The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News
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- 11. Nov. 2026
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Join Jessie Naor and Preston Holland on The VIP Seat for the latest insights in private aviation, covering business aviation trends, private jet reviews, and more. We break down the biggest stories of the week in corporate aviation, from jet charter trends and Part 135 shenanigans to aviation safety news that the big players hope you'll miss. Expect hot takes, sharp analysis, and real talk with industry insiders, operators, and disruptors. Whether you’re flying private or an industry insider, buckle up and let's take off.
Folgen 112
The Learjet 60 Crash, the Speculation Problem
A tragedy deserves an investigation, not an internet verdict. This week, Jessie and Preston address the fatal Learjet 60 crash and the wave of speculation that followed, from pilot-age criticism to sweeping …
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A tragedy deserves an investigation, not an internet verdict. This week, Jessie and Preston address the fatal Learjet 60 crash and the wave of speculation that followed, from pilot-age criticism to sweeping claims about the aircraft. They discuss why waiting for the NTSB matters, the challenge of responding to viral misinformation, and the broader safety conversations worth having without drawing conclusions about the cause.
Then, the Wheels Up debate continues: do six factory-new Phenom 300Es, improving operating metrics, and another round of Delta support point to a turnaround or a longer road to becoming Delta Private Jets all over again? Plus, Jeppesen’s paper-chart farewell, retired jet engines finding a second life powering AI data centers, a tribute to Ed Bolen as he announces his retirement, and the Fly Alliance restructuring that has the hosts asking whether they can unring the M&A gong.
Thank you to our sponsors AB Jets and REAL Jet and Wingform for sponsoring Mile High Madness.Private Jet Deals Have a Fraud Problem
The aircraft is real. The deal is real. The wire instructions? That’s where things get expensive.This week on The VIP Seat, Andrew from Wingform joins us to unpack how fraudsters infiltrate aircraft …
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The aircraft is real. The deal is real. The wire instructions? That’s where things get expensive.
This week on The VIP Seat, Andrew from Wingform joins us to unpack how fraudsters infiltrate aircraft transactions, monitor email threads, and wait for the closing-day rush to redirect the money.
We get into spoofed emails, AI voice cloning, sensitive documents shared a little too casually, and why “the escrow company handles that” deserves a closer look. Plus, what aviation’s just culture could teach the transaction side about sharing fraud stories before someone else becomes the next one.
A multimillion-dollar transaction shouldn’t run on trust alone.
Thank you to our sponsors AB Jets and REAL Jet for making this show possible!
REAL Jet: Beyond the Booth
What should private flyers know before putting money into a jet card—and what does it take to build a brand they can trust? Preston Holland and Jessie close out this week’s Beyond the Booth series at NBAA-BACE …
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What should private flyers know before putting money into a jet card—and what does it take to build a brand they can trust? Preston Holland and Jessie close out this week’s Beyond the Booth series at NBAA-BACE 2026 with Kenny and Robert of RealJet, recorded onboard the very bus that hosted the conversations.
The discussion tackles customer trust, prepaid jet cards, and why the team believes financial backing, transparency, and leadership track records matter more than celebrity endorsements or splashy advertising. Kenny and Robert share their perspectives on matching customers with the right aviation solution, recognizing offers that sound too good to be true, and maintaining strong operator relationships as costs rise.
They also explore REAL Jet's broader vision for an experience-driven lifestyle brand and why they believe more artificial intelligence creates an even greater need for human intelligence. From visiting operators and connecting with clients on the road to supporting charitable initiatives, they explain how the REAL Jet bus brings that relationship-first approach to life. Plus, their take on the show floor, eVTOL economics, and what’s ahead for private aviation.
Thank you to Leviate Air Group, the presenting sponsor of The VIP Seat’s Beyond the Booth series from NBAA-BACE 2026, for making these conversations possible, and to REAL Jet for providing our home on the road! Explore Leviate’s aircraft charter, sales, management, and advisory services at leviateair.com.
Jet OUT: Beyond the Booth
How do you make the economics of light jets work? Preston Holland sits down with Matt Wild and Joe Crivello of Jet OUT at NBAA-BACE 2026 to explore the company’s answer: a single-type fleet, a network of local …
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How do you make the economics of light jets work? Preston Holland sits down with Matt Wild and Joe Crivello of Jet OUT at NBAA-BACE 2026 to explore the company’s answer: a single-type fleet, a network of local bases, and a day-based co-ownership model built around how customers actually use their aircraft.
With its CJ4 Gen2 fleet order complete, Jet OUT shares how it approaches aircraft selection, manufacturer relationships, and growth in an environment shaped by supply-chain constraints and rising capital costs. Matt and Joe explain what separates their Part 135 co-ownership and co-lease programs from traditional fractional ownership and how returning aircraft to base, integrating maintenance, and keeping pilots home most nights supports their operating model.
The conversation also digs into wholesale charter, customer incentives, and why Jet OUT prices access around days rather than just flight hours. Plus, they discuss introducing airline travelers to private aviation and where they’re seeing new wealth enter the customer pipeline.
Thank you to Leviate Air Group, the presenting sponsor of The VIP Seat’s Beyond the Booth series from NBAA-BACE 2026, for making these conversations possible. Explore their aircraft charter, sales, management, and advisory services at leviateair.com.
