Empire Journal | Private Aviation
Air Charter Safety Ratings: What ARGUS, Wyvern and IS-BAO Actually Mean
Air charter safety ratings are the only objective way to vet an operator. Here is what each audit covers, which questions to ask, and the four answers you need in writing.
Air Charter Safety Ratings Explained
Air charter safety ratings exist because the market is opaque. When you book a charter you usually talk to a broker, not the company operating the aircraft, and the difference between a well-run operator and a marginal one is invisible from a website. Third-party audits are how that gets made visible.
Here is what each rating means and how to use it.
First: Part 135 vs Part 91
Before any rating, establish the regulatory basis of your flight. In the United States:
- Part 135 is commercial charter. The operator holds an FAA air carrier certificate, and the rules on crew training, duty time, maintenance and dispatch are materially stricter.
- Part 91 is private/general operation. Legitimate for owners flying their own aircraft, but it is not commercial charter, and a "charter" sold to you as Part 91 should be a hard stop until it is fully explained.
Ask which certificate your flight is operated under, and get the operator's name. A broker who cannot answer that immediately is the wrong broker.
ARGUS
An independent audit and rating of charter operators, with tiers — Gold, Gold Plus and Platinum — reflecting historical safety data, operator audits and on-site verification. Platinum requires the deepest audit, including a safety management system and an on-site review.
Use it as: the most commonly requested benchmark in US corporate travel policies. Details at argus.aero.
Wyvern
A separate audit programme with its own tiers, including Wingman, and a per-flight verification product that checks the specific aircraft, crew and operator against your standard for your trip rather than at the company level.
Use it as: the strongest per-flight assurance available. Details at wyvernltd.com.
IS-BAO
The International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations, from IBAC, structured in three progressive stages around a safety management system.
Use it as: the international benchmark, and the standard most relevant outside the US. Details at ibac.org.
The four things to get in writing before you fly
- The certificated operator's legal name and its certificate basis (Part 135 in the US).
- The audit ratings held — ARGUS tier, Wyvern status, IS-BAO stage — and the date they were issued.
- Crew experience on type, including total hours and time in that specific aircraft, and confirmation that both pilots meet your standard.
- Insurance limits and who is named.
A serious operator or broker sends all four without friction. Hesitation on any of them is your answer.
What ratings do not tell you
Audits assess systems and history, not the next flight's weather. They also do not cover cabin service, aircraft age or interior condition — ask for photos of the actual tail number. And a rating from three years ago is not a rating today; check the issue date.
Request quotes with operator and safety detail through TimeFlys so you can compare aircraft, operator and audit status side by side rather than on hourly rate alone.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What are the main air charter safety ratings?
ARGUS (Gold, Gold Plus, Platinum), Wyvern (including Wingman), and IS-BAO registration in three stages. Corporate travel policies commonly require at least one.
Is ARGUS Platinum better than Wyvern Wingman?
They are different programmes, not a single ladder. Platinum and Wingman both represent top-tier audits; Wyvern additionally offers per-flight verification of the specific aircraft and crew.
What is the difference between Part 135 and Part 91 charter?
Part 135 is FAA-certificated commercial charter with stricter crew, maintenance and dispatch rules. Part 91 is private operation and is not commercial charter.
How do I verify an air charter operator myself?
Get the operator's legal name and certificate, then confirm its audit ratings and issue dates directly with ARGUS, Wyvern or IBAC, and ask for insurance limits in writing.
Do safety ratings cost extra?
No. Auditing is paid for by the operator. Choosing an audited operator may cost slightly more per hour, and it is the single best-value line in a charter quote.
Sources
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