Aircraft for Mining and Energy Crew Rotation: Why BARS Matters More Than IOSA
Fly in, fly out operations keep remote mines, oil and gas fields and major construction projects running. Workers rotate in and out on fixed schedules, often from a city hub to an airstrip hundreds of kilometres away, and the aircraft doing it are usually leased on long term ACMI or dedicated charter contracts.
For anyone sourcing that aircraft, one fact changes everything: the resources industry does not qualify aviation contractors the way airlines do.
BARS, not IOSA
IOSA, the IATA Operational Safety Audit, is the airline standard. It is designed for scheduled passenger airlines and is a condition of IATA membership.
BARS, the Basic Aviation Risk Standard, is the standard mining, oil and gas and other resource companies use to assess the aircraft operators they contract. It is managed by the BARS Program of the Flight Safety Foundation and was built around the risks of resource sector flying: remote airstrips, limited navigation aids, mixed weather, and passengers who are employees rather than members of the public.
An operator with IOSA registration but no BARS audit will often not clear a mining company's aviation procurement. An operator with a current BARS audit, even a small one, is already recognised by many of the major resource companies.
Why this matters when you lease
If you are a mining or energy company, a contractor supporting one, or a camp services provider arranging transport for one, the aircraft on your lease has to pass your client's aviation assurance. That usually means:
The operator holds a current BARS audit, or can obtain one within the contract start timeline
The aircraft type and configuration match what the aviation risk assessment approved
Crew experience meets the client's minimums, which are often higher than the regulator's
The operator can show its safety management system, flight data monitoring and emergency response plan
Ask about BARS status before you ask about price. A cheap aircraft from an operator who cannot pass the audit costs you the time it takes to find out.
Typical aircraft for crew rotation
The right aircraft depends on the headcount, the airstrip and the distance.
Turboprops such as the Dash 8 and ATR: 37 to 78 seats, and able to use short, rough and gravel strips. The default for most African and remote site operations. See our guide to Dash 8 ACMI leases in Africa.
Regional jets: faster over longer distances, but they need longer paved runways.
Narrowbody jets: for large rotations from a hub to a site with a full length runway.
Smaller turboprops such as the King Air and PC-12: for management, technical specialists and medical evacuation standby.
How FIFO contracts are structured
Most crew rotation contracts are long term: one to three years, with a dedicated aircraft based near the site or the hub. They are usually priced as an ACMI or dedicated charter with a monthly minimum of hours. The client pays fuel and airport costs directly or on a pass through basis, and the operator provides aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance.
Points to agree early:
Standby and medevac: is the aircraft on call outside the rotation schedule?
Weather and airstrip closures: how are cancelled rotations counted against the minimum?
Replacement aircraft: how fast one arrives, and whether it also meets the BARS and client requirements.
Local content: some countries require a share of services to come from local suppliers, which may shape who can contract.
Procurement is slow, so start early
Resource company procurement runs on annual plans and approved vendor lists. Many companies only invite pre registered suppliers to tender, and aviation services often appear in a procurement plan months before the contract starts. If a project is coming to your region, registering on the relevant supplier portals and getting your aviation partner into the assurance process early is worth more than the lowest quote at the last minute.
Working with Jetvice
We place turboprop and regional aircraft on long term ACMI and dedicated charter contracts in Africa and elsewhere, working directly with operators whose audit history matches resource sector requirements. Tell us the site, the airstrip, the headcount per rotation and the start date. Email info@jetvice.net or see our aircraft leasing page.
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