Thrive Aviation: Beyond the Booth
What happens when Honda partners with an established private jet operator to build a fractional ownership program? Preston Holland and Jessie Naor sit down with Curtis Edenfield of Thrive Aviation at NBAA-BACE …
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What happens when Honda partners with an established private jet operator to build a fractional ownership program? Preston Holland and Jessie Naor sit down with Curtis Edenfield of Thrive Aviation at NBAA-BACE 2026 to unpack the partnership and why it’s about more than adding HondaJets to the fleet.
Curtis shares how Honda approached Thrive, what went into the extensive due diligence process, and how the companies are building a new fractional offering around the HondaJet and Challenger 3500. He explains why Thrive plans to start with a regional, West Coast operation, prioritize operational efficiency, and grow deliberately rather than chase nationwide scale from day one.
The conversation also explores the economics of light jets, the pressures of high aircraft utilization, and how Thrive’s fractional, core charter, and managed fleets fit into its long-term strategy. Plus, Curtis weighs in on industry consolidation, improving supply chains, and the customer requests that keep private aviation interesting, from elaborate fast-food orders to the price of smoking onboard.
Thank you to Leviate Air Group, the presenting sponsor of The VIP Seat’s Beyond the Booth series from NBAA-BACE 2026, for making these conversations possible. Explore their aircraft charter, sales, management, and advisory services at leviateair.com.
Leviate Air Group: Beyond the Booth Series
Preston Holland sits down with Luis Barros and Randall Mize of Leviate Air Group for a candid conversation about buying, selling, managing, and growing in today’s private aviation market. Recorded at NBAA-BACE …
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Preston Holland sits down with Luis Barros and Randall Mize of Leviate Air Group for a candid conversation about buying, selling, managing, and growing in today’s private aviation market. Recorded at NBAA-BACE 2026 for The VIP Seat’s Beyond the Booth series, this episode explores how Leviate connects charter, aircraft sales, management, and advisory services under one roof—and what it takes to make that ecosystem work.[ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws]
Luis and Randall discuss younger buyers entering the ultra-long-range market, the relationships behind off-market aircraft deals, and why consolidating charter operators is harder than it looks. They also preview a planned expansion into Boeing 767 operations, share their perspectives on AI and next-generation aircraft, and explain why engine and parts shortages remain a serious concern for aircraft owners and operators.
Thank you to Leviate Air Group, the presenting sponsor of The VIP Seat’s Beyond the Booth series from NBAA-BACE 2026, for making these conversations possible. Learn more about their aircraft charter, sales, management, and advisory services at leviateair.com.
SyberJet Gets Fired Up, Pratt & Whitney's New Engine
SyberJet brought the lasers. Operators brought their frustrations with FBO fees. And we came home from NBAA-BACE 2026 with a few questions that didn’t get answered onstage.This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie and …
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SyberJet brought the lasers. Operators brought their frustrations with FBO fees. And we came home from NBAA-BACE 2026 with a few questions that didn’t get answered onstage.
This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie and Preston unpack Trevor Milton’s SyberJet relaunch, from the mock-up and ambitious avionics plans to the reaction when Preston questioned the presentation online. We’re here for innovation. That doesn’t mean we’re skipping the questions about execution.
Then, we get into the FBO special event fee debate: why unpredictable charges leave operators and brokers explaining bills they didn’t set, and why better transparency matters as much as the price.
Also on the agenda:
- STA Jets’ acquisition of International Jet and the push for scale in charter
- Goodwin’s Stack Aero acquisition and the questions it raises about customer data, sourcing and AI
- Pratt & Whitney’s PT9: where could a more powerful turboprop fit?
- Bombardier’s U.S. investment plans and its response to political pressure
- Mile High Madness: private jet saunas and the operator-versus-broker rivalry
Plus, look out for our Beyond the Booth interviews with business aviation leaders coming out as bonus content this week, presented by Leviate Air Group.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Bombardier’s political punching bag
00:22 Welcome back from NBAA-BACE
00:51 SyberJet’s relaunch and Trevor Milton’s response to criticism
07:19 FBO special event fees: the predictability problem
10:52 A thank-you to AB Jets
11:35 Mile High Madness: jet saunas and brokers vs. operators
15:22 M&A Gong: STA Jets, International Jet and Stack Aero
19:47 Who owns the customer data?
21:27 Pratt & Whitney’s PT9 and the next turboprop opportunity
25:12 RealJet and finding the right charter partner
25:58 Bombardier, Trump and U.S. investment
28:41 Beyond the Booth interviews and what’s nextThe VIP Seat is presented by AB Jets. Thank you to our segment sponsors Wingform and Oshman Aviation, and toRealJet for supporting our NBAA coverage.
Subscribe for weekly business aviation news, analysis and the conversations behind the headlines. Get the newsletter at thevipseat.com.
#TheVIPSeat #BusinessAviation #NBAA #SyberJet #PrivateAviation
The History of NBAA BACE
Is NBAA-BACE still an airplane-buying show, or has it become a B2B convention with a static display? And is charter demand really growing, or are bots just getting better at requesting quotes?Ahead of NBAA-BACE …
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Is NBAA-BACE still an airplane-buying show, or has it become a B2B convention with a static display? And is charter demand really growing, or are bots just getting better at requesting quotes?
Ahead of NBAA-BACE 2026 in Las Vegas, Jessie and Preston trace the show’s roots from a small group of corporate aircraft operators to business aviation’s biggest annual gathering. We discuss how the event has evolved, why OEM participation keeps shifting, and whether manufacturers are overlooking the people who actually influence aircraft purchases: brokers, management companies, pilots and maintenance professionals.
