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Issue link: http://airportbusiness.epubxp.com/i/618921
INDUSTRY INSIDER By Ronnie L. Garrett Spotlight on Safety American Aero's Robert Agostino shares his views on safety at the FBO and stresses IS-BAO and IS-BAH certification is a must for safety-conscious FBOs R obert Agostino started flying jets when he was 22 years old and has been fly- ing globally for more than four decades. Safety quickly became a major focus for him because, as a young aviator, he encountered several aviation accidents that left him with a lasting impression. . Later, as the head of flight operations for Bombardier Learjet, Agostino was part of a team studying how jet accidents took place. In the team's review of approximately 400 different acci- dents, involving of all types of airplanes, Agostino started to draw some parallels. After consulting with experts with the National Transportation Safety Board, the team determined there were only five or six different types of aviation acci- dents that just keep reoccurring. Agostino suggested employing something the military already used called a safety stand- down. In this situation, if a certain type of aircraft has an accident and it is followed by another one, the military grounds that fleet of airplanes. "They stand them down, so they can understand the most probable cause," Agostino explains. This suggestion was instrumental in creating a program, called the Learjet Safety Standdown, which is still being used by Bombardier today. "The idea was to present unvarnished and essential information to the flying public, and it was free of charge, because safety should not have a cost to it," he says. Later Agostino joined American Aero FTW as its vice president. Here at this impressive FBO located at Meacham International Airport, Agostino has had an opportunity to bring his extensive safety background to the FBO. Under his helm, all of American Aero FTW's line person- nel have completed intensive training through the Safety First program conducted by the National Air Transportation Association. And, in 2015, American Aero FTW became the first FBO in the Western Hemisphere to achieve the International Standard For Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH), a rigorous safety and ground handling accreditation from the International Business Aviation Council. Airport Business recently spoke with Agostino about aviation safety and IS-BAH and IS-BAO's role in improving safety at the FBO.