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PODCAST

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News

Jessie Naor and Preston Holland | Experts in Private and Corporate Aviation

Join Jessie Naor and Preston Holland on The VIP Seat for the latest insights in private aviation, covering business aviation trends, private jet reviews, and more. We break down the biggest stories of the week in corporate aviation, from jet charter trends and Part 135 shenanigans to aviation safety news that the big players hope you"ll miss. Expect hot takes, sharp analysis, and real talk with industry insiders, operators, and disruptors. Whether you’re flying private or an industry insider, buckle

leisure aviation

All Episodes

00:31:30

Citation Single-Pilot Exemption, OneFlight and...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/09/30

The FAA has ended the single-pilot exemption pathway for several legacy Cessna Citation models, creating an immediate operational and economic issue for affected aircraft owners, contract pilots and charter operators.In this episode of The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland break down what the FAA’s move actually means for Citation II, Bravo, V, Ultra, Encore and Encore+ operators and why the CE-525 CitationJet family is not affected. They discuss the agency’s safety rationale, allegations of

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00:33:46

Canada Bonus Depreciation, HondaJet Echelon Slip, and...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/09/23

Are Steve Varsano's viral phone calls real or staged? We finally asked. In part two of our conversation, recorded live from the A319 cabin mockup at The Jet Business in London, Flexjet Chairman Kenn Ricci and Steve Varsano go through the deal from the buyer's side. They cover who pitched it (over lunch, of course), why Kenn calls it 80% acqui-hire, how Flexjet plans to move 30–50 pre-owned aircraft a year, and Kenn's three types of M&A deals, including the two he never wants to do again.First,

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00:25:38

Kenn Ricci Says the Private Aviation Industry is No...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/09/17

Is private aviation really one industry anymore?In this special edition of The VIP Seat, Kenn Ricci argues that the interests of charter operators, aircraft manufacturers and FBOs are increasingly pulling in different directions — while the organizations lobbying Washington have traditionally tried to represent them all.Kenn gets into why airlines have access to a robust market for PMA replacement parts while business aviation operators face far fewer options, including manufacturers’ reluctance to

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00:30:19

One Priester, OneFlight Questions, and Flexjet’s...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/09/16

This week on The VIP Seat, we unpack who is gaining control across business aviation—from airport policy and FBO economics to charter platforms, premium terminals, and cockpit safety culture.Chris Rocheleau is leaving NBAA to lead Airports Council International–North America, putting a former FAA leader at the helm of the organization representing airport operators across the U.S. and Canada. We look at why that move matters for airport access, infrastructure, FBO power, fees, and the future

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00:30:02

Trump Targets Bombardier, Honda Backs Thrive & L.A....

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/09/09

Trump is taking aim at Bombardier again—threatening to stop the Canadian manufacturer from selling aircraft in the United States unless it builds more of them on U.S. soil. But is this a real policy move, another tariff negotiating tactic, or both? And what could it mean for Global and Challenger buyers, fractional operators, delivery customers, and the wider business-aviation supply chain?This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie and Preston break down:Trump’s latest Bombardier threat and why calling it an

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00:35:32

Vista Global's $10B IPO Pitch, Atlantic Aviation...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/09/02

Vista Global is reportedly eyeing a European IPO that could raise over $1 billion at a valuation north of $10 billion, and Jessie and Preston break down what that means against a $600 million RRJ Capital investment, looming 2027 debt, and how Vista's 2025 flight hours stack up against NetJets and Flexjet. From there, Apollo's new stake in Atlantic Aviation values the FBO chain at nearly $10 billion, just five years after KKR bought it from Macquarie for $4.475 billion, and the hosts connect that to

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01:08:43

Sky Harbour CEO on Hangar Shortages, Ground Leases,...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/08/26

Every general aviation airport in America is owned by a city or a county, and almost none of them can afford to build you a hangar. That is not a market failure. That is the system working exactly as it was designed.This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie and Preston sit down with Tal Kenan, Founder and CEO of Sky Harbour, the publicly traded company building hangar campuses at airports where almost nobody can get land.Tal grew up in military aviation, spent a decade running an investment firm between Tel

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00:30:30

flyExclusive Q2 Results, LA Goes After Private Jet...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/08/19

flyExclusive reported a $111 million Q2, but behind the headline are improving margins, positive adjusted EBITDA, a complicated capital structure, and a $5 million loan carrying a stated 26.5% rate.This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland break down flyExclusive’s Q2 2026 results: revenue growth, gross-margin improvement, fractional-program revenue, MRO, Jet Club activity, debt, and the related-party disclosures investors should read carefully. This is industry commentary only: not

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00:31:27

Solairus Aviation Gets Bigger, Wheels Up Still in a...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/08/12

Is Wheels Up finally building momentum—or simply burning more runway? We break down their latest financial release (not financial advice!).This week, we battle it out over the Wheels Up Q2 results. The fleet transition is done early, the premium operation is more reliable, and management has put a 70-plus-hour utility target on the board. But cash burn, debt, deferred revenue and Delta support remain the real pressure points.We also break down Solairus and Clay Lacy's deal, NetJets’ jet-card pause,

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01:11:18

Inside the Mind of a Jet Owner: XplusLuxe on What...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/08/05

An anonymous, but infamous, aircraft owner known as XPlusLuxe joins The VIP Seat Podcast for one of our most fascinating conversations yet.Known online for his legendary aircraft collection and viral aviation content, “Mr. T” shares what he’s learned after building a fleet of private jets—and why he believes most owners, operators, and even manufacturers misunderstand the economics of business aviation.In this exclusive interview we discuss:✈️ How a hedge fund manager became obsessed with private

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00:31:54

$3B Bombardier Order, NYC Helicopter Bird Strike?

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/07/29

Saudi Arabia’s The Helicopter Company, backed by the PIF, signs a Farnborough LOI with Bombardier for a firm order of 12 Challenger and Global jets plus options that could take the deal to around $2.8–3B and up to 60 aircraft. We break down FlyExclusive’s latest Jet Club press release, with record flight hours, an average $190K deposit per new member, and a 32% year‑over‑year jump in May deposits—and ask whether those prepaid hours will translate into profitable margins when earnings drop. Jessie

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00:35:55

Seized Cessna in the Supreme Court, World Cup...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/07/22

This week, Preston joins live from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh with news on Emily Deaton's move to NBAA and show updates. Then: a 14-year-old bush pilot case out of Alaska heads to the U.S. Supreme Court over a six-pack of beer and a seized Cessna, a viral air traffic control exchange reignites the cockpit-professionalism debate, and two market reports land the same week — one on the private aircraft MRO boom, one on the ultra-wealthy buyers reshaping the business jet market. Plus: Textron's new

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00:30:24

Elonomics at FL450: Starlink’s Sticker Shock and...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/