Then we unpack Avinode’s reported 27% increase in U.S. charter demand and why more requests don’t necessarily mean more flights. From AI-powered sourcing to quote-to-booking ratios, we discuss what operators should watch before celebrating a busier inbox.
Plus, the FAA is seeking an ownership stake in Air Space Intelligence, a contractor supplying AI-powered traffic-management technology. Should taxpayers share in the upside, or should the government stick to being the customer? We debate the proposal and lawmakers’ push to pause the SMART rollout.
In Mile High Madness: Bombardier’s influencer strategy gets our attention, and a corporate flight attendant’s viral post offers a lesson in the difference between engagement and employability.
In this episode:
- NBAA’s founding and the evolution of NBAA-BACE
- Static aircraft displays, OEM economics and the value of industry access
- Why charter quote requests aren’t the same as booked trips
- AI bots, charter sourcing automation and protecting your sales team’s time
- The FAA’s proposed stake in Air Space Intelligence
- Aviation influencer marketing: what works and what really doesn’t
Find us at NBAA-BACE and come say hello.
Subscribe to The VIP Seat and get the newsletter at www.thevipseat.com.
Thank you to AB Jetsand RealJetfor sponsoring this week’s episode.
#BusinessAviation #NBAABACE #PrivateJets #AirTrafficControl #AviationPodcast
Meth Jet, Rogue Pilots, and Fortune Gets BizAv Wrong
521 kilos of crystal meth on a 1986 Learjet 55B, a rise in rogue pilot incidents on the flight deck, and Fortune taking another swing at business aviation. This week Jessie and Preston break down the Meth Jet …
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521 kilos of crystal meth on a 1986 Learjet 55B, a rise in rogue pilot incidents on the flight deck, and Fortune taking another swing at business aviation. This week Jessie and Preston break down the Meth Jet bust in Laos, what the flydubai attack says about pilot mental health and cockpit security, and why bonus depreciation is no more a private jet loophole than it is a bulldozer loophole. We also look at IADA's tougher Certified Aircraft Broker program and the latest expedition hoping to find Amelia Earhart's Electra on Nikumaroro.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome to The VIP Seat
00:12 Meth Jet: 521 kg on an N-registered Learjet in Laos
07:04 Mile High Madness, presented by Wingform
09:42 Get your hat for NBAA-BACE
10:20 Rogue pilots and the threat on the flight deck
15:04 Fortune gets bizav wrong again
23:06 IADA raises the bar for aircraft brokers
27:50 The search for Amelia Earhart's Electra
30:58 See you at NBAA-BACEThanks to our sponsors
AB Jets: Argus Platinum-rated charter with a fleet of Challenger 3500s and Learjet 60s
Wingform: presenting sponsor of Mile High Madness
RealJet: aircraft brokerage built on real people and real conversationsShop the hats: thevipseat.shop
More episodes: www.thevipseat.comSee us at NBAA-BACE next week. Say hi, grab a selfie and tag us on LinkedIn or Instagram.
#BusinessAviation #PrivateJets #NBAA #BizAv #AviationPodcast
Catheters to Private Jets: Flyte Aviation’s Wild Pivot
What do private jets and catheters have in common? Apparently, a publicly traded parent company.This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland unpack Catheter Precision’s rebrand as Flyte Aviation …
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What do private jets and catheters have in common? Apparently, a publicly traded parent company.
This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland unpack Catheter Precision’s rebrand as Flyte Aviation, trading under VJET on the NYSE American—and the unusual combination of private aviation and cardiac technology. Then, they tackle Kissimmee’s proposed camera-based landing-fee system, the legal fight over delivery drones, and Global Jet Capital’s forecast for $247 billion in business-jet transactions through 2030.
In this episode:
- Flyte Aviation, formerly Flewber, and its public-market pivot.
- Airport cameras, ADS-B restrictions and the landing-fee debate.
- Fifteen states and Harris County challenge the FAA’s drone-delivery environmental review.
- Why heavier jets are expected to lead transaction growth.
- AOPA’s announcement that it was leaving X—and the online reaction.
- A helicopter, a limousine and a very questionable stunt.
- Confirmed information about the tragic Bermuda-to-Boston air ambulance accident, without speculation about its cause.
Update: After this episode was recorded, AOPA reversed its decision to leave X and said it would keep its account active.
Thank you to AB Jets and RealJet for sponsoring this episode.
Subscribe to The VIP Seat for business aviation news, industry analysis and candid conversations. Share this episode with someone in aviation, and leave a review wherever you listen.
#BusinessAviation #PrivateJets #TheVIPSeat
Citation Single-Pilot Exemption, OneFlight and ExcelAire Challenges
The FAA has ended the single-pilot exemption pathway for several legacy Cessna Citation models, creating an immediate operational and economic issue for affected aircraft owners, contract pilots and charter …
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The FAA has ended the single-pilot exemption pathway for several legacy Cessna Citation models, creating an immediate operational and economic issue for affected aircraft owners, contract pilots and charter operators.
In this episode of The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland break down what the FAA’s move actually means for Citation II, Bravo, V, Ultra, Encore and Encore+ operators and why the CE-525 CitationJet family is not affected. They discuss the agency’s safety rationale, allegations of noncompliance in the exemption ecosystem, the impact on staffing and operating costs, and the possible implications for aircraft values.
