WYVERN and ARGUS ratings may be misleading
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WYVERN and ARGUS ratings may be misleading
"A newly discovered statement from NTSB member Robert Sumwalt later added to the agency's final report on the Nov. 10, 2015 crash of an Execuflight-operated Hawker 700 criticizes aspects of the charter operator, the FAA and the charter industry. The Hawker 700 crashed after stalling during a localizer approach to Runway 25 at Akron Fulton International Airport in Ohio, killing both pilots and seven passengers.
“I’m concerned that an organization that had so many safety-related issues could have an Argus Gold rating and be Wyvern Registered. Discriminating customers look to, and trust, such ‘seals of approval’ when selecting their air travel provider,” Sumwalt said.
However, Execuflight was not actually audited by either Argus or Wyvern, according to principals from both companies. In the Argus system, Execuflight's Gold rating simply means that charter buyers can look up information on Execuflight’s charter certificate, pilot qualifications, aircraft and insurance coverage. Similar information is provided for Execuflight as a “Wyvern Registered” operation.
“The big concern that [Sumwalt] had was…the public doesn’t know the difference between a Gold and Platinum [audited] operator,” Argus International president and CEO Joe Moeggenberg told AIN. “Through the marketing of the operators, it’s not clear to the public that a Gold rating doesn’t involve an onsite audit.”
Wyvern CEO Art Dawley echoed those senitments and told AIN that it will change the name of its non-audited program to “Wyvern Data Registered."
“I’m concerned that an organization that had so many safety-related issues could have an Argus Gold rating and be Wyvern Registered. Discriminating customers look to, and trust, such ‘seals of approval’ when selecting their air travel provider,” Sumwalt said.
However, Execuflight was not actually audited by either Argus or Wyvern, according to principals from both companies. In the Argus system, Execuflight's Gold rating simply means that charter buyers can look up information on Execuflight’s charter certificate, pilot qualifications, aircraft and insurance coverage. Similar information is provided for Execuflight as a “Wyvern Registered” operation.
“The big concern that [Sumwalt] had was…the public doesn’t know the difference between a Gold and Platinum [audited] operator,” Argus International president and CEO Joe Moeggenberg told AIN. “Through the marketing of the operators, it’s not clear to the public that a Gold rating doesn’t involve an onsite audit.”
Wyvern CEO Art Dawley echoed those senitments and told AIN that it will change the name of its non-audited program to “Wyvern Data Registered."
