FlySkills’ certification ‘offers independent verification of hygiene standards’

The FlySkills Hygiene Certification (FHC) Programme is delivering independent verification of hygiene standards for business aircraft operators, FBOs and owners, according to the organisation.

FlySkills’ chief operating officer of Business Aviation Support Services, Stuart Williamson told Corporate Jet Investor: “The aim of the certification is to enable FBOs and operators to demonstrate that they have met FlySkills’ stringent hygiene standards that have been independently developed by Socotec [which provides of testing, inspection and compliance services]. Having gained certification, FBOs and operators will be added to the FlySkills ‘Approved Suppliers’ database that charter brokers will use to select hygiene certified businesses in preference to others.”

The service had been developed in response to clients’ requests to ensure they remain in an environment where the highest hygiene precautions and protocols are applied throughout their journey, said Williamson. “Certified businesses will also be able to promote their certification through their own marketing to gain a competitive advantage over those businesses that have not pursued certification.”

‘Promote their certification’

FlySkills, which is part of Luxaviation Group, said it was unaware of any other independent bodies offering hygiene certification. “Of course, there will be many businesses claiming to have high hygiene standards – and they may well do – but by gaining independent certification, it demonstrates objectively that standards and processes have been put in place and have been externally audited to ensure they meet at least the minimum hygiene standards that their clients expect,” said Williamson.

The standards will be independently audited by FlySkills staff using pre-defined checklists developed by Socotec and also reviewed with medical subject matter experts.

FlySkills said it was offering its standards and procedures free of charge in order to minimise the transmission of Covid-19. However, there will be a small cost for businesses to gain certification in order for FlySkills to support businesses with procedure implementation and then assess certification requests and maintain the ‘Approved Suppliers’ database.

‘Difficult time for many’

“Nevertheless, recognising that this is a difficult time for many businesses, the cost of annual certification will be offset by a couple of additional movements per month for FBOs or a few extra flight hours for operators as a result of gaining FlySkills Hygiene Certification,” said Williamson. The scheme offers aircraft owners the peace of mind that their crew and staff are working to the highest standards to ensure their safety and the safety of their family and friends that travel with them, according to FlySkills. “As our launch partner, we are happy to be assisting all of the Luxaviation aircraft operators and ExecuJet FBOs with FlySkills procedure implementation and certification,” added Williamson.

FlySkills MD Georges Disewiscourt said: “FlySkills will not only provide FBOs and aircraft operators with sanitisation procedures but also, through our Certification Programme, allows these businesses to demonstrate and promote their commitment towards excellence for passenger hygiene considerations.”

Speaking in June, FlySkills MD Georges Disewiscourt said: “FlySkills will not only provide FBOs and aircraft operators with sanitisation procedures but also, through our Certification Programme, allows these businesses to demonstrate and promote their commitment towards excellence for passenger hygiene considerations.” More information about the certification is available here.