Close-up of a business jet engine nacelle at golden hour

Safety

Who flies you matters more than what.

A charter broker's most important work happens before the quote: deciding which operators are allowed in. These are the rules we apply to every flight we arrange, and the independent audits we rely on.

Five conditions. All of them, every time.

1
FAA Part 135 or foreign equivalent
The operator holds an air carrier certificate for on-demand commercial operations, with the crew duty, training, maintenance and drug-testing rules that come with it. Private (Part 91) aircraft are never offered for charter.
2
ARGUS Gold or above, or Wyvern Wingman
An independent auditor has reviewed the operator's history, pilots and, at Gold Plus, Platinum and Wingman level, its operations on site. Operators without a current rating are not in our network, whatever the price.
3
Two pilots on every jet
A captain holding an Airline Transport Pilot certificate with a type rating and time on the aircraft, and a qualified second-in-command. Single-pilot jets are flown with two pilots when we arrange them.
4
Trip-specific report
Before each flight we pull a third-party report (ARGUS TripCHEQ or Wyvern PASS) on the specific tail number, the operator's current status and both named pilots, and we share it with you on request.
5
Insurance verified
The operator's aviation liability policy, typically $50 million to $300 million per occurrence, is confirmed for the aircraft offered, and the certificate is available before you fly.

What ARGUS and Wyvern actually check.

Both are independent auditors of charter operators. The levels are not interchangeable, so here is what each one means.

ARGUS

Gold: Certificate held at least one year, historical safety analysis, pilot background checks and validation of operational control.
Gold Plus: Gold, plus a passed on-site audit of operations, maintenance and training.
Platinum: Gold Plus, plus a functioning safety management system and an emergency response plan.
Platinum Elite: Platinum with continuous monitoring between audits.

Wyvern

Registered: The operator shares its safety data with Wyvern but has not been audited. Not sufficient for our network on its own.
Wingman: The operator passed an on-site audit against the Wingman Standard, Wyvern's highest operator standard.
Wingman PRO: Wingman plus demonstrated safety management maturity, an internal audit program and ongoing monitoring.
PASS report: A trip-specific check of more than 150 data points on the operator, aircraft and pilots for a given flight.

Our role

We arrange. Licensed carriers operate.

Varsano Jets is an air charter broker under 14 CFR Part 295 and not a direct air carrier. We do not hold operational control of any flight. The operating carrier, its certificate and its safety rating appear on every quote and charter agreement, and you may ask us for its audit report and insurance certificate at any time before you fly.

Safety, answered.

How do you vet the operators?

We only source aircraft from FAA Part 135 (or foreign equivalent) certificate holders that hold a current ARGUS Gold, Gold Plus or Platinum rating or Wyvern Wingman status. Before every flight we pull a trip-specific safety report covering the aircraft, the operator and both pilots, and we require two pilots on every jet charter, with the captain holding an ATP certificate and type rating.

What do ARGUS and Wyvern ratings mean?

ARGUS and Wyvern are independent auditors of charter operators. ARGUS Gold requires at least a year of operations, a historical safety analysis and pilot background checks; Gold Plus adds a passed on-site audit; Platinum adds a functioning safety management system and emergency response plan. Wyvern Wingman means the operator passed an on-site audit against the Wingman Standard. Operators without one of these ratings are not in our network.

Is the aircraft insured?

Yes. Every operator we work with carries aviation liability insurance, typically between $50 million and $300 million per occurrence depending on aircraft size. Insurance certificates are available on request before you fly, and our charter agreement states the limits for your flight.

What is the difference between a charter broker and an operator?

An operator holds the FAA air carrier certificate and flies the aircraft. A broker, like Varsano Jets, arranges the flight on your behalf: we compare aircraft across many operators, negotiate price, verify safety and manage the trip. Because we own no aircraft, our recommendation is driven by your trip, not by which plane needs to be flown. The operator's name appears on every quote and contract, as required by US Department of Transportation rules.

Is Varsano Jets an airline?

No. Varsano Jets, a DBA of Varsano Group Inc., is an air charter broker under 14 CFR Part 295. We are not a direct air carrier and we do not have operational control of aircraft. Every flight we arrange is operated by a properly licensed direct air carrier under FAA Part 135 or the foreign equivalent.

Where do you need to be?

Tell us the trip. An advisor replies with itemized aircraft options, usually within the hour, at any time of day.

Request a quote Speak to an advisor

Who flies you matters more than what.

Five conditions. All of them, every time.

FAA Part 135 or foreign equivalent

ARGUS Gold or above, or Wyvern Wingman

Two pilots on every jet

Trip-specific report

Insurance verified

What ARGUS and Wyvern actually check.

ARGUS

Wyvern

We arrange. Licensed carriers operate.

Safety, answered.

Where do you need to be?

What ARGUS and Wyvern actually check.

ARGUS

Wyvern

Safety, answered.