Also in this episode:
- FAA proposes a $260,868 civil penalty against ExcelAire over alleged unauthorized charter operations.
- OneFlight faces growing scrutiny and multiple lawsuits, raising bigger questions about jet cards, prepaid charter funds, escrow and customer due diligence.
- FAA mechanic certificate issuance reaches a record level, while aviation maintenance employers still confront a long-term talent pipeline challenge.
- FAA proposes changes to high-altitude oxygen-mask rules for Part 91 and Part 135 operations.
- The Pilatus PC-12 PRO receives FAA and EASA approval for Garmin Safety Autoland.
- Mile High Madness: private-aviation social media, FBO confusion and the week’s strangest aviation moments.
The big takeaway: whether you are buying a jet card, booking charter, owning a legacy Citation, hiring a contract pilot or evaluating an operator, due diligence matters more than ever.
Subscribe to The VIP Seat for weekly conversations on private aviation, business jets, aircraft ownership, safety, charter, fractional aviation and the business behind flying private.
Canada Bonus Depreciation, HondaJet Echelon Slip, and Steve Varsano Says the Calls Are Real
Are Steve Varsano's viral phone calls real or staged? We finally asked. In part two of our conversation, recorded live from the A319 cabin mockup at The Jet Business in London, Flexjet Chairman Kenn Ricci and …
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Are Steve Varsano's viral phone calls real or staged? We finally asked. In part two of our conversation, recorded live from the A319 cabin mockup at The Jet Business in London, Flexjet Chairman Kenn Ricci and Steve Varsano go through the deal from the buyer's side. They cover who pitched it (over lunch, of course), why Kenn calls it 80% acqui-hire, how Flexjet plans to move 30–50 pre-owned aircraft a year, and Kenn's three types of M&A deals, including the two he never wants to do again.
First, the news. Canada joins the bonus depreciation club with PM Carney's Productivity Mega Deduction, covering both new and pre-owned aircraft. The HondaJet Echelon slips again, with first flight in 2028 and deliveries in 2031, and we ask whether it's the engines. We also ring the M&A gong for Derek Johnson and Mach One Aviation joining Citadel Aviation. Plus Mile High Madness: a social media aviation-investment pitch that earns a hat, and a helicopter giving birth.
Thanks to our sponsors: AB Jets, RealJet, and Wingform
Subscribe to the newsletter at https://www.thevipseat.com for the weekly Mile High Madness links and more.
Kenn Ricci Says the Private Aviation Industry is No Longer Aligned
Is private aviation really one industry anymore?In this special edition of The VIP Seat, Kenn Ricci argues that the interests of charter operators, aircraft manufacturers and FBOs are increasingly pulling in …
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Is private aviation really one industry anymore?
In this special edition of The VIP Seat, Kenn Ricci argues that the interests of charter operators, aircraft manufacturers and FBOs are increasingly pulling in different directions — while the organizations lobbying Washington have traditionally tried to represent them all.
Kenn gets into why airlines have access to a robust market for PMA replacement parts while business aviation operators face far fewer options, including manufacturers’ reluctance to provide the technical data needed to develop alternatives. He also takes aim at soaring FBO landing, handling and special-event fees — costs that ultimately hit operators and their customers.
For large companies, those pressures may be manageable. For smaller charter operators, Ken argues they’re making an already difficult business even harder to compete in.
His bigger question: when manufacturers, FBOs and operators have competing economic interests, who is actually standing up solely for the operator?
One Priester, OneFlight Questions, and Flexjet’s London Bet
This week on The VIP Seat, we unpack who is gaining control across business aviation—from airport policy and FBO economics to charter platforms, premium terminals, and cockpit safety culture.Chris Rocheleau is …
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This week on The VIP Seat, we unpack who is gaining control across business aviation—from airport policy and FBO economics to charter platforms, premium terminals, and cockpit safety culture.
Chris Rocheleau is leaving NBAA to lead Airports Council International–North America, putting a former FAA leader at the helm of the organization representing airport operators across the U.S. and Canada. We look at why that move matters for airport access, infrastructure, FBO power, fees, and the future relationship between airports and business aviation. Rocheleau is set to become ACI-NA president and CEO on October 5, succeeding longtime leader Kevin Burke.
We also break down Priester Aviation’s “One Priester” rebrand and what it really says about the company’s acquisition strategy. With Mayo Aviation, Hill Private Aviation, Omni Air Transport, Elite Jets, and MaxAir now inside the broader platform, is this simply a brand consolidation—or a push to own more of the client journey from jet card to charter to aircraft management?
Then, OneFlight’s story gets more complicated. We discuss reports of financial and operational pressure, questions around operator payments, the company’s aggressive growth and marketing strategy, its short-lived surcharge, and why a jet-card company’s ability to deliver promised lift is ultimately a balance-sheet question.
We were also on site at Farnborough for Flexjet’s new $34 million private terminal—the company’s first dedicated facility outside North America. More than a lounge, it is a statement about global fractional growth, customer experience, training, maintenance, and who controls the private-aviation journey on the ground.
Finally, we examine the Nicholas Air whistleblower case and what AIR21 protections actually mean for pilots and other aviation workers. When a crewmember raises a reasonable safety concern, where does legal protection begin—and where are its limits?
