The US-based Helicopter Association International (HAI) has a "Platinum programme of safety". To be accepted as having achieved its standards, member operators have to comply with a list of requirements, including an annual audit, but if they succeed they can use the accolade in marketing.
HAI/National Transportation Safety Board figures for US helicopter accidents as a whole show an unchanging level of accident numbers and rates in all the categories, so since the industry as a whole cannot claim to be improving, the only way companies can distinguish themselves is by being better than the average - ideally by a big margin.
The basic requirements to earn the Platinum accolade are that a company should:
Develop and adhere to a company operations manual; develop and carry out a formal training programme for its crews that includes the following levels of training: initial, recurrent, mission specific, continuing education, management training, and "fly neighbourly" training; submit to an initial independent safety audit, and carry out annual audits thereafter, alternate years being independent; submit annual operational statistics.Source: Flight International
