The VIP Seat: Weekly Private Aviation News

This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland break down a packed week in business aviation.We start with Global Jet Capital’s $659 million aircraft-backed securitization and why Fortune 500 companies use operating leases for corporate jets. Then AirShare CEO John Owen joins us for a special Mile High Madness segment after the company went viral offering to fly Freddy to a World Cup match on a private jet.We also discuss the retirement of one of the classic Air Force One 747-200s, the controversy surrounding the Qatari 747-8, and Boeing’s delays on the next presidential aircraft.In safety news, we cover NetJets’ first fatal accident, the industry’s reaction, and why everyone is waiting for the NTSB’s findings. Jessie also explains the first confirmed NTSB preliminary report involving GPS jamming in a fatal medevac crash.Plus: the American pilot finally home after being detained in Guinea, Magellan Jets’ M&A strategy, charter brokerage consolidation, and why gross marketplace value is not the same thing as revenue.Topics include:-Global Jet Capital aircraft securitization-AirShare’s viral Freddy World Cup offer-Air Force One 747 retirement-Qatari 747-8 presidential aircraft controversy-NetJets fatal accident-GPS jamming and aviation safety-Pilot detained in Guinea returns home-Magellan Jets M&A strategy-Charter brokerage consolidation-Private aviation finance and safety news

This interview with Kenny Dichter and Robert Withers of REAL Jet covers the founding of Marquis Jet, the success of Avion Tequila, the experience with capital markets, the growth of Wheels Up, and the impact of going public on the industry. It also highlights the importance of authentic conversations and the journey to becoming a billion-dollar company.The conversation delves into the challenges faced during COVID, lessons learned, and the evolving landscape of the aviation industry. It also explores the transition from Wheels Up to RealJet, the vision for RealJet and Real SLX, and the unique hospitality model of RealJet. The synergy of REALJet, REAL SLX, and REAL come from learnings at Wheels Up.TakeawaysAuthentic conversations are what drive our industry forwardSuccess in the private aviation industry requires strategic partnerships and innovative business models. Adaptability and resilience are crucial in navigating challenges in the aviation industry.Safety, trust, and quality are essential components of a successful aviation business.Chapters00:00 RealJet Sponsorship05:21 Founding of Marquis Jet10:54 Success of Avion Tequila17:56 Growth of Wheels Up23:13 Journey to a Billion Dollar Company28:47 Going Public and Industry Impact34:12 Lessons Learned in Challenging Times40:07 Safety and Trust in Aviation45:25 The Vision for RealJet and Real SLX53:28 RealJet's Unique Hospitality Model01:00:45 Encouragement for the Future of AviationThanks to AB Jets and REALJET for sponsoring this week's episode of The VIP Seat!Check out our newsletter at The VIP Seat.

Berkshire Hathaway has disclosed a major stake in Delta Air Lines — but with Delta now deeply tied to Wheels Up, what does that mean for private aviation, premium travel, and NetJets?This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland break down Berkshire’s Delta investment, Delta’s continued commitment to Wheels Up, and the growing connection between airline premium cabins and private jet customers. They also discuss the NTSB’s decision to shut down safety dockets after AI tools were used to reconstruct cockpit voice recorder audio from spectrograms, raising major questions about privacy, accident investigation data, and public access.Plus: the FAA’s new Modern Skies air traffic control modernization dashboard, NASA’s moon base ambitions, seaplane bases as aviation infrastructure, and the debut of Captain Keyboard, where Jessie and Preston rate their meanest internet comments like turbulence.