In this episode:
- Chris Rocheleau’s move from NBAA to ACI-NA
- Airport influence, FBO consolidation, fees, leases, and access
- Priester Aviation’s rebrand and completed acquisition roll-up
- OneFlight’s financial and operational questions
- Flexjet’s Farnborough terminal and global fractional strategy
- Why pilots receive whistleblower protections under AIR21
- The difference between a safety culture statement and a safety culture in practice
Thank you to our sponsors AB Jets, REAL Jet, and Wingform for making this show possible as well as Wingform
Trump Targets Bombardier, Honda Backs Thrive & L.A. County Hunts Private Jet Taxes
Trump is taking aim at Bombardier again—threatening to stop the Canadian manufacturer from selling aircraft in the United States unless it builds more of them on U.S. soil. But is this a real policy move …
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Trump is taking aim at Bombardier again—threatening to stop the Canadian manufacturer from selling aircraft in the United States unless it builds more of them on U.S. soil. But is this a real policy move, another tariff negotiating tactic, or both? And what could it mean for Global and Challenger buyers, fractional operators, delivery customers, and the wider business-aviation supply chain?
This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie and Preston break down:
- Trump’s latest Bombardier threat and why calling it an enacted “tariff” may be premature
- Bombardier’s U.S. manufacturing footprint, including Global 7500 wing production in Texas
- Grant Cardone’s $80 million, “no tariffs” Global 7500 sales pitch
- Honda Aircraft subsidiary Arulean Air’s minority investment in Thrive Aviation
- Thrive’s new fractional program featuring HondaJet HA-420s and Challenger 3500s
- Whether a disciplined VLJ fractional model can actually work—and why the charter/fractional balance matters
- Bernie Ecclestone reportedly being detained in Portugal after a shotgun was found aboard his private jet
- The international-trip lesson: firearms, permits, customs, crew coordination, and why “last-minute” does not mean “skip the paperwork”
- Treasury declining senators’ request to change SIFL valuation rules for personal use of employer-provided aircraft
- Why politicians can potentially be subject to SIFL too—but campaign flights, government flights, and personal fringe-benefit flights are not the same thing
- L.A. County’s push to assess property taxes on aircraft tied to celebrities, billionaires, and high-net-worth owners
- What aircraft situs-tax enforcement could mean for owners, management companies, and privacy
Private aviation remains an easy political target, but the real-world issues are more complicated: U.S. manufacturing jobs, cross-border supply chains, fleet planning, tax compliance, aircraft location records, and the practical need for private aviation as a business tool.
This episode is commentary, not legal, tax, customs, firearms, or operational advice. Consult qualified advisers, your operator, and trip-support professionals for guidance on a specific transaction or trip.
Thanks to this week’s sponsors:
AB Jets — for Starlink-equipped Challenger 3500 charter and supplemental lift.
RealJet — for experienced, human-led international trip support and operational coordination.Subscribe to The VIP Seat, leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and sign up for the newsletter at The VIP Seat.
#PrivateAviation #BusinessAviation #Bombardier #TrumpTariffs #HondaJet #Challenger3500 #FractionalOwnership #SIFL #PrivateJetTax #AviationNews
Vista Global's $10B IPO Pitch, Atlantic Aviation Sells Again
Vista Global is reportedly eyeing a European IPO that could raise over $1 billion at a valuation north of $10 billion, and Jessie and Preston break down what that means against a $600 million RRJ Capital …
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Vista Global is reportedly eyeing a European IPO that could raise over $1 billion at a valuation north of $10 billion, and Jessie and Preston break down what that means against a $600 million RRJ Capital investment, looming 2027 debt, and how Vista's 2025 flight hours stack up against NetJets and Flexjet. From there, Apollo's new stake in Atlantic Aviation values the FBO chain at nearly $10 billion, just five years after KKR bought it from Macquarie for $4.475 billion, and the hosts connect that to a Senate letter pressing the FAA on private equity's growing role in aviation maintenance and consolidation. Then it's OneFlight International's wild same-day 35% jet card surcharge and reversal, set against its McLaren F1 and PGA Tour sponsorships, and a debate over whether flashy marketing can outrun shaky pricing. Pentastar Aviation's new autonomous wing-walking robots from Airtrek Robotics, built to cut into the $100-150 million a year the industry loses to hangar rash. Plus, we're joined by special guest Chad Gilson from Gilchrest Aviation Law to break down recent updates to Beneficial Ownership Information and it's impacts on business aircraft privacy.
Subscribe to our email newsletter companion to read even more: www.thevipseat.com
Sky Harbour CEO on Hangar Shortages, Ground Leases, and Wall Street
Every general aviation airport in America is owned by a city or a county, and almost none of them can afford to build you a hangar. That is not a market failure. That is the system working exactly as it was …
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Every general aviation airport in America is owned by a city or a county, and almost none of them can afford to build you a hangar. That is not a market failure. That is the system working exactly as it was designed.
This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie and Preston sit down with Tal Kenan, Founder and CEO of Sky Harbour, the publicly traded company building hangar campuses at airports where almost nobody can get land.
Tal grew up in military aviation, spent a decade running an investment firm between Tel Aviv and New York, then bought a Beech Baron and ran head first into the same hangar shortage everyone complains about. Instead of joining the waitlist, he went and read the FAA grant assurance guidelines. What came out of that is a real estate business that takes no transient traffic, charges a serious premium, and has a waiting list at most of its campuses.
