December 6, 2010 – Frankfurt, Germany and Trenton, NJ, USA – Wyvern, an Avinode Group company, and Aviation Quality Services, a Lufthansa subsidiary, have entered into a strategic partnership to introduce a common safety standard to the European business aviation market. The objective of the partnership is to increase safety transparency in the air charter industry while at the same time offering to quality operators a means of distinguishing their product from the fragmented executive travel market.
Wyvern and AQS have agreed to use “The Wyvern Standard” (TWS), a well-established and widely recognized U.S. quality audit standard, as their framework and will adjust it to the needs and requirements of the European market. The Wyvern audit consists of a 4 man-day onsite audit, evaluating operations and maintenance practices. Effective immediately AQS, an IATA accredited Audit Organisation, will conduct all Wyvern audits in Europe.
Over 100 business aviation operators around the world are currently Wyvern certified and some of the largest corporate flight departments in the U.S. require “The Wyvern Standard” for all their air charter purchases. The standard also offers operators a new way to distinguish themselves within Avinode, the world’s largest marketplace for air charter. Used by over 1800 companies, Avinode gives its users the capability to both display their certification and to search for aircraft based on certification type and level.
“By combining the leading business aviation audit standard with the quality and expertise AQS is known for, I am confident the partnership will be able to deliver a quality product, giving operators a means of distinguishing themselves in the marketplace and providing confidence to companies when buying air charter” says Niclas Wennerholm, CEO of Avinode Group.
Patrick Ockens, Managing Director of Aviation Quality Services, says: “We have audited more than 200 airlines around the world under IATA’s IOSA program, covering a wide variety of operational scopes. Our extensive expertise in flight safety will deliver a great value to the Wyvern program. Wyvern and Avinode are the right partners to set up a successful co-operation for safety auditing in the business aviation sector in Europe.”
Through the partnership, Wyvern certified companies will have access to AQS’ various products for auditing, training and consulting services thereby enhancing the safety and quality of their complete operation.
For more information about Wyvern and Aviation Quality Services please stop by booth C755 at MEBA in Dubai, December 7-9.
About Aviation Quality Services
Aviation Quality Services (AQS) is a subsidiary of Lufthansa Flight Training and as such belongs to the Lufthansa group of companies. AQS was the world´s first IATA accredited Audit Organisation and is therefore authorised to conduct audits for IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registration. In addition, AQS was IATA’s first Endorsed Training Organisation and as such trains, on a worldwide basis, aviation auditors. More than 800 auditors have already been certified. AQS is a full-service provider of safety and quality management solutions for the aviation world. The wide range of AQS´ experience is used for development of customer specific training for international airlines as well as for business jet operators. A major focus of AQS is on the field of Safety Management Systems.
With more than 120 customers worldwide, AQS, from the company headquarters in Frankfurt and home bases of Dubai, Johannesburg and in the near future also Hong Kong appoints audit teams for IOSA audits. Visit www.aviation-quality-services.com for more information.
About Wyvern
Since 1991, Wyvern is a global leader in aviation safety auditing, consulting and information services. Corporate flight departments, travel departments, fractional programs and charter brokers use Wyvern as their primary source of aviation safety information. Wyvern also works with business aviation providers to develop safety programs that far exceed minimum regulatory standards. The Wyvern data products provide charter buyers with timely and crucial operator, aircraft and crew safety information. Wyvern is headquarted in Trenton, NJ, USA and Gothenburg, Sweden, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avinode. Visit www.wyvernltd.com for more information.
About Avinode
Avinode serves the global air charter industry as the leading online marketplace to buy and sell charter flights. Over 4000 aviation professionals use Avinode daily to charter flights worldwide. The marketplace currently lists over 3000 aircraft with online pricing, aircraft availability reports, empty leg postings and picture galleries. Avinode AB is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Avinode Inc., is located in Miami, Florida, USA. For more information, visit www.avinode.com.