From Gogo’s latest ATG whiplash to the world’s first piloted hydrogen‑electric helicopter circuit, this week’s VIP Seat is packed with the stories insiders are actually talking about. In this episode, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland break down the most important—and the strangest—moves in business aviation right now, with their usual mix of data, operator reality, and memes.We start with Gogo’s 5G saga and the surprise six‑month reprieve for legacy ATG users. After years of delays, chip and software issues, and shifting launch timelines, Gogo’s next‑gen network is supposed to be ready for prime time, but a last‑minute software problem has pushed the full conversion again, and the FCC has allowed classic ATG to stay on until November. Jessie and Preston talk about what this means for operators who scheduled downtime, paid for upgrades, and now feel like they’ve been jerked around—plus why Starlink‑equipped fleets like ABJets suddenly look very smart.FlyExclusive has finally turned the adjusted EBITDA corner while still relying on some non‑cash fleet‑modernization add‑backs, and the team digs into what that actually tells you about the business versus the headline “we’re positive now” story. They look at revenue mix shifts away from pure wholesale charter, why uptime and aircraft choice (CJ3+, XLS, Challenger) show up directly in contribution margin, and how moving to more fractional and managed structures is changing the economics.Then it’s over to Wheels Up and its ongoing turnaround. The hosts unpack the latest from Delta‑backed financing, new mezzanine capital, and a fleet reshuffle away from aging Hawker 400XPs and Citation Xs toward Phenom 300s and Challenger 300/350s. They talk about what 10% gross bookings growth really means when you’re still burning cash, why on‑time performance is a meaningless KPI in private aviation, and how the new ability to use Wheels Up funds to book Delta flights inside the app might help chip away at that giant prepaid liability balance.On the OEM side, it’s a very different story. Embraer is battling US tariffs that are squeezing margins even as its backlog remains strong, while Gulfstream posts higher revenue, more deliveries, and a big jump in services income for both Gulfstream and Jet Aviation. Bombardier continues to ride a huge order book and refinance older debt on better terms. The hosts discuss whether OEMs are forgetting what a downturn feels like—pulling back from trade shows, refusing to deal much on price—and what that means for operators who need the OEMs as partners when the cycle turns. If you live in business aviation—operator, broker, OEM, financier, or just a hardcore airplane nerd—this episode gives you a fast but deep scan of everything that matters this week: connectivity drama, earnings quality, real market sentiment, future propulsion, safety data gaps, and the memes that keep us all sane.

In this episode of The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland sit down with Barry Ellis, CEO of Hop-A-Jet, for an important and deeply candid conversation following the release of the NTSB final report on the February 2024 Challenger 604 accident in Naples, Florida.Barry reflects on the loss of pilots Ed Murphy and Ian Hoffman, the extraordinary actions of the flight attendant and passengers who survived, and the difficult realities of leading an aviation company through an accident response.The conversation also examines the NTSB’s findings, including corrosion in both engines’ variable geometry systems, near-simultaneous compressor stalls, hung-start troubleshooting, engine maintenance programs, compressor wash intervals, borescope inspections, and what Challenger 604/605/650 operators should be thinking about now.This is not a discussion about blame or litigating responsibility. It is a conversation about lessons learned, operational responsibility, emergency response, OEM communication, and how the industry can work to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.NTSB Accident Information and Documents: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193769Topics covered include:Remembering Ed Murphy and Ian HoffmanThe flight attendant’s lifesaving actionsWhat the crew did in the final momentsEmergency response planning and family notificationThe NTSB final report and probable causeCF34 engine corrosion and variable guide vane systemsHung starts vs. slow startsOn-condition engine programsCompressor washes and corrosion preventionWhat operators, brokers, and aircraft buyers should know nowSubscribe to The VIP Seat for serious conversations, sharp analysis, and insider perspective on the business aviation industry.Thank you to AB Jets for sponsoring this episode.This episode is based on publicly available information, including the NTSB final report and related public materials, as well as the personal views and experiences of our guest. Nothing in this episode should be construed as a legal conclusion, finding of liability, accusation of wrongdoing, or definitive technical determination beyond the official public record. The VIP Seat, its hosts, producers, and guests do not provide legal, regulatory, maintenance, or safety advice through this content. Any opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers. Viewers should rely on the official NTSB materials and consult appropriate legal, regulatory, maintenance, or safety professionals before making decisions.

In this episode of The VIP Seat, Avfuel president C.R. Sincock pulls back the curtain on how jet fuel really moves from wellhead to wing, why pipeline access and storage are the true competitive moats, and how a family-owned company scaled into a multi‑billion‑dollar “downstream aviation energy” powerhouse without selling out to private equity. We dig into the Strait of Hormuz crisis, war premiums, airline hedging, and what sustained volatility means for FBO margins, charter rates, and operators trying to budget fuel in 2026 and beyond. C.R. also shares the Avfuel origin story, the generational handoff from his father Craig, and why culture, reliability, and credit support matter more than a two‑cent spread when the market breaks.

Private jet summer is almost here, and the market is already getting interesting.This week, we bring on Greg Sydor from Guardian Jet after his viral post on the G650 market to explain why these aircraft are holding value far better than expected — and in some cases appreciating. Then we dig into a fake Delta Private Jets website, FlyExclusive’s free FMS rollout, TSA funding issues, Sam Graves’ retirement, and what operators should be watching as the Masters and World Cup put major pressure on the system.Thanks to AB Jets for sponsoring this week’s episode.