They cover:
• Why the hangar shortage is a policy artifact, not a supply and demand accident
• How FBO economics quietly guarantee more ramp and less hangar space
• What it actually takes to win a ground lease on an airport, and why PDK took six years
• Why fuel and hangar have to be priced as a single number, not two
• How tax exempt private activity bonds fixed at 4.18% underpin the entire model
• Where the bond market and the equity market disagree about what this business is worth
• What a "home base operator" is, and why the FBO world is splitting in two
• The SPAC story, the REIT question, and why he is happy being public about five days out of sevenSupply is fixed, the fleet keeps getting bigger, and nobody is building new airports. This is the conversation about what happens next.
Thanks to AB Jets and Real Jet for sponsoring this season of The VIP Seat.
Subscribe to the newsletter at thevipseat.com
Jessie Naor: flyingprivate.org | flyvizor.com
Preston Holland: prestigefinance.com | prestonholland.comDisclosure: Sky Harbour is a publicly traded company. Jessie Naor has a small personal investment in it, which she discloses on the show. Nothing in this episode is investment advice and should be viewed for entertainment purposes only.
flyExclusive Q2 Results, LA Goes After Private Jet Tax Revenue
flyExclusive reported a $111 million Q2, but behind the headline are improving margins, positive adjusted EBITDA, a complicated capital structure, and a $5 million loan carrying a stated 26.5% rate.This week on …
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flyExclusive reported a $111 million Q2, but behind the headline are improving margins, positive adjusted EBITDA, a complicated capital structure, and a $5 million loan carrying a stated 26.5% rate.
This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland break down flyExclusive’s Q2 2026 results: revenue growth, gross-margin improvement, fractional-program revenue, MRO, Jet Club activity, debt, and the related-party disclosures investors should read carefully. This is industry commentary only: not investment or financial advice.
Also in this episode:
- SC Aviation acquires Heartland Aviation in Wisconsin
- Atlantic introduces its Ascend operator savings program
- LA County’s use of aircraft-tracking data in property-tax assessments
- An Indiana farmer charged after allegedly shooting at a crop-dusting aircraft
- Hera Flight’s reported Gulfstream G-IV runway-excursion and gear-collapse event
- The Atlanta Plane Train runway carpet is apparently installed backwards
- Aviation social-media nonsense, a $40 million “detailer” sale, and more
Thanks to this week’s sponsors, AB Jets and RealJet.
Subscribe for weekly private aviation news, aircraft-operations analysis, charter and fractional-market commentary, FBO economics, aviation finance, M&A, and business-aviation stories you will not find in a standard press release.
#PrivateAviation #BusinessAviation #flyExclusive #FLYX #PrivateJet #AviationNews #JetCharter #FractionalOwnership #FBO #AircraftManagement
Solairus Aviation Gets Bigger, Wheels Up Still in a Turnaround?
Is Wheels Up finally building momentum—or simply burning more runway? We break down their latest financial release (not financial advice!).This week, we battle it out over the Wheels Up Q2 results. The fleet …
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Is Wheels Up finally building momentum—or simply burning more runway? We break down their latest financial release (not financial advice!).
This week, we battle it out over the Wheels Up Q2 results. The fleet transition is done early, the premium operation is more reliable, and management has put a 70-plus-hour utility target on the board. But cash burn, debt, deferred revenue and Delta support remain the real pressure points.
We also break down Solairus and Clay Lacy's deal, NetJets’ jet-card pause, Chris Rocheleau’s return to NBAA, Real Jet's Crytpo.com news, FAA cannabis research, and a little AI-slop-induced madness.
Inside the Mind of a Jet Owner: XplusLuxe on What Operators Get Wrong With Private Fliers
An anonymous, but infamous, aircraft owner known as XPlusLuxe joins The VIP Seat Podcast for one of our most fascinating conversations yet.Known online for his legendary aircraft collection and viral aviation …
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An anonymous, but infamous, aircraft owner known as XPlusLuxe joins The VIP Seat Podcast for one of our most fascinating conversations yet.
Known online for his legendary aircraft collection and viral aviation content, “Mr. T” shares what he’s learned after building a fleet of private jets—and why he believes most owners, operators, and even manufacturers misunderstand the economics of business aviation.
In this exclusive interview we discuss:
✈️ How a hedge fund manager became obsessed with private aviation
📊 Why data—not emotion—should drive aircraft purchases
💰 The hidden costs of aircraft ownership and management
🛩️ Citation X+ Versus Everything Else
📈 Why most Part 135 operators leave money on the table
🔧 The importance of maintenance (MX) over almost everything else
🚀 Speed, fuel burn, Starlink, AI, and the future of business aviation
💼 Can charter companies actually become great businesses?
📉 The biggest mistakes aircraft owners makeIf you’re interested in private jets, business aviation, Part 135 charter, aircraft ownership, fleet strategy, aviation investing, Gulfstream, Bombardier, Textron, NetJets, Flexjet, or private aviation economics, this episode is packed with insights you won’t hear anywhere else.
🎙️ Hosted by Jessie Naor and Preston Holland.
👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more conversations with the people shaping private aviation.
#PrivateJets #BusinessAviation #CitationX #Gulfstream #Bombardier #PrivateJet #Part135 #NetJets #Flexjet #Aviation #AircraftOwnership #CorporateAviation #TheVIPSeat
$3B Bombardier Order, NYC Helicopter Bird Strike?
