Safety of Government Aircraft

The federal aviation community's goal is to set the nation's standard for aircraft safety. To reach this goal, GSA and the members of the Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy (ICAP) have implemented a number of programs to share, influence, and monitor the best aviation safety practices in the federal community. The ICAP has established the Safety Standards and Training Subcommittee to oversee these programs and address emerging issues related to aviation safety.

Some of the Safety Standards and Training Subcommittee's programs are as follows:
The Federal Aviation Safety Officer (ASO) Program encourages Federal Aviation Safety Officers to meet minimum training requirements and fosters continuing education, and improved skills and knowledge. In August 2003, GSA and the ICAP sponsored the first Federal Aviation Safety Officer Workshop, an unprecedented meeting which pulled together over 55 federal aviation safety managers and operators for three days of intensive information-sharing and instruction on the best practices for aviation safety programs. GSA and the ICAP will sponsor the next annual aviation workshop at FedFleet, July 27-30, 2009, in Chicago. Illinois.  Planning for the next ASO workshop will begin soon.  A heavy emphasis will be placed on Safety Management System (SMS) training and Risk Management.  If you are able to offer assistance with speakers or suggested breakout session topics, call Mike Miles on (202) 219-1356 or send email to michael.miles@gsa.gov

The GSA/ICAP Aviation Resource Management Survey (ARMS) program offers a comprehensive survey, on request, of an agency's flight program (management/administration, operations, maintenance, safety, and training). GSA puts together a team of aviation experts, which generally spends about two weeks on-site with the requesting agency's aviation program.

The GSA/ICAP "Gold Standard" program offers federal agencies recognition in the form of a certificate that will be awarded to agencies (bureaus/offices/services) that verify that they meet or exceed the safety guidelines outlined in 41 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 102-33 and the Federal Aviation Regulations that pertain to an agency's operations. For more information on these programs and to apply for the Gold Standard certificate, please call Mike Miles on (202) 219-1356 or send email to michael.miles@gsa.gov.