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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.

In a special breaking-news edition of The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland unpack President Trump’s overnight Truth Social post threatening Bombardier decertification and 50% tariffs on Canadian aircraft over stalled Gulfstream certifications. We break down what’s actually happening behind the scenes, how aircraft certification reciprocity works between the FAA, EASA, and Transport Canada, and why this move—while dramatic—fits a familiar Trump negotiation playbook. From supply-chain exposure and fractional fleet risk to the broader geopolitical context involving Canada, China, and U.S. manufacturing, this episode separates real operational risk from headline panic and explains who should be paying attention—and who shouldn’t.

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.

This week on The VIP Seat, the internet declared aviation doom—and Jessie Naor and Preston Holland went digging for the receipts. First up: the SACI/Southern Aircraft Consultancy frenzy. Over 600 aircraft registrations were revoked, emergency town halls popped up overnight, and owners started calling brokers asking if their trust was about to “blow up.” Jessie and Preston unpack what foreign ownership trusts actually are, why the FAA’s rules feel like they were written in 1950 (because… they kind of were), and why this story sounded bigger than it really was—especially once you look at what aircraft were actually impacted. Then, the Telluride (KTEX) runway excursion—a high-altitude, no-margin airport that demands respect. The conversation dives into why these airports amplify small errors, how “pile-on” narratives form after incidents, and the uncomfortable reality that not everything makes it into official reporting systems. In Mile High Madness, Jessie shares the shark-mouth livery for Dan’s incoming Kodiak 900, and Preston delivers a perfectly unhinged ForeFlight joke… right as the show pivots into the very real story: Boeing Digital Aviation Services (including Jeppesen/ForeFlight) being sold to Thoma Bravo for $10.55B, and the early chatter around layoffs, “AI,” and what that could mean for safety-critical tools pilots rely on. Plus: a Talon Air ownership unwind inside the Vista ecosystem, and a surprisingly fascinating detour into small-country aircraft registries—San Marino, Aruba, and the private companies building them. Buckle up. It’s one of those weeks where the headlines are loud, but the details are the story.

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. Takeaways Private 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

In this episode, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland discuss the latest happenings in the aviation industry, including the chaos caused by the capture of Maduro, the bankruptcy of Jet It, and the implications of the Garmin Autoland technology. They also touch on regulatory changes with the Rotor Act and the ongoing legal battle between Wheels Up and Fly Exclusive. The conversation highlights the challenges and innovations within the business aviation sector as they welcome the new year.

Join Jessie Naor and Preston Holland as they wrap up Season 2 with a special episode of "The VIP Seat." Dive into the top trends of 2025, biggest winners and losers, and bold predictions for 2026. Don't miss the engaging discussions and insights that have made this season unforgettable. Tune in for a finale packed with industry insights and a look ahead to the future!

Summary In this episode, Preston Holland and Al White discuss various topics in the aviation industry, including Boom Supersonic's recent funding, the viability of corporate flight departments, and the ongoing connectivity wars between Starlink and its competitors. They also touch on social media reactions in the Mile High Madness segment and provide updates on recent mergers and acquisitions, particularly Bond's fundraising efforts. The conversation highlights the challenges and trends within the aviation sector, offering insights into the future of business aviation. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:07 Boom Supersonic's $300 Million Fundraising 06:17 Mile High Madness: Social Media Reactions 11:58 CSX Flight Department Shutdown 19:36 Starlink Connectivity in Business Aviation 28:04 M&A Updates: Bond's Fundraising and Strategy

In this episode, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland discuss the latest trends in business aviation, including the emergence of new competitors in the market, particularly from China. They explore consumer preferences, the dynamics of the Challenger 300 market, and the implications of a recent lawsuit involving NetJets. The conversation also touches on the use of government jets for personal travel and concludes with insights on the newly delivered Global 8000 aircraft. Special thanks to Real Jet for sponsoring this episode! https://realjet.com/