Saudi Arabia’s The Helicopter Company, backed by the PIF, signs a Farnborough LOI with Bombardier for a firm order of 12 Challenger and Global jets plus options that could take the deal to around $2.8–3B and up …
Shownotes
Saudi Arabia’s The Helicopter Company, backed by the PIF, signs a Farnborough LOI with Bombardier for a firm order of 12 Challenger and Global jets plus options that could take the deal to around $2.8–3B and up to 60 aircraft. We break down FlyExclusive’s latest Jet Club press release, with record flight hours, an average $190K deposit per new member, and a 32% year‑over‑year jump in May deposits—and ask whether those prepaid hours will translate into profitable margins when earnings drop. Jessie and Preston unpack new NTSB documents on the Hudson River sightseeing helicopter crash, where Smithsonian feather lab analysis points to multiple large bird strikes, including Canada geese, as a likely driver of the in‑flight breakup. We hit Dassault’s latest Falcon 10X certification delay and what it means in the arms race against Gulfstream and Bombardier, dive into the FAA’s new Mobile Clearance system that lets GA and bizav pilots pull IFR departure clearances via ForeFlight/Garmin instead of phones and radios, and revisit the long‑running fight over crew rest and duty rules for cargo and Part 135. Plus: Mile High Madness with “Chad” flying to Nantucket on a PC‑12, Detailer Guy, and why cheap gimmicks and influencer‑bait content are hurting the industry’s credibility.
Seized Cessna in the Supreme Court, World Cup Business Aviation Miles
This week, Preston joins live from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh with news on Emily Deaton's move to NBAA and show updates. Then: a 14-year-old bush pilot case out of Alaska heads to the U.S. Supreme Court over a …
Shownotes
This week, Preston joins live from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh with news on Emily Deaton's move to NBAA and show updates. Then: a 14-year-old bush pilot case out of Alaska heads to the U.S. Supreme Court over a six-pack of beer and a seized Cessna, a viral air traffic control exchange reignites the cockpit-professionalism debate, and two market reports land the same week — one on the private aircraft MRO boom, one on the ultra-wealthy buyers reshaping the business jet market. Plus: Textron's new Pipistrel Voyager trainer arrives right as the FAA's MOSAIC rule takes effect, Gianni Infantino's Gulfstream G650 racks up more miles than most fleets fly in a year, and Preston explains how he ended up quoted — and slightly cornered — in a story about AI wealth flooding into private aviation.
Elonomics at FL450: Starlink’s Sticker Shock and Embraer’s New Phenom
This week’s episode of The VIP Seat hits all the major pressure points in business aviation: connectivity, new aircraft, regulation, legal risk, and AI‑driven fraud. Jessie and Preston start with Starlink’s …
Shownotes
This week’s episode of The VIP Seat hits all the major pressure points in business aviation: connectivity, new aircraft, regulation, legal risk, and AI‑driven fraud. Jessie and Preston start with Starlink’s latest aviation pricing changes, breaking down “Elonomics” at altitude—regional Aviation Unlimited rising to $12,500 per month with a 500 Mbps cap, the 25 GB plan doubling from $2,000 to $4,000, and a worldwide 1 Gbps unlimited tier now at $20,000 per month. They walk through what this means for new Gulfstreams, charter fleets, and other private jets that already require $300,000–$500,000 of Starlink hardware, and why some operators’ annual Wi‑Fi bills could approach 10% of the airplane’s value.
On the hardware side, Embraer’s new Phenom 300EV takes center stage. The episode covers Autoland for single‑pilot and owner‑flown operations, the multi‑purpose electronic controller (MEC) that brings rudder‑by‑wire and auto‑brake into a fly‑by‑wire system, cabin refinements including a vacuum lav, and planned LEO connectivity. Jessie and Preston dig into the roughly $13.99 million list price, long lead times into 2027, and hefty deposits and pre‑delivery payments that reshape the math for buyers weighing the Phenom 300EV against CJ4s, PC‑24s, and other light jets.
Regulatory and legal stories add more fuel. They unpack FAA vs. California over crew rest and meal‑break rules, including the Ninth Circuit’s decision extending California’s 30‑minute break requirements to flight attendants even on interstate flying, and why many aviation employers avoid basing staff in California. They also explore a lawsuit involving Peter Thiel’s husband, a Solairus‑operated flight, and allegations that a cabin cooler strike injured a flight attendant—raising questions about principal vs. management company liability and cabin safety in tight business jet interiors.
Finally, Jessie and Preston tackle a move under the Trump administration to study tariffs on aerospace products and jet engine parts in the name of national security, plus NBAA’s warning about AI‑enhanced scams targeting private jet sales, charter deals, and aviation M&A. They lay out how AI can spoof voices, emails, and texts inside multimillion‑dollar transactions, and why escrow agents, charter ops teams, MROs, and brokers need stronger authentication and training. Mile High Madness brings levity with animal rescue flights, while sponsors AB Jets and RealJet ground the conversation in the realities of operating and chartering modern business jets.
Supersonic Flight Returns, Airport Expansion Blocked by Nudists
This week on The VIP Seat, we’re covering one of the strangest weeks in aviation news yet.The FAA moves one step closer to allowing civilian supersonic flight over the United States, and what that could mean …
Shownotes
This week on The VIP Seat, we’re covering one of the strangest weeks in aviation news yet.
The FAA moves one step closer to allowing civilian supersonic flight over the United States, and what that could mean for Boom Supersonic and the future of business aviation.
Plus:
- Canada’s bizarre battle between Billy Bishop Airport expansion and a historic nudist beach.
