TAM Renews IOSA International Operational Safety Certification
January 18 2008 - 9:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
IATA-accredited Audit attests to quality of company's operations
and control systems after 940 question-examination SAO PAULO, Jan.
18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TAM Linhas Aereas (Bovespa: TAMM4;
NYSE: TAM) has had its IOSA certificate (IATA Operational Safety
Audit) renewed until January 2010. The certificate is the most
thorough and widely accepted international verification of civil
aviation operational safety. The IOSA registration revalidation,
valid for the next two years, was granted to TAM after the
conclusion of the auditing process by independents and accredited
technicians by IATA (International Air Transport Association) in
November 2007. The IATA audit certified that the company had
satisfied standards via 940 questions on safety and operational
quality. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060418/SPTU001LOGO ) TAM is
the only Brazilian airline to obtain IOSA certification
(http://www.iata.org/registry), in January 2007. Begun in 2003, the
IOSA Program is internationally recognized as a world reference for
the management of operational safety. The certification covers ten
main aspects of an airline's operational safety: operations
control; flight operations; flight operations dispatch; engineering
and aircraft maintenance; cabin operations and "ground handling"
(check-in and ground services); cargo operations, security and
training of all areas involved in operations. Produced in a
standardized, consistent manner, IOSA reports are accepted by
international airlines in code-share agreements and aviation
authorities as FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), from United
Estates, and JAA (Joint Aviation Authorities), from Europe, making
it possible to dispense with individual audits for any new
partnership made with another company. The TAM's IOSA certification
has already been accepted in code-share agreements that the Company
implemented in 2007 with TAP Portugal, United Airlines, LAN and
Lufthansa. Flight Safety Flight safety is one of the most important
commandments left by Commandant Rolim Amaro, TAM's founder. In
keeping with higher governance standards, TAM's Flight Safety
department functions completely independent of the company's other
divisions and is connected directly to the president's office. TAM
adheres strictly to rules and standards established by Brazilian
aviation authorities and international organizations such as ICAO
(International Civil Aviation Organization). It is affiliated with
the most important civil aviation safety agencies in the world,
among them FSF (the Flight Safety Foundation), the largest
non-governmental safety organization. The Company actively
participates in coordination efforts of IATA's Regional Flight
Safety Committee (RCG) for the Americas. It complies with
regulations of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), the
agency in charge of civil aviation in the United States, as well as
NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and DoT (Department of
Transportation), fully adhering to the requirements for operating
in U.S. air space. In July of 2006, it became an effective member
of the United Kingdom Flight Safety Committee (UKFSC), an
association of institutions and professionals dedicated to
enhancing flight safety for commercial aviation in the United
Kingdom. That same year, it became a member of the steering
committee of IATA's Emergency Response and Planning Task Force
(ERPTF). About TAM: TAM Linhas Aereas (http://www.tam.com.br/) has
been domestic market leader since July of 2003, and closed the
month of December 2007 with a 48.6% market share. The company flies
to 47 destinations in Brazil. With commercial agreements signed
with regional companies, it reaches 81 different destinations
nationwide. TAM's market share among Brazilian companies operating
international airlines was 70% in December. Operations abroad
include direct flights to eleven destinations: New York and Miami
(USA), Paris (France), London (England), Milan (Italy), Frankfurt
(Germany), Madrid (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Santiago
(Chile), Caracas (Venezuela) and Montevideo (Uruguay). With TAM
Mercosur, it also serves Asuncion and Ciudad del Este (Paraguay),
Cordoba (Argentina), Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Cochabamba
(Bolivia), among other South American cities. It has code-share
agreements with international companies, allowing for the sharing
of seats on flights with international companies, enabling
passengers to travel to 62 other destinations in the USA, South
America and Europe. A pioneer in Brazil's airline industry with the
launch of its Programa Fidelidade frequent flyer program, TAM today
has more than 4.3 million members and has issued more than 5
million tickets redeemed with frequent flyer points.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060418/SPTU001LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: TAM Linhas Aereas CONTACT:
Investor Relations, +55-11-5582-9715, or fax, +55-11-5582-8149, ,
or Press Agency Contact, +55-11-5582-8167, or fax,
+55-11-5582-8155, , or MVL Comunicacao, +55-11-3594-0302, 0304,
0305 Web site: http://www.tam.com.br/ http://www.tam.com.br/ir
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