Elite Traveler Summer 2022

SPECIAL PROMOTION

How WYVERN is Making Private Aviation Safer Through itsWingman Certi fi cation Program, WYVERN assures passengers and other stakeholders that their private and air charter operators meet the same international standards as globally respected air carriers. CEO Sonnie Bates takes us on a journey with a would-be client to show howWYVERN can help make any private jet journey an enjoyable and safe experience. Suzy, from California, was looking for private aviation options for her family’s next adventure to Thailand. Among her options, she noticed that some private operators were certi fi ed by WYVERN, the world’s fi rst private aviation safety certi fi cation company. She was determined to make an intelligent decision — not just on quality and price, but also on safety. So, she called WYVERN, where she was connected to Patti, the senior director of membership, to learn more about how WYVERN ensures safety in private aviation. Patti explained that certi fi ed WYVERNWingman Operators are assessed by highly experienced aviation safety experts and must demonstrate adherence to a comprehensive set of international safety standards to gain and maintain their certi fi cation. She also told Suzy that she could verify this with the operator or a WYVERN broker by demanding a Wingman Pilot and Aircraft Safety Survey (PASS) report. This report ensures that your fl ight crew are appropriately quali fi ed, trained and experienced in the aircraft. It also ensures the aircraft is approved to fl y commercial fl ights by the regulatory

safety events since 2008. When these events are fi ltered for the Wingman Standard (two pilots, with the pilot-in-command having the highest possible rating of ATP and multi turbine engines), it leaves only fi ve events, all of them being o ff shore oil platform operations with no injuries. With this data, Suzy knew she was making smart decisions by putting her family on a Wingman Certi fi ed jet operator to take them to Thailand and booking with a Thai helicopter operator who operated to Wingman Standard (although not yet certi fi ed). Three months later, Patti received a postcard from Suzy thanking her and the WYVERN team for their friendly and valuable service. The adventure was a huge success. Safety was never in question, and Suzy and her family have a new group of friends at WYVERN who are standing by to assist her again on future quests. wyvernltd.com

to conduct a virtual audit on the Thai helicopter operator, where they validated the crew, helicopter, operator, speci fi c mission pro fi le, terrain and a variety of environmental, human, organizational and technical risk factors. WYVERN provided Suzy with the Mission Audit report that indicated the operator posed a signi fi cant risk in several areas by utilizing only one pilot. The pilot did not hold the highest possible pilot rating and lacked requisite experience compared to industry best practices, plus operated only single-engine piston helicopters. Based on this information, Suzy worked with a WYVERN broker to locate a helicopter operator in Thailand that met WYVERN standards. Suzy contacted WYVERN again and asked: “Do you have any evidence that the Wingman Standard for helicopter operators makes a di ff erence?” Patti explained to Suzy that the NTSB database shows over 2,000 helicopter

authorities, which reduces the risk of illegal chartering, a signi fi cant global risk. Suzy noticed that some operators identi fi ed themselves as WYVERN Registered and asked the di ff erence between that and Wingman. Patti explained that WYVERN Registered operators are not certi fi ed but share their safety data with WYVERN so the passenger can run a PASS report to ensure they meet WYVERN’s Registered safety standards, which is a signi fi cant step up from ‘legal.’ Nevertheless, they are not assessed and certi fi ed by WYVERN. Suzy weighed her options with a broker and asked for PASS reports for Wingman and WYVERN Registered Operators. After reviewing the cost for each of these options, she decided to choose the Wingman Operator since they were certi fi ed by WYVERN; after all, she was traveling with her family. Then she realized her trip would also require a helicopter charter in Thailand. “How do I know these operators are safe? Are they WYVERN Registered or Wingman?” Suzy called WYVERN and asked for Patti again. Patti explained that the helicopter operator in Thailand was neither Wingman nor WYVERN Registered. However, she told Suzy that WYVERN could validate the operator with a Mission Audit and provide Suzy with a report on the operator’s safety risk pro fi le. Suzy agreed that this would be a good idea and was relieved that this could be conducted within a few days — and that the fee for such a service was very reasonably priced. The WYVERN team went into action

From top WYVERN is the world’s fi rst private aviation safety certi fi cation company; ensuring safety in private aviation for all travelers