The Flight Options^® Approach To Safety

As the premier provider of private jet travel, Flight Options’ number one priority is the safety of our customers and our employees. Our role in the aviation community is that of a pioneer – through our products and programs to our industry leading safety initiatives and state-of-the-art Operations Control Center, we take this role seriously. As CEO of Flight Options, I am committed to ensuring that we exceed even the highest safety standards through our passionate attention to detail, dedicated resources and accountability. When it comes to safety, our success is not only defined by our history but also by the people and programs that truly differentiate us from our competition:

• Training Initiatives
• Safety Reporting and Auditing
• Check Airman Status
• Safety Management System (SMS)
• Industry-Wide Integration

Through the dedication of all Flight Options employees, we have achieved world-class safety performance that is unmatched by the competition while also ensuring our operations’ continued improvement in service, reliability, and efficiency. I encourage you to read more about how Flight Options is leading the way in elevating safety for our customers and our industry.

Best regards,

Mike Silvestro
Chief Executive Officer

ARG/US^® Platinum Safety Rating

Let Flight Options provide you with a copy of our CHEQ report along with a report for any competitive aircraft companies.

About ARG/US Ratings

ARG/US has grown to become the industry leader in aviation information, analysis and distribution.  Through the ARG/US On-Site Safety Audit, private jet flyers can gain objective insight into the safety histories of business jet operators.  In 2001 ARG/US developed a rating system called the CHEQ System which generates a report covering three major components:  Historical Safety Ratings, Current Aircraft and Pilot Data, and On-Site Safety Audits.  A thorough analysis of these components results in three potential levels of safety ratings:  Silver, Gold and Platinum.  Each level reflects an increasing amount of detailed information on the operator showing that they have exceeded the established ARG/US standards for safety.

Flight Options was the first fractional provider to receive a Platinum Rating as a result of the ARG/US On-Site Safety Audit, and the only provider to receive the rating for 12 consecutive years.

Training Initiatives

Flight Options pilots are the most well trained pilots in the industry, averaging over 160 hours of training per pilot annually and over 9,000 hours of total time. This level of training and experience is unmatched in the industry and immeasurable in ensuring our pilots readiness in any situation. Our philosophy places a strong emphasis on real-world conditions. We dedicate two full tours (16 full days) of recurrent training per pilot, per year. One full tour is conducted under simulator training at the CAE Simuflite facility. The second full tour pairs our pilots with expert check airman for Annual Line Training (ALT). ALT is an industry-leading initiative that focuses on real-world problems such as Air Traffic Control demands, variable weather conditions and the solutions to those situations.

Flight Options works continuously to improve upon pilot training standards. As pioneers in the industry, Flight Options was the only business jet operator selected by NASA to assist in developing an extensive training program for pilots operating in ground icing conditions.

All Flight Options pilots are qualified to Pilot-In-Command (PIC) standards which further demonstrates our pilots complete competence in the aircraft. Through our high standards in training, our pilots regularly exceed regulatory requirements and industry best practices.

Safety Reporting and Auditing

Building an effective safety culture requires openness and trust. Flight Options has built an environment where all employees are empowered to voice their concerns and recommendations which, in turn, ensures that safety policies and programs are in place and adhered to. Through this culture of trust and fanatical attention to detail, Flight Options pioneered a safety reporting and communication system called Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP).  This program provides a partnership between our pilots, our expert aircraft mechanics, our safety professionals and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) representatives aimed at continuous safety improvement. Employees are encouraged to report any safety concerns in an open, non-punitive environment. Every report is reviewed, investigated and corrective actions are implemented.

Based on the success that we experienced within our own organization, Flight Options introduced ASAP to the rest of the industry and its success is evident from the number of providers that have adopted the program and implemented it into their own operation.

Check Airman Status

Senior pilots, referred to as check airman, serve as in-house experts lending support to pilots out in the field while consulting with management on daily operational situations, requirements and regulations. Flight Options has the highest ratio of check airman to aircraft of any national provider in the industry. Our check airman qualification program is extensive and an integral component to ensuring a smooth and safely run operation. Check Airmen are certified by the FAA to conduct check rides and provide Annual Line Training (ALT) for all Flight Options pilots.

Additionally, Flight Options was selected as the only Part 135 operator to participate in the Aircrew Designated Examiner Program. This program allows select check airmen to be designated examiners who conduct regular check rides normally reserved for FAA inspectors.

Safety Management System

Flight Options was the first provider in both the fractional and charter industries to partner with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in its Safety Management System (SMS) pilot development project. The goal of SMS is to assist business aircraft operators in proactively identifying and managing risks at every level of the organization through a systematic approach. Under SMS, Flight Options is able to:

• Maintain timely, clear and open safety communications, without hesitation or fear of reprisal
• Manage safety risks by implementing corrective actions and controls
• Evaluate safety performance through continual monitoring
• Establish lines of safety accountability throughout the organization, from the front-line employee through the senior management level

Through our partnership with the FAA, Flight Options was the first to advance through the process and achieve Level 1 validation. Our input and participation has been integral in building the future industry model for safety management standards.

Industry-wide Integration

Sharing “lessons learned” is one of the most effective ways the industry can advance safety standards. Through collective cooperation, private jet consumers, and the industry as a whole, benefit when findings are exchanged and improved upon. Flight Options is the only operator in the industry to exercise complete transparency in our reporting.  We do not hide our safety record, and we are willing to match ours against any other in the industry.

Flight Options has been invited by the FAA to speak on many critical safety topics and lend our expertise in the fields of SMS, runway safety, ASAP, and recurrent pilot training.

Request Your ARG/US CHEQ Report