Safety is the starting point, not a nice to have. For executive assistants, this truth carries extra weight. That’s because your principal trusts you with their schedule, their time (considering The 10-Hour Rule), and ultimately their wellbeing. When you book a private jet charter, you are not just arranging transport. You are making a decision that directly affects their safety. That is why every executive assistant needs a reliable executive assistant private jet safety checklist. This guide provides exactly that. We will break down the safety ratings that matter, the questions you must ask, and the red flags to watch for.

Why do Safety Ratings Matter?

Unlike commercial airlines, private jet charter is not a one-size-fits-all system. Every flight is operated by a specific Part 135-certified operator, and safety standards vary depending on that operator’s training programs, maintenance practices, and operational oversight.

Private jet safety ratings exist to create consistency and accountability across this highly fragmented industry. They are voluntary, third-party audit programs that evaluate an operator’s safety practices beyond basic regulatory compliance.

For your executive assistant private jet safety checklist, understanding these ratings is non-negotiable.

The Baseline: Part 135 Certificate

Before looking at any safety rating, verify the operator’s legal authority to fly charter.

In the United States, this means FAA Part 135 certification for on-demand charter operations. Part 135 sets baseline rules for pilot training, aircraft maintenance, and operational oversight that a company must meet to carry paying passengers.

Part 91 covers private, non-commercial operations. A Part 91 flight is not a charter-for-hire. A company selling seats or aircraft time under Part 91 rules may be running an illegal “gray charter”.

This is the single biggest legality risk in the market. That is why the certificate check matters more than any logo.

ARGUS Safety Ratings Explained

ARGUS International is the most widely recognized safety auditor in private aviation. Their rating system has three tiers:

• Gold: ARGUS reviews the operator’s historical data including pilot records, aircraft maintenance history, FAA compliance, and insurance documentation. However, Gold is a desk review. No one from ARGUS has physically visited the operator’s facility.
• Gold Plus: Everything in Gold, plus the operator must demonstrate a documented Safety Management System (SMS). Gold Plus is still a desk-based evaluation.
• Platinum: The highest tier. ARGUS auditors physically visit the operator’s headquarters and maintenance facilities, review procedures in action, and interview personnel. Only about 5% of charter operators worldwide hold an ARGUS Platinum rating.

The practical takeaway for your executive assistant private jet safety checklist: when a broker says an operator is “ARGUS rated,” ask which tier. The gap between Gold and Platinum is the difference between a document review and an auditor walking the hangar floor.

Wyvern Certification

Wyvern, founded in 1991, was the world’s first business aviation audit company. Their system works differently from ARGUS:

• Wyvern Registered: The operator maintains fleet, crew, insurance, and regulatory documentation on the Wyvern platform. Registered is not a safety standard or an audit program. Actually, it is a data-maintenance program. The operator has submitted information, but Wyvern has not evaluated their operations or visited their facility.
• Wyvern Wingman: The actual safety certification. Wingman requires a two-day on-site audit by Wyvern safety advisors, covering training records, maintenance procedures, and crew qualifications. Certification must be renewed every 24 months. This is the Wyvern equivalent of ARGUS Platinum.

Where Wyvern stands apart is its PASS (Pilot and Aircraft Safety Survey) system. PASS is a 150+ point pre-flight inspection that validates the specific crew and aircraft assigned to your trip. Unlike a static annual rating, PASS reflects real-time conditions for a particular flight.

Any broker vetting a trip properly should be pulling a PASS report.

IS-BAO Certification

IS-BAO (International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations) is a globally recognized framework managed by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC). It has three stages, with Stage 3 being the highest level of safety management maturity.

Questions to Ask Before Booking – Vital to your Executive Assistant Private Jet Safety Checklist

Every executive assistant private jet safety checklist should include these questions:

1. Who is the actual operator? Ask for the operator’s name and Part 135 certificate number. A broker arranges flights, but a third-party operator actually flies them. Hence, the operating carrier is the name that must appear on your contract.
2. What is the operator’s ARGUS rating? Ask for the specific tier, not just “ARGUS rated.” In fact, Platinum is the gold standard.
3. Does the operator hold Wyvern Wingman certification? If yes, request the PASS report for your specific trip.
4. What is the operator’s IS-BAO stage? Stage 3 is the highest.
5. Can you provide the pilot’s qualifications? Ask about total flight hours, time on type, and recent training.
6. What is the aircraft’s maintenance history? Request the most recent maintenance records.

Red Flags to Watch For on your Assistant Private Jet Safety Checklist

Add these red flags to your executive assistant private jet safety checklist:

• Vague answers about safety ratings
• Reluctance to provide the operator’s name or certificate number
• Claims of “ARGUS rated” without specifying the tier
• No mention of Wyvern or IS-BAO
• Pressure to book quickly without answering safety questions

The Bottom Line of your Executive Assistant Private Jet Safety Checklist

Your executive assistant private jet safety checklist is your principal’s first line of defense. As a result, start with the operator’s legal authority to fly charter (Part 135), then use ARGUS, Wyvern, and IS-BAO to compare how proactively that operator manages risk.

Villiers.ai works with a global network of certified operators to offer competitive pricing and comprehensive coverage for private jet charter. Consequently, when you book through Villiers, you gain access to vetted operators with verified safety credentials. Ultimately, it all comes down to your Private Jet Charter ROI, which essentially must make sense.