ARGUS Launches Audit Standard and Ratings Program for Unmanned Operations

ARGUS International, Inc., the world leader in aviation safety audits, is announcing the release of its international standard for unmanned aircraft operations in conjunction with its globally recognized commercial operator ratings program. Unmanned aircraft operators can apply for ARGUS Gold or Platinum rating status, creating the world’s first fully vetted registry of commercial UAS operators to support end customer sourcing and due-diligence requirements for both internal operations and external vendor qualification.
Over the last 20 years, the ARGUS Gold and Platinum Rating Program has become the most recognized and respected source of quality assessments on aircraft charter operators, making ARGUS rated commercial operators the preferred choice for the largest and most sophisticated consumers in the world. The ARGUS Unmanned standard audit program will provide the pathway for commercial UAS operators to achieve the Platinum recognition with a special designation for unmanned operations.

“ARGUS’ approach to our Unmanned Standard is unique in the sense that UAS hardware, software, and mission applications will evolve at a rate that outpaces the ability of those who seek to regulate, standardize, and audit these airborne systems,” states Joe Moeggenberg, ARGUS CEO and Founder. He added. “The ARGUS Unmanned Standard is scalable and focused on the operator’s efforts to conduct appropriate standardized operations for every mission set, rather than creating a confusing web of flexible best practices as others have done.”
In April of this year, ARGUS acquired the Unmanned Safety Institute (USI), the leading source of safety training programs for UAS operators. The USI team members have many years of experience and thousands of flight hours in numerous UAS applications. Together they worked with representatives from key areas of the marketplace to develop the standard. Will Lovett, Managing Director at Phoenix Air Unmanned, participated in a beta test for the ARGUS Unmanned Audit Standard. Lovett commented, “It was immediately apparent to us that ARGUS brought real world UAS experience and knowledge to the development of their standard and the performance of the audit. My team found the audit to be challenging, helpful and totally applicable. It is apparent that ARGUS combined their depth of experience in standard development and audit programs with USI’s real world knowledge of UAS operations.”

About ARGUS International Inc.: ARGUS International, Inc. (ARGUS) is a specialized aviation services company whose mission is to provide the aviation marketplace with data and information necessary to make informed decisions and manage risk. ARGUS provides world-class aviation software and business management solutions, including AVMOSYS business management software, TRAQPak, CHEQ, and ARMOR SMS. ARGUS Charter operator ratings are the most recognized and requested independent source of overall operator quality. TRAQPak provides industry leading market intelligence data and research services, as well as expert aviation consulting. ARGUS subsidiaries include ARGUS PROS, the leading provider of on- site safety audits and PRISM, a worldwide leader in Safety Management System (SMS) and Certification services. Founded in 1995, ARGUS is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is actively engaged around the globe.

About USI: The Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) is the industry’s most widely recognized leader in flight safety solutions for individuals, enterprises, and organizations focused on integrating and operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for civil or commercial purposes. The Unmanned Safety Institute, widely recognized as “best-in-class” provides UAS flight safety training and certification to operational standards based on the adoption and modification of time-honored aviation safety practices. To learn more about USI, please visit www.UnmannedSafetyInstitute.org, e-mail info@unmannedsafetyinstitute.org, or call 1-877- 535-SAFE. USI is a portfolio company of ARGUS International, Inc., and is headquartered in Orlando, FL with safety assurance offices in Denver, CO. Founded in 1995, ARGUS International is headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, and actively engaged with business activities in North America, Europe, Australia, Asia, South America and the Middle East and Africa.

Posted in NEWS & MEDIA