Duncan Aviation’s Lincoln FBO Facility Receives IS-BAH Stage I Accreditation

Duncan Aviation announces that its Lincoln, NE, FBO facility has gained the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) Stage I accreditation. IS-BAH, developed by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), is a set of global industry best practices for business aviation ground handlers that features at its core a safety management system (SMS).

Well-known for its full-service support services, including airframe and engine maintenance, exterior paint, interior refurbishment, avionics installations, component repair and parts services, Duncan Aviation also provides aircraft fueling, ground handling and storage.

“Duncan Aviation is the first large MRO to achieve this accreditation,” says Troy Hyberger, Duncan Aviation’s FBO Services manager. “Duncan Aviation has always been serious about safety and customer care in all aspects of its aircraft service. The rigorous standards established through the IS-BAH program set a high bar for the industry. With more than 60 years of experience, Duncan Aviation was already meeting the majority of those standards. To earn the accreditation, we took all of our tribal knowledge and turned it into official, written policies that can be tracked and measured. Customers who look for the IS-BAH rating will also know what to expect when they utilize our services.”

Duncan Aviation’s line-service amenities include office space, conference rooms, pilot lounge, advanced weather planning and café service. Customers can also receive de-ice/pre-heat, GPU starts with fuel, baggage handling, on-site rental cars/courtesy cars, on-site fitness facilities, corporate hotel rates, Quick Turn service, and NATA Safety 1st-certified representatives.

“As a large MRO provider, attaining IS-BAH certification is a little different for us,” explains Hyberger. “For example, we often tow aircraft in atypical configurations, like with the tail removed or no interior in place. Best practice policies for all of the variants are documented, tracked and consistently applied.”

To help with the accreditation process, Hyberger asked FBO team leader/FBO safety officer Bob Cornett and line service rep Sean Jensen to lead the effort. They leaned on Duncan Aviation team members throughout the facility, including experts in the areas of quality, flight, safety, environmental, security and many others. Cornett also attended the Safety Leader Training course at WYVERN Ltd., the world's first business aviation audit company.

Duncan Aviation also offers line services at its facilities in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, MI. IS-BAH accreditation at those locations has begun and is expected by the end of the year. In addition, as Duncan Aviation’s Provo, UT, location is expanded, the facility will begin offering line services. The line team there will use the same processes and procedures as the rest of the enterprise and is expected to receive accreditation within its first year of operation.

According to IS-BAH, 57 U.S. FBOs are Stage I accredited. Globally, there are 138 at the Stage I level.