Business aviation has quietly become one of the most investable sectors in aerospace—but how does Wall Street actually see it?This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie and Preston sit down with Nick Fazioli, Managing Director and Global Head of Aerospace & Aviation Investment Banking at Jefferies to break down the capital markets behind business aviation.From the evolution of BizAv from a “cottage industry” to an institutional investment category, to the surge in private equity, charter consolidation, and infrastructure plays, this episode dives into the forces shaping the industry’s next decade.They cover:Why investors are shifting toward MRO, FBOs, and “picks and shovels” businessesHow aircraft values and financing impact operator strategyThe difference between asset-heavy and asset-light modelsWhere charter consolidation stands today—and what comes nextWhy eVTOL funding is facing a reality checkAnd what founders need to do to attract serious capitalIf you want to understand where business aviation is going, follow the money.

In this week’s episode of The VIP Seat, we take “live” to a whole new altitude — literally. Jessie and Preston record their first-ever in-person episode at 43,000 feet over Memphis aboard AB Jets’ brand-new Challenger 3500, while the flight crew spells “VIP SEAT” in the sky (yes, you can track it).We kick things off with a breakdown of the Praetor 500/600 “E” announcement — what actually changed, what didn’t, and why the hype may have outpaced the substance. Then we get into the big story that broke mid-flight: FlyHouse heading to market at a reported $500M valuation while targeting a major raise, plus what it means for two-sided marketplaces, industry positioning, and the “Uber for private jets” storyline.We also cover Middle East airspace disruption and what it means for business aviation ops and emergency lift, then pivot to the latest Starlink pricing and speed-based plan changes that have GA pilots heated — and why business aviation operators may quietly agree with the crackdown.To close, we dive into one of the most unsettling stories in aviation: the counterfeit parts scandal tied to the CFM56 supply chain — how it was uncovered, why traceability is still a mess, and why this is exactly the kind of problem aviation tech (and maybe AI) should be able to solve.Big thanks to AB Jets for sponsoring the episode — and for the wild idea to record the show at altitude. Buckle up.Subscribe for weekly business aviation news, real industry analysis, and the stories everyone’s talking about behind the scenes.

VistaJet places a massive order for 40 Bombardier Challenger 3500s (with up to 120 options) following $1.3B in financing—what it means for fleet operators, delivery slots, and the super-mid market. We break down Bombardier’s global MRO expansion, bond financing strategy, and why the Challenger 300/3500 platform continues to dominate.Plus: two American Gulfstream pilots jailed in Guinea under severe conditions, the El Paso airspace shutdown and counter-drone confusion, Hop-A-Jet’s lawsuit following the crash, and a data-driven discussion on pilot hiring, DEI policies, and aviation safety statistics.We also cover Jeff Bezos’ Gulfstream 650ER listing and this week’s Mile High Madness.Business aviation news, fleet strategy, aviation safety, and industry analysis—all in one episode of The VIP Seat.

Private aviation is navigating uncertainty—but capital is still moving. In this episode of The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland (reporting from Corporate Jet Investor London) on tariff volatility, FAA furloughs, shifting European sentiment, sustainability pressure, safety reforms, and why record global M&A activity may signal strong tailwinds for business aviation despite the noise.

A tragic Challenger accident in Maine puts winter flying under the microscope on this week’s VIP Seat. Jessie Naor and Preston Holland break down what private aviation gets wrong about de-icing—and why Part 91 and 135 operations don’t have the same guardrails as the airlines.From holdover times and fluid limitations to the uncomfortable reality of passenger pressure in the cockpit, this episode explains why snow isn’t the real danger—human factors are. Jessie shares hard-earned insights on operational control, assertiveness, and why trusting your pilot sometimes means accepting an overnight delay.Then things pivot to Mile High Madness: jet-set Pilates, aviation influencer chaos, and some well-earned side-eye. The episode also covers major industry news, including the Flexjet–Honeywell settlement, FAA funding on the brink amid shutdown threats, Wheels Up’s latest layoffs and sale-leasebacks, and a jaw-dropping case of fake airline credentials used to score hundreds of free flights.Serious safety lessons, industry tea, and just enough humor to keep it real—welcome back to The VIP Seat.

The conversation covers the expansion and major moves in the private aviation industry, including Bond's acquisition of a 135 charter certificate and its fractional ownership strategy. It also delves into controversial job posts, stock claims, and NASA's employee perks, shedding light on the challenges and developments in the industry. The conversation covers a range of topics including space travel, NTSB's address of stall testing issues, Monarch Air Group's lawsuit against Blade Urban Air Mobility, a record year for business jet departures, and challenges in the business aviation maintenance industry.TakeawaysPrivate aviation industry expansionChallenges in the private aviation industry NTSB's address of stall testing issues for Hawker operatorsChallenges in the business aviation maintenance industryRecord year for business jet departures