Galaxy Aviation/Boca Aviation Nears Goal of 100 Percent NATA Safety 1st Line Service Certification, Establishes Company-wide Certified Tow Operator Program

(Sept. 2002) - Galaxy Aviation/Boca Aviation is currently well on its way to 100 percent National Air Transportation Association (NATA) Safety 1st certification for all line service personnel at all bases. Currently, 95 percent of the company's line service employees hold the Professional Line Service Technician designation.

Galaxy Aviation/Boca Aviation has voluntarily elected to participate in the NATA Safety 1st program- widely recognized as the premier program for line service training and continuing education-as part of an ongoing commitment to provide all employees with the most relevant, up-to-date training available.

As a supplement to new employee orientation, all Galaxy Aviation/Boca Aviation line service employees must complete the NATA program, including the required written exams-graded at NATA headquarters in Alexandria, Va.-as well as 37 mandatory practical exams which are evaluated by designated trainers at each base. Each practical exam requires line service to perform skills-including ground servicing, ramp safety, refueling piston aircraft, refueling turboprop aircraft, refueling jet aircraft, fuel farm management, towing, customer service and fire safety-with 100 percent accuracy in order to pass. Line service technicians who do not pass these practical exams on the first try are required to undergo personal hands-on training with their base trainer until they can achieve a perfect score. Individual line service technicians must be retested biannually for the company to remain in the Safety 1st Program.

It's an exacting system that definitely works, according to Ken Bray, safety/training manager for Galaxy Aviation/Boca Aviation. "When line service completes the Safety 1st program, they are the best of the best in their field," he said.

Galaxy Aviation/Boca Aviation's dedication to safety training has not escaped the notice of NATA. An article in the upcoming NATA newsletter will highlight the company's successful implementation of the Safety 1st Program.

Customers notice the Safety 1st difference too. "When customers see the NATA Safety 1st logo, they know that our bases are using the top-notch training program for line service," Bray said.

In addition to implementing the basic Safety 1st program, Galaxy Aviation/Boca Aviation has established a certified tow operator program. Participants who have already completed Safety 1st training must be nominated by management to undergo further instruction. They are then required to complete additional classroom training and retake the NATA written test on towing. Galaxy Aviation/Boca Aviation currently recognizes 36 certified tow operators company-wide, and only these certified operators are authorized to tow aircraft at the company's bases.