AS9100 applicability to aircraft operation

[BlueBug]

Hi - im new here.

My company holds AS9100 certification for software development however they want to expand the scope to include the operation (flying and flight training) of aircraft. My understanding is that ISO 9001 is the correct certification for flying and flight training and whilst we operate to AS9100 standards (ie we apply the same principles) in Operations I am not 100% convinced that AS9100 certification is applicable to flying and flight training.

Has anyone got any experience of this?
If anyone can shed any light on this, I would be really grateful.
Thank you.

 

[Big Jim]

I'm sure that ISO 9001 would be appropriate but there are some things to consider.

First, what do your customers expect? Would you be more attractive to them if you were certified to AS9100?

Next, do you as an organization see any benefit to a stricter standard?

Lastly, keep in mind that in the preface AS9100 says that it is appropriate for any organization that wants a stricter standard than ISO 9001.

I would suggest asking your customers what they would prefer and go from there.

I call on a company that is on the fringe of aerospace and could have gone with ISO 9001 and chose to go for AS9100 and enjoyed additional business because they did.

 

[BlueBug]

Thank you Big Jim.
I will bring this up with Management and establish the customer requirement.
Thanks.

 

[bigjetmech]

Absolutely AS9100 is applicable to Aircraft operations. This is the space i operate in. Let me know if you are still looking for info. thx

 

[BlueBug]

Absolutely AS9100 is applicable to Aircraft operations. This is the space i operate in. Let me know if you are still looking for info. thx

Thanks for the response Bigjetmech. I would really appreciate any advice or pointers based on your experience of implementing AS9100 on an operational (flying) side. I am up against a lot of resistance to change so I am having to tread carefully.... thank you!

 

[bigjetmech]

sorry for the delayed response. here are my thoughts:
AS9100 is absolutely the right standard for you if you consider yourself a aviation or defense company.
In order to be as9100 certified you have to be in compliance with local, state, and federal requirements, that also includes any contractual requirements. For flight operations you are operating under a FAA certificate? Part 135, Part 9, experimental?
not sure but you have aviation regulations. AS9100 will also add another layer how you run that part of the business, it will fall under the QMS umbrella and will add requirements as required e.g. control of documented information, monitoring and measuring, corrective action, etc.
i would start with a Gap analysis to determine what processes will need to be added to your flight ops. thx

 

[Randy]

Flight Training & Flying? AS9100 is so far off it's coming around the back side inverted ........I've been doing the certification audits for one of the largest flight training organizations in the US and have so for 12 years now at nearly 40 of their locations. It's a pure Quality ISO 9001 and not AS9100......Not even. (Oh yeah I do their simulator manufacturing locations as well, they only use ISO 9001, AS9100 is not applicable and other training providers as well as airlines and the military use their sim's as well).

Go to any airport and you'll see their "Crew Tags" on their bags from here to everywhere and back.

 

[bigjetmech]

Randy, after thinking about it I completely agree with you. I'm use to AS9100 being a contract requirement...so I really don't have a choice.
I know of major airlines that aren't either as9100 or iso9001 certified because there's no requirement.
For flight operations where AS9100 is not on contract, ISO9001 would suffice. Thx