Private Jet Safety: The Questions Every Charter Client Should Ask

Private Jet Safety: What to Ask Before You Book

Private aviation safety is not uniform. The difference between a well-run Part 135 operator and a poorly-run one can be significant, and it is not always visible in the price or the marketing. Here are the questions every charter client should ask.

Question 1: What is the operator's ARGUS or WYVERN rating?

ARGUS International and WYVERN are the two leading independent safety rating organizations in business aviation. Both conduct audits of charter operators and assign ratings based on safety management systems, crew training, maintenance practices, and operational procedures.

ARGUS ratings: Gold, Platinum, or Registered (no audit)

WYVERN ratings: Wingman (audited), Registered (no audit)

Axon Jets only works with operators holding ARGUS Gold or Platinum ratings, or WYVERN Wingman certification. This is non-negotiable.

Question 2: What is the operator's accident and incident history?

The FAA maintains a public database of aviation accidents and incidents. Any charter broker should be able to confirm that an operator has a clean record. If they cannot, or will not, that is a red flag.

Question 3: What are the pilot qualifications?

Part 135 regulations require specific minimum qualifications for charter pilots, but the minimums are just that, minimums. Ask about:

• Total flight hours
• Hours in the specific aircraft type
• Recency of training and simulator checks
• Experience with the specific route or airport (particularly for challenging airports like ASE)

Question 4: What is the maintenance status of the specific aircraft?

Every aircraft has a maintenance record. Ask when the aircraft last completed its major inspection and whether there are any open maintenance items.

Question 5: Is the operator IS-BAO certified?

The International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) is a voluntary code of best practices for business aviation. IS-BAO certification demonstrates a commitment to safety management at the organizational level, beyond the minimum requirements of Part 135.

Why This Matters

Most charter clients never ask these questions. Most charter brokers never volunteer the answers. At Axon Jets, your advisor provides this information proactively on every trip, because he knows what to look for and why it matters.

When you book through Axon, you are not just booking an aircraft. You are booking an advisor who has spent 15+ years evaluating operators and knows the difference between one who takes safety seriously and one who does not.