Capitol Helicopters has been recognized in Vertical Aviation International’s (VAI) 2023 Annual Report for its significant achievement in completing the HAI’s Accreditation Program of Safety (HAI-APS) in 2023. This program, known for its stringent safety standards, combines the best practices of the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) and helicopter mission-specific standards (HMSS), offering a robust framework for safety in aviation operations.
Paul Kargus, the Director of Safety at Capitol Helicopters, highlighted the company’s dedication to leading the industry in safety standards. He shared, “We’ve always aimed to be at the forefront, setting high safety standards for ourselves. The HAI-APS was a clear path to enhancing our safety performance and culture.”
The program has enabled Capitol Helicopters to improve its safety culture significantly, achieving high scores in safety audits. This accomplishment has not gone unnoticed, with Chris Hill, VAI’s Senior Director of Safety, commending Capitol Helicopters for being one of the last to complete the program in its current form. Hill revealed plans for launching a new, streamlined safety accreditation program at the HAI HELI-EXPO 2024, aimed at making safety accreditation more accessible and focused on operational risk and resilience.
The new Operational Risk and Resilience Accreditation (ORRA) Program is designed to be more straightforward, basing accreditation on an operator’s existing safety management system and emphasizing risk management with easier-to-understand checklists. While the new program will not require IS-BAO standards, operators can still opt for them.
Capitol Helicopters’ achievement in completing the HAI-APS underscores its commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards, setting an example for the aviation industry as it moves towards implementing the new ORRA Program.
https://rotor.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/VAI_2023_Annual_-Report.pdf
