SH&E Completes Assignment Resulting in FAA Raising Greece's Safety Rating.

NEW YORK -- Leading aviation consultants SH&E recently completed a project with the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority that enabled the Greek State to be awarded Category 1 by the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program is designed to gauge a country's ability to sustain conformity to certain International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices and provide an adequate level of safety oversight.

"The SH&E /Flight Safety Foundation team conducted a comprehensive assessment focusing on the HCAA Flight Standards Division's ability to ensure that the civil aviation system operates safely and sustains compliance with the standards and recommended practices of the ICAO," stated Louis Sorrentino, team leader and Vice President and Managing Director of SH&E's Safety practice.

SH&E carried out the assignment in two phases. The first phase was an extensive diagnostic of the HCAA's Flight Standards Division. The second phase focused on consultation and guidance to achieve CAT 1 and to sustain conformity to the IASA standard.

"Achieving CAT 1 was an important priority for the HCAA," added Mr. Sorrentino. "HCAA officials recognized the importance of adhering to this international standard and its impact on the overall safety and viability of Greek aviation."

Reassessing Greece's safety rating is part of the FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program. Through IASA the agency assesses the civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that operate to the United States. The assessments determine whether or not foreign civil aviation authorities are meeting ICAO safety standards. Countries with air carriers that fly to the United States must adhere to the safety standards of ICAO.

SH&E's Safety, Security and Operations practice has conducted similar operational diagnostic and restructuring plans for governments and CAA's throughout the world. SH&E is a formally accredited Audit Organization (AO) for IATA's Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) programme.

About SH&E. Simat, Helliesen and Eichner, Inc. (SH&E) was formed in 1963 to provide management assistance, expert counsel, and research regarding operations, economics, finance, and strategy for airlines and aviation-related industries. Committed to objective and independent analysis, extensive in-house industry experience, and unparalleled expertise and advisory capability, SH&E delivers strong client value, managing more projects than any other consulting firm of its type.

SH&E has performed more than 5,000 assignments, serving hundreds of airlines, airports, governments, international agencies, and the financial community in all parts of the world. This wealth of experience gives SH&E a unique understanding of the problems and challenges in all segments of the aviation industry.

SH&E's professional staff reflect a balance of industry experience, strategic thinking, and advanced technical skills. The firm's 100 aviation specialists have been drawn from airline management, academia, government, and related businesses. The firm complements this experience with specialist expertise in applied operations research, finance, marketing, statistical analysis, information technology, and strategic planning, as well as specialist technical practices in Asset Management and in Safety, Security and Operations.

SH&E maintains major offices in New York, Washington, Boston, and London. Additionally, in 2004 SH&E added the Center for Airport Management to the firm, specialists in airport concessions planning and management.