quality Services will participate at this year’s ILA trade fair in Berlin. If you are interested in a personal meeting with our representatives, please contact us.

We would be pleased to meet you.

Your Aviation Quality Service Team

 
AQS is a partner of Miles & More

Frankfurt/Main, January 5th 2010
Now Aviation Quality Services is a cooperation partner of Miles & More, the frequent flyer programme of Lufthansa. This means that training participants have the additional advantage of collecting Miles & More award miles that can be redeemed for attractive flight, upgrade, adventure and casual awards.

Award miles can be earned at the following Aviation Quality Services (AQS) courses: Participants that have completed the Aviation Auditor Training course receive 5,000 Miles & More award miles. The Aviation Auditor Trainings Pro+L course is modular and can be booked for different lengths of time. Participants of those courses receive 1,000 Miles & More award miles per training day.

Miles & More is Europe’s leading frequent flyer programme with more than 17 million members worldwide. Valuable miles can be earned for example on flights, hotel accommodation, car rentals and many other opportunities and be redeemed for attractive awards.

More information about the Miles & More Programme can be found at www.miles-and-more.com

AQS performs 200th IOSA audit

Frankfurt/Main, December 7th 2009
Today AQS proudly announces the commencement of the 200th IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) performed by the company since 2003. AQS was the world's first audit organisation to be accredited by IATA to conduct audits under the IOSA programme and has conducted a quarter of all IOSA audits.

Audits number 199 and 200 are taking place simultaneously at the headquarters of PrivatAir S.A. (Geneva, Switzerland) and its German sister company PrivatAir GmbH (Düsseldorf, Germany), being already the 4th round of IOSA audits for PrivatAir. At each location a team of five highly experienced AQS aviation experts will analyse over 900 safety relevant standards and practices in all areas of operations.

"Our customer airlines claim the highest safety and quality standards. Belonging to the Lufthansa group of companies, AQS incorporates decades of industry leading management experience in operational standards combined with the flexibility of a dynamic team," says Patrick Ockens, AQS Managing Director. Until today the portfolio of AQS customers includes no less than 124 renowned airlines worldwide.

The IATA Operational Safety Audit programme is an internationally recognised and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline. IOSA's quality audit principles are designed to conduct audits in a standardised manner. With the implementation and international acceptance of IOSA, airlines and regulators achieve several benefits including a reduction of costs and audit resource requirements. Under the stewardship of IATA the quality audit programme embraces the continuous updating of standards to reflect regulatory changes as well as reflecting the evolution of best practices within the industry.

In addition to auditing services AQS provides a large variety of auditor and Safety Management System (SMS) training as well as implementation and preparation services in these sectors.