Palm Springs, California-based charter and aircraft management company Desert Jet has once more secured its designation as a Wyvern Wingman certified operator by maintaining Wingman status through the Flight Leader programme. The Wyvern Wingman standard, the first air charter audit standard in the aviation industry, provides a safety benchmark that allows air charter customers to assess performance expectations against recognised industry best operating practices before purchasing air charter services.

“Renewal of our Wyvern Wingman status demonstrates Desert Jet's unwavering commitment to safety in our day-to-day operations and organisational safety culture,” says chief operating officer Toby Benenson. “By participating in the progressive Flight Leader programme, we are leading the way to adopt alternative and innovative pathways to continuous improvement, focusing more on safety management system effectiveness and human factors to achieve the highest level of safety performance.”

Wyvern Wingman operators are evaluated by the Wingman standard criteria. The scope of the evaluation includes an evaluation of operational activities, review of the company's operational history and safety records, safety management system (SMS), internal evaluation programme, administrative compositions, technical documentation, pilot and aircraft records, training requirements and maintenance operations including technician training and experience.

“Desert Jet's certification as a Wyvern Wingman Operator sets it apart from other operators in the air charter industry. This achievement validates its commitment to attaining and maintaining an enduring safety culture that elevates its performance above other operators that are just beginning to embrace the value of formal safety risk management,” says Wyvern CEO Sonnie Bates.

As well as being Wyvern Wingman certified, Desert Jet is ARGUS Platinum rated and IS-BAO Stage III registered.