Argus & Wyvern Ratings: What do they mean?

When looking to book a charter flight, safety should always be the top priority. Cost and availability are certainly important factors, but an operator’s safety record should be researched and validated first.

How does someone effectively evaluate a charter operator’s safety history? That’s where the two most prominent rating systems in the aviation industry, ARGUS and Wyvern come in.

ARGUSARGUS & Wyvern rated plane on airport ramp

The Aviation Research Group United States (ARGUS) is a global leader in aviation safety and operational audits. ARGUS assigns safety ratings and maintains records for thousands of aircraft and pilots. Its ratings system is widely recognized within the industry as a measure of a charter operator’s safety practices and historical performance.

The ARGUS Charter Evaluation and Qualification (CHEQ) is the system used to determine ARGUS ratings. It includes details about previous safety ratings, current aircraft, pilot background checks and on-site safety audits.

CHEQ report findings are color coded as follows:

  • Red indicates a known deficiency or refusal to disclose information.
  • Yellow signifies that some data is missing, unverified or does not meet ARGUS standards.
  • Green confirms that all requirements are met.

In addition to the color status indicator, the CHEQ report also includes detailed information about the broker, flight summary, operator, ARGUS rating, pilot, second in command, and any important aircraft information.

ARGUS Rating Levels

ARGUS determines its ratings based on data including an operator’s safety history, pilot qualifications and training, aircraft maintenance records, and operational practices. This data is compared to the safety performance of other operators in a collective group. Based on this comparison, ARGUS awards one of three rating levels: Gold, Gold Plus, and Platinum.

For a Gold rating to be presented, a charter operator must possess the following:

  • Operating certificate for at least a year
  • Minimum of one turbine aircraft on certificate
  • An in-depth historical safety analysis
  • A pilot background check
  • Aircraft operational control validation

A Gold rating indicates that the charter operator meets ARGUS standards. They possess clean safety records and inspection histories.   

A Gold Plus rating represents an upgrade from Gold. The operator must meet all of the Gold standard requirements, plus pass an ARGUS on-site safety audit. The on-site audit includes interviews, management analyses, and an evaluation of organizational processes. The audit verifies that the operator’s practices align with their documented procedures.

To receive the highest ARGUS rating of Platinum, all criteria for a Gold Plus rating must be met, along with the successful implementation of an emergency response plan and a functioning safety management system. Platinum status reaffirms that an operator not only meets but exceeds industry safety standards.

Platinum Elite is an ARGUS program available to select Platinum rated operators. In addition to meeting the criteria for Platinum status, Platinum Elite includes consent for a continuous monitoring program. This consists of maintenance and operations reviews performed every six months and company-wide reviews completed every two years.

How to Check ARGUS Ratings

ARGUS operator ratings can be acquired by using the CHEQ ARGUS operator registry. The registry lists each company’s name and logo along with their ARGUS rating, certificate number, home base code, and the number of aircraft on the certificate. Operators can be sorted by airport, distance, name or rating. Only companies that have received ARGUS ratings are included in the database.

ARGUS & Wyvern rated plane on airport rampWyvern

Founded in 1991, Wyvern is the world’s first independent aviation audit company that provides safety ratings and certifications to charter operators. Wyvern maintains a rigorous set of safety criteria and conducts regular audits to verify that operators are continuing to meet these standards.

In addition to vetting charter operators through its program, Wyvern also offers training courses, consulting services, SMS certification, audit programs and more to its members. Their mission is to protect lives by inspiring excellence in aerospace safety.

Wyvern Rating Levels

There are two primary level ratings designated by Wyvern: 

  • Registered: Wyvern Registered status confirms that an operator has submitted key operational data to Wyvern for review. This information is made available to clients by Wyvern. Like the ARGUS Gold level, this designation does not include an on-site audit.
  • Wingman Certified: The Wingman is Wyvern’s top certification. It requires an extensive on-site audit of the operator’s operational procedures, training programs, and safety management systems (SMS) to confirm they meet or exceed the industry’s best practices.

Once Wingman Certified, Wyvern verifies ongoing compliance with standards by performing follow-up audits every 24 months. They also monitor performance indicators such as flight hours, incidents, and regulatory actions to “red flag” any areas of concern. If issues are found, corrective measures must be taken, or loss of certification could result.  

How to Check Wyvern Ratings

Charter operators that have been awarded Wyvern’s Registered status can be found on the Wyvern Registered Directory. For those who’ve achieved Wyvern Wingman certification, they are listed on the Wyvern Wingman Directory.  Both landing pages allow you to search by operator name or by city, state, or country.

Booking a Charter Flight

If you’re looking to book a private plane and need assistance, Grand Aire can help. We have over 30+ years of experience in the aviation industry and always make it a priority to provide our customers with the safest flight options. Our Logistics Specialists are available 24/7/365 to provide personalized options for your passenger air charter needs.

Contact us at 1-800-74-GRAND or email our team directly at logistics@grandaire.com.