Safety is always the priority, especially at 30,000 feet. After all, when you step foot aboard an airplane you’re putting your life in the hands of the pilot, trusting in his competency and in the worthiness of the aircraft. In the absence of the kind of strict federal regulation which governs commercial aviation, flyers on private charter operators- or Part 135 operators as they are known under FAA code- would seem to be putting themselves at risk. Has the pilot aboard your upcoming flight been involved in any accidents in the past? When was the last time the jet’s engines were serviced? You choose to fly privately because of the efficiency it affords over commercial aviation, but anxiety over questions like these could be enough to spoil your trip. Afterall, who cares how much work you can get done on your chartered jet, if you are worried about the wings falling off the whole time? Thankfully, private auditors have stepped in to provide crucial oversight, and some much needed relief to anxious flyers.

CharterX’s Wyvern has taken the lead in providing flyers with the utmost assurance of the safety of their flight. Wyvern manages an immense database of information regarding charter operators, their planes, and the pilots who fly them, all streamed constantly from the FAA-a major benefit over its competitor ARG/US, which updates once every ninety days. Ahead of a flight, Wyvern customers can obtain a Wyvern Report (TWR) which details the history and operations of their charter provider. Even more useful for leery flyers though, is the Wyvern PASS (Pilot Aircraft Safety Survey). CharterX President Jim Betlyon, likens the PASS to a “safety boarding pass.” Based on comprehensive information regarding the individual plane and its crew, the PASS assures flyers their flight meets Wyvern’s stringent safety standards.

So what’s the value of a Wyvern check? Well the proof is in the pudding. Between 1991 and 2005 not a single one of the 811 fatalities from Part 135 flights occurred aboard an aircraft of pilot who had been recommended by Wyvern.