- China grounds virtually all general aviation around Beijing after a small aircraft crashes into a skyscraper.
- Inside the Sun Valley billionaires conference, where hundreds of Gulfstreams, Globals and Falcons descend on Idaho.
- A Delta airliner is struck by fireworks during Fourth of July celebrations.
- Jared Isaacman flies for Freedom 250 in his F-5 despite FAA objections.
- A hard Hudson River landing involving a Blade-booked Kodiak 100 seaplane.
- Why Part 145 repair stations are becoming one of the hottest M&A sectors in aviation.
Plus another round of Mile High Madness, including a barefoot helicopter pilot landing on a fishing vessel.
Subscribe for weekly business aviation news, private aviation analysis, safety insights, and industry commentary.
Sponsored by AB Jets & RealJet
#BusinessAviation #PrivateJets #BoomSupersonic #FAA #AviationNews #BillyBishop #SunValley #Kodiak100 #GeneralAviation #TheVIPSeat
Flexjet's Exclusive Gulfstreams, AirSprint Sells to PE & Jet Engine Lawsuits Heat Up
This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie and Preston break down the biggest stories in business aviation — from Wheels Up becoming the launch customer for Surf Air’s AI-powered SurfOS platform to the growing race for …
Shownotes
This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie and Preston break down the biggest stories in business aviation — from Wheels Up becoming the launch customer for Surf Air’s AI-powered SurfOS platform to the growing race for the private aviation software layer.
They also ring the Canadian M&A Gong for AirSprint’s private equity deal, unpack ATI Jet/JetVia’s lawsuit against Pratt & Whitney over engine program delays, and discuss new safety concerns from slacklines and drones creating risks for pilots.
Plus, Kennedy Ricci of 4AIR joins the show to explain CORSIA, the international aviation emissions framework, why compliance is becoming more important, and what business jet operators need to know before the next major deadline.
Finally, Jessie and Preston discuss Flexjet’s Gulfstream G500 announcement, the future of the G650/G700 fleet strategy, and why Gulfstream exclusivity matters in fractional aviation.
business aviation, private aviation, Wheels Up, Surf Air OS, SurfOS, private jet AI, aviation software, AirSprint, private equity aviation, fractional aviation, ATI Jet lawsuit, JetVia Pratt Whitney, engine program lawsuit, CORSIA, sustainability, aviation emissions, 4AIR, Kennedy Ricci, Flexjet Gulfstream G500, Gulfstream G700, private jet safety, drone strikes aviation, emissions compliance, carbon offsetting
Air Force One Retires, NetJets Faces Tragedy & AirShare Goes Viral
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 …
Shownotes
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 newsSteve Varsano Joins Flexjet, FlyHouse Reshuffles & AeroVanti Founder Convicted
This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland unpack a packed week of private aviation headlines. FlyHouse announces a leadership change, raising new questions about its ambitious “Uber for private …
Shownotes
This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland unpack a packed week of private aviation headlines. FlyHouse announces a leadership change, raising new questions about its ambitious “Uber for private jets” strategy. NetJets files for an exemption to extend certain crew duty limits, sparking a bigger conversation about fatigue, rest rules, and whether safety practices should be shared across the industry.
Plus, Cirrus faces federal restrictions tied to Chinese ownership, AeroVanti’s founder is convicted in a major wire fraud case, Steve Varsano sells The Jet Business to Flexjet/Directional Capital, and Mile High Madness brings mini cows on a private jet and PE guy comedy to the cabin.
Kenny Dichter on Billion Dollar Revenues, Leaving Wheels Up, and Keeping it REAL
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 …
Shownotes
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.
Takeaways
- Authentic conversations are what drive our industry forward
- Success 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.
Chapters
- 00:00 RealJet Sponsorship
- 05:21 Founding of Marquis Jet
- 10:54 Success of Avion Tequila
- 17:56 Growth of Wheels Up
- 23:13 Journey to a Billion Dollar Company
- 28:47 Going Public and Industry Impact
- 34:12 Lessons Learned in Challenging Times
- 40:07 Safety and Trust in Aviation
- 45:25 The Vision for RealJet and Real SLX
- 53:28 RealJet's Unique Hospitality Model
- 01:00:45 Encouragement for the Future of Aviation
Thanks to AB Jets and REALJET for sponsoring this week's episode of The VIP Seat!
Check out our newsletter at The VIP Seat.
Biffle Crash Litigation: Pilot Liability, LLCs & Aviation Insurance Gaps
Aviation attorney Joe LoRusso joins Jessie Naor and Preston Holland to explain the lawsuits following the Greg Biffle aircraft crash, including aircraft LLC liability, pilot qualification issues, insurance …
Shownotes
Aviation attorney Joe LoRusso joins Jessie Naor and Preston Holland to explain the lawsuits following the Greg Biffle aircraft crash, including aircraft LLC liability, pilot qualification issues, insurance coverage questions, operational control, and why litigation often begins long before an NTSB final report is released.
The episode also covers responsible crash commentary, underinsurance in private aviation, Flexjet’s win against the IRS over federal excise tax, the GAO’s eVTOL infrastructure report, V2 Jets’ acquisition of Corporate Aviation, and the possible sale of ICE’s Gulfstream G700s.
Thank you to AB Jets and RealJet for sponsoring this week’s episode.
Berkshire’s Delta Stake, Wheels Up’s Future
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 …
Shownotes
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.
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