Some worry about safety standards on flights – both commercial and private – and often, the smaller the plane, the more they worry. Vault Aviation wants you to have the facts and enjoy your flight without a worry in your mind, which is why we have always been (and always will be) so serious about safety.
Read on to learn the safety standards of our On Demand private jet charters, and rest easy on your next Vault Jet flight.
Vault Aviation Safety Standards
While outstanding pricing and sky-high service are how we provide the very best value to our Vault Aviation family and clients, safety will always be our highest priority.
We live and work by the Platinum Rule, which is: never book a client on a plane you wouldn’t board yourself. We value your safety above all else, which is why Vault Aviation uses a first-rate group of safety-audited operators who comply with ARGUS and/or Wyvern safety standards.
In addition, Vault Aviation only sources aircraft from FAR Part 135 Charter Operators, and we mandate that they carry a minimum of $50,000,000 in insurance and show no history of damage or irregular maintenance.
From light jets and turboprops to heavy cabin jets, every single one of our private aircraft is flown by 2 highly qualified pilots – regardless of if it’s a short flight on a small plane or an international flight on a heavy hitter. Vault Aviation will never charter a plane with only one pilot.
We reach the highest safety levels in three ways: aircraft safety auditing, pilot safety and credentials, and aircrafts charter operators.
Aircraft Safety Auditing with All Vault Aviation Flights
Vault Aviation only charters private jets that are thoroughly audited by The Aviation Research Group US – “ARGUS” – or Wyvern.
ARGUS audits maintenance records, flight history, insurance coverage, the frequency of inspections, and an operator’s ability to exceed the FAA standards. Additionally, they review pilot training, flight hours, and medical records.
ARGUS has a four-tier rating system:
- (1) Does Not Qualify
- (2) Gold
- (3) Gold Plus
- (4) Platinum
All of our operators must provide their latest records in order to be cleared for each flight. Prior to your flight, Vault Aviation will request an ARGUS TripCHEQ to ensure that the aircraft, crew, and trip meet all ARGUS standards – making sure that your trip is as safe as it is enjoyable!
Vault Aviation Pilot Safety Credentials
All of the private jet charters that Vault Aviation sources will be piloted by 2 highly experienced pilots: a Pilot-In-Command (PIC) and Second-In-Command (SIC). While ARGUS Ratings are highly important to us, we go a step beyond to ensure your safety and comfort!
Vault Aviation references Wyvern Safety Ratings as an additional layer of protection. Independent of ARGUS, Wyvern allows us to perform a secondary review of the operator, the aircraft, and the two pilots.
The Wyvern Pilot & Aircraft Safety Survey (“PASS”) report details everything from pilot hours to medical certifications. Here are some of the areas checked in a PASS report:
- Verification that a charter operator holds a current Air Operating Certificate
- Verification that the aircraft being chartered is listed on the air carrier’s Operations Specifications
- Confirmation of current insurance for the aircraft
- Confirmation that each crew member’s experience meets a specific safety standard
- Confirmation that each crew member’s medical and license information is current
- Confirmation that the operator has Civil Aviation Authority approval for international operations at chosen locations
The Aircraft Charter Operators
Vault exclusively sources aircraft from FAA approved FAR Part 135 Charter Operators. FAR Part 135 is a set of federal laws governing everything from airworthiness of an aircraft to record-keeping practices.
Operational Control refers to the safe operation of an aircraft during a charter flight. This means that the pilots are in control and all decisions about the flight are made by them to ensure the safety of the passengers and the aircraft.
Under operational control principles, nothing the client says and nothing Vault says will affect the safe operation of an aircraft.
For example, if a flight to Aspen must divert due to weather conditions, neither Vault Aviation, nor the passengers, can override the judgment of the flight crew. This means the ultimate decision rests entirely on the pilots to ensure a safe landing – which is their job, and one they are exceedingly good at (as their Vault-required certifications show).
We Take Your Safety Seriously & We Fly by the Platinum Rule
Vault Aviation’s commitment and loyalty is 100% to our clients, and we have no legal or contractual arrangements with any individual aircraft operators. This means, there is never a conflict of interest or outside pressure.
We don’t have any incentive to put a Vault client on a specific plane from a specific operator, so instead, we have the freedom to find you the best flights, the best jets, the best price and safety there is!