(TORONTO, May 20, 2016) – Fox Flight Air Ambulance, a Canadian-owned company specializing in international medical repatriation, has been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as an authorized third-country Commercial Air Operator, or CAO. This authorization confirms that Fox Flight is in compliance with all EASA safety and procedural requirements and is therefore entitled to apply for individual operating permits to perform commercial air operations into, within or out of EASA’s 32 member states.
”From a certification standpoint, EASA authorization is essential for our business because we fly into and out of Europe several times each week performing medical repatriation services for our clients, and this specific authorization will become mandatory for all third-country operators beginning this fall.
David FoxPresident
“Achieving EASA authorization further validates our ongoing efforts to maintain the highest standards of flight safety, operations and maintenance,” said David Fox, president of Fox Flight. “From a certification standpoint, EASA authorization is essential for our business because we fly into and out of Europe several times each week performing medical repatriation services for our clients, and this specific authorization will become mandatory for all third-country operators beginning this fall.”
As a foreign (non-European) aviation operator, Fox Flight has been authorized as a CAO under Part-TCO (third-country operator) of the EASA requirements. In order to achieve this authorization, Fox Flight was required to undergo a comprehensive audit of its safety record and procedures related to equipment, maintenance and training. In addition, the company’s entire fleet of Lear air ambulances was required to meet EASA standards with respect to plane avionics, traffic collision avoidance (TCAS) systems and on board flight data recorders.
EASA announced in May 2014 that all third-country CAOs flying into and out of Europe would be required to hold authorization under Part-TCO going forward. This new requirement has been widely publicized within the aviation industry and the deadline for operators to at least apply for authorization is November 26 of this year. After that date, it will be impossible for any aviation company that has not applied for EASA authorization to obtain operating permits from EASA member states.
About EASA
Founded in 2002, the European Aviation Safety Agency represents all 28 European Union member states as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The mission of the agency is to ensure the highest common level of safety and environmental protection for EU citizens, to maintain a single regulatory and certification process among member states, to facilitate the internal aviation single market and create a level playing field and to work with other international aviation organizations and regulators. EASA is headquartered in Cologne, Germany — https://www.easa.europa.eu/
About Fox Flight
Founded in 1997, Fox Flight Inc. is a Canadian air ambulance company providing international, 24-hour, emergency medical transport, bed-to-bed stretcher evacuation and onboard patient transfer services on commercial flights. Fox Flight has its head office and hangar facilities in Toronto. The company employs a staff of fully licensed physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and paramedics as well as highly experienced pilots and aviation maintenance technicians. Fox Flight’s fleet of dedicated, fixed-wing air ambulances consists of specially configured Lear 35A and 36A jets equipped with the latest in advanced intensive care medical technology. Fox Flight maintains full EURAMI accreditation.
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