Shearwater Air Receives ARGUS Platinum Rating, the Highest Level of Safety and Excellence Award

June 7, 2012
ARGUS is the worldwide leader in safety audits for corporate flight departments, charter operators and commercial airlines.

MONTEREY, CALIF. - Shearwater Air, a Monterey based jet charter and aircraft management company, announced today that it has received the ARGUS Platinum Rating, the highest level of safety and excellence award and recognition given in the aviation industry. 

Currently there are 2,159 Federal Aviation Regulated (FAR) part 135 jet charter operators.  Less than 5% qualify for the ARGUS Platinum Rating.  Shearwater Air is also the only Monterey-based jet charter company with its FAR part 135 certificate and the only company with the ARGUS Platinum Rating.

"Safety is of the utmost importance to the Shearwater Air team. We are very pleased to be recognized for our impeccable safety record," said Dave Hamilton, Director of Operations for Shearwater.

ARGUS is the worldwide leader in safety audits for corporate flight departments, charter operators and commercial airlines.  The audit is administered by formally trained, experienced aviation auditing professionals.  The audit standard requires elements that exceed the FAR requirements.  One in six operators audited by ARGUS in the past 24 months did not pass.

To receive this prestigious award, charter operators must first meet the criteria for Gold rating, and successfully pass an ARGUS on-site safety audit.  A Platinum rating also requires a functioning Safety Management System, a clear and workable Emergency Response Plan, and appropriate written standards, implementation, and records for all major aspects of Operation and Maintenance within the Charter company.

For more information about Shearwater Air please visit www.shearwaterair.com or call 831.655.9990. For more information on ARGUS International visit http://www.aviationresearch.com/Home.aspx

About Shearwater

Named after the incredible seabirds that migrate thousands of miles each year, Shearwater Air is a jet charter and aircraft management company based in Monterey, Calif. Its luxurious, 9-seat Bombardier Challenger 300 aircraft can travel to thousands of U.S. airports not served by commercial airliners, including directly from Monterey to Hawaii. Its passengers enjoy the convenience of driving their car right up to the plane and taking off in minutes. In addition to its jet charter services, Shearwater Air has been managing aircraft since 1996, only dispatching approved planes and pilots that adhere to rigorous safety standards