Quality Operations

Tactical Air Support executes an organization-wide comprehensive Safety Management System (SMS) Program for both ground and flight operations. Our Safety Program focuses on risk management, hazard identification & mitigation/elimination, and a proactive approach to incident/mishap prevention. The Tactical Air SMS is comprised of four pillars: Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion. In conjunction with our individual Safety SOPs, these four pillars focus on our policies, processes, and people, to provide a positive and proactive safety culture and the overall safety performance across our operations, especially when it comes to aviation. Specifically, the Tactical Air Safety Program addresses specific aviation safety programs and is implemented in concert with our Tactical Air Flight Operations Procedures. Additionally, the Tactical Air SMS and Safety SOPs encapsulates all aspects of Ground Safety and augments our Ground Operating Procedures. This includes all aspects of OSHA and state-mandated industrial safety programs along with our internal Safety Workplace Program, which assists Tactical Air leadership, management teams, and employees in making effective and informed safety decisions. The synergistic result of our SMS, SOPs, and integration with Flight Operations, Ground Operations, and Quality is foundation our Safety Culture.

Throughout our proud aviation history beginning in 2005, Tactical Air has operated high-performance jet and turboprop aircraft (F-5, EMB-312 and SF-260) in demanding tactical environments and the MU-2B in logistical flying. These operations have included air-to-air Adversary/OPFOR, Flight Test, Tactical Demonstrations and Evaluations, overwater operations, and live and dry Commercial Close Air Support (CCAS). Tactical Air Support is now exclusively focused on our F-5 Fleet to serve our US Military in the adversary air role. We continue to fly, manage, and integrate with US Military and FAA safety programs resulting in a successful safety program at Tactical Air Support. We are proud of our Safety Culture which is engrained in every aspect of our daily operations. Safety is byproduct of our professionalism and is highlighted as one of Tactical Air Support’s Core Values.

Tactical Air aircraft are currently registered and airworthy under 14 CFR regulations. No major alterations have been incorporated in Tactical Air aircraft. All minor alterations, such as avionics upgrades were done to applicable FAA 14 CFR standards with appropriate FAA documentation incorporated into aircraft logbooks, which are ready for inspection. Should additional modifications be necessary, Tactical Air will use the appropriate airworthiness process and obtain approval from the airworthiness authority governing customer aircraft operations.  The Tactical Air F-5s have been approved to fly for the USN/USMC through interim flight clearance (IFC) and for the USAF through military flight release (MFR) processes.

All Tactical Air aircraft are maintained under the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or established military maintenance plan, and we have military Technical Orders, maintenance manuals, OEM equipment manuals, expanded parts lists, and wiring and schematic diagrams covering all installed equipment in the aircraft. We track all applicable Service Bulletins (SB), Time Compliance Technical Orders (TCTO), and U.S. FAA Airworthiness Directives (AD), and our aircraft only fly in full compliance. We continuously monitor aircraft flight hours or cycles against the fatigue life limit defined for the aircraft type by the military publications or the OEM and track the usage of all parts for which TBO limits have been defined by the military publications or OEM. We overhaul and rework, to military or OEM standards, every part with a TBO on or before the part’s TBO limit. Our programs and processes are based on DCMA 8210.1 compliance.