Media Releases

Teterboro, NJ  —  Jet Aviation today announced that the company will operate its U.S. charter division under its own U.S. Part 135 Air Carrier certificate as Jet Aviation Flight Services, Inc., effective immediately. Jet Aviation Flight Services has been awarded a Platinum safety rating by Aviation Research Group (ARG/US) and has earned IS-BAO certification.

"Our acquisition in November 2008 by General Dynamics, a U.S. corporation, made it possible for Jet Aviation to become a Certified Part 135 U.S. Air Carrier," said Gary Dempsey, president of Jet Aviation Holdings, Inc., responsible for the company's aircraft management, charter, FBO and staffing services for The Americas.

Previously, aircraft managed by Jet Aviation in the U.S. were operated commercially under U.S. Federal Aviation Regulation Part 135 rules by a third-party air carrier, which currently is Priester Aviation, LLC. The newly established Jet Aviation Flight Services operates two Gulfstream IV aircraft and will begin adding new jets to the certificate this month. The company will transition its managed aircraft from Priester Aviation to Jet Aviation Flight Services over the next 18 months. Jet Aviation recently extended its strategic alliance with Priester Aviation through July 2011.

Since the acquisition of Jet Aviation's U.S. Part 135 Air Carrier certificate, the company has undergone two third-party audits. As a result, Jet Aviation Flight Services was awarded a Platinum safety rating by ARG/US, an achievement held by only a select group of charter operators. Additionally, Jet Aviation earned registry in IS-BAO, the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations as defined by the International Business Aviation Council. In August 2009, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) recognized IS-BAO as an industry standard for business aircraft operations. Only one percent of U.S. Part 135 operators hold the IS-BAO certification.

"Our goal is to create an air carrier that exceeds customer expectations in delivering the highest service level, and to be second to none when it comes to safety," said Bob Seidel, senior vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation aircraft management and charter divisions in the U.S.