High Score

USA320Pilot

Veteran
May 18, 2003
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www.usaviation.com
High Score

ARLINGTON (theHub.com) - US Airways scored extremely high in a safety audit recently conducted for the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

“This is an international safety audit that establishes a common global performance standard, and compares us with every airline in the world that undergoes the inspection, said James Schear, vice president of safety and regulatory compliance. “And we finished at the top of the industry.â€

The audit inspected 785 specific safety-related areas in four broad categories: corporate organization, flight operations, operational control and maintenance.

The final report will show that US Airways has not a single finding, or area of non-compliance with IATA standards, Schear said.

“To have no findings in 785 audit categories is unheard of,†Schear said. “It clearly demonstrates the skill of the audit coordinator, Director of Internal Evaluations Eduardo Cidade and the departmental coordinators. The auditors said we were the best airline they had ever seen. I am extremely proud that every one of our safety-related departments performed so well, an indication of this airline’s deep and abiding commitment to operating safely.â€

IATA developed the audit program at the request of the three major marketing alliances -- Star Alliance, OneWorld and Sky Team -- in an effort to establish global performance standards. So far, 35 airlines have been audited, including two U.S. carriers, US Airways and Chautauqua. Audits are required every two years.

US Airways first underwent the IATA Operational Safety Audit in 2003 to be a fully qualified participant in the Star Alliance.

When the FAA approved the audit procedure last year, FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey said, “This new audit accreditation program is an important step toward achieving a single international set of audit standards that will make flying safer.â€

Regards,

USA320Pilot