User:BARS Program/sandbox

The Basic Aviation Risk Standard (BARS) Program was created by the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) in collaboration with some of the world’s leading mining and resource companies to provide a more efficient means of monitoring, assessing and analyzing safety risk associated with aircraft charter flights. The Program is supported by training elements, data analysis and a suite of aviation standards.

The BARS Program originated from the onshore resource (mining) sector need for a robust assurance mechanisms over the contracted aviation providers. A leading group of mining company representatives came together to develop a common aviation standard to replace the multitude of individual and different company requirements. This effort created the BARS Bow tie model of identifying the threats then codifying the necessary controls and defences to address the risks. This model worked well for the mining sector where bow tie was prevalent for many risk management activities.

The Foundation was approached to host and run the audit program to give clear independence between the auditee and the end user of the audit report - a true third party audit program. Since commencing in 2010, the BARS Program has expanded to support the humanitarian sector, offshore helicopter, RPAS, and Aerial cattle mustering & culling. The Standards also contain appendices for sub categories such as airborne geophysical survey, helicopter external loads, night vision goggle operations, air drop of supplies, marine pilot transfer, SAR hoist, RPAS underground and confined spaces, RPAS offshore and marine operations and RPAS BVLOS/IFR operations.

The Standard and Audit program is supported by a data analysis effort looking at the data coming from the audit program and treating these as leading indicators of control weakness/failure. This information is used to strengthen the Standard(s), the audit program and provided to industry for their education.