On this week’s episode of The VIP Seat, Jessie and Preston take aim at some of the most viral – and most misleading – aviation headlines making the rounds right now. From a Disney heiress getting fact-checked on private jet traffic, to questions about solar flares and Airbus A320 flight control issues, to Amazon’s delivery drones tangling with power lines and cranes, this episode breaks down what’s real, what’s hype, and what actually matters for safety and consumers.​ A special thanks to our sponsor - REAL Jet! Check them out at www.realjet.com You’ll hear: How FAA operations data undercuts the claim that “private jets are clogging U.S. air traffic,” and why business aviation is more than just big Gulfstreams for billionaires.​ Why Snopes stepping in on a viral anti-private-jet claim matters for the industry’s reputation and public policy debates.​ What the FAA’s new “ADSB for ground vehicles” surface safety tech is doing at major airports, and how it could reduce runway incursion risk.​ What is actually known so far about the JetBlue A320 uncommanded pitch event, the software and hardware fixes Airbus is rolling out, and why “solar flare” headlines may be getting ahead of the data.​ How Amazon’s MK30 delivery drones have recently tangled with wires and cranes, and what those incidents say about the current limits of see-and-avoid technology.​ A spicy Mile High Madness segment on jet art at Art Basel, “bad guy” aircraft brokers, and why LinkedIn is getting bolder about calling out bad actors.​ If you care about business aviation, safety tech, and cutting through mainstream media noise, this episode is for you. Hit subscribe for more weekly private aviation news, analysis, and behind-the-scenes stories from The VIP Seat.

Welcome back to The VIP Seat: your top destination for private aviation and business aviation news. This week was HUGE for the industry: tariff relief for Pilatus aircraft, major airport shutdown fights in Boulder and Cleveland, Sky Harbour's expansion at PDK, Textron sunsetting the Baron & Bonanza in favor of the Denali, FAA'S ATC overhaul updates, and spicy corporate espionage accusations between Joby and Archer in the eVTOL world. Whether you're flying corporate jets, managing a flight department, working in private aviation, or just a business-aviation fanatic - this is the show for you.

The VIP Seat unpacks everything from hydrogen-powered helicopters to a Dulles people-mover slamming into a terminal. Jessie and Preston kick off the show addressing last week’s AI-generated newsletter chaos before diving into the newest NBAA Standard Operating Procedures and what standardized training could mean for Part 135 safety. Then it’s into Mile High Madness, where Jessie finally solves a lifelong mystery: what the Airbus PTU (“the barking dog”) actually looks like. From there, the conversation shifts to hydrogen propulsion breakthroughs, including Unither’s fuel-cell Robinson R44 and why hydrogen may beat batteries for real-world range, noise reduction, and future operating costs. The duo also unpacks the Dulles “mobile lounge” crash (one of sixteen accidents in the past decade) and wonders aloud why this relic still exists. And in M&A land, Freeman Holdings continues its buying spree, snapping up the sole FBO in Waco while quietly expanding both its Million Air franchises and its own Freeman Jet Center brand. The episode wraps with a charge to listeners: keep spreading the love, bring a friend into the VIP Seat universe

On this Veterans Day edition of The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor is joined by guest co-host Tyler Flagg, Air Force veteran and founder of Flying Company, for a high-altitude look at the week’s biggest aviation stories. From Archer Aviation’s bold $126M airport grab in Los Angeles to the FAA’s unprecedented private-jet restrictions during the government shutdown, Jessie and Tyler unpack what it all means for charter operators, pilots, and the future of eVTOL. They dive into a troubling ASAP retaliation case (Link), fuel-supply risks that have California importing jet fuel from Russia via India, and the NTSB’s urgent alert over Learjet landing-gear failures. Plus, a dose of Mile High Madness featuring an overworked (and very fictional) Newark air traffic controller who’s had enough: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ4lNk3AmuK/?hl=en Whether you’re a pilot, operator, or aviation geek, this episode covers the turbulence behind the headlines—and why safety culture, transparency, and innovation still matter most. 🎖️ Special thanks to our veterans for their service. 💼 Guest: Tyler Flagg, CEO of the Flying Company #BusinessAviation #PrivateJets #AviationSafety #VeteransDay #eVTOL #Learjet #TheVIPSeat #Archer #FAA #Shutdown

In one of the most candid conversations ever recorded on The VIP Seat, Flexjet’s Kenn Ricci joins Jessie Naor and Preston Holland to unpack the billion-dollar legal showdown with Honeywell — and what it means for every operator, owner, and investor in business aviation. From the origins of “power by the hour” engine programs to the hidden monopolies and financial risks they create, Ricci breaks down why he believes the system is broken and how Flexjet’s fight could rewrite the rules for the entire industry.

In this week’s episode of The VIP Seat, Jessie checks in from Haifa while Preston battles a rainy Tennessee morning as they unpack a major shake-up in Textron’s electric aviation division, the surprising grounding risks facing Hawker operators, and Sikorsky’s unveiling of an autonomous Black Hawk. From “ICE Barbie’s” $200 million Gulfstream controversy to Embraer’s record-breaking backlog, this episode dives deep into the stories shaping private and business aviation. Tune in for insights, headlines, and a few laughs from your favorite cockpit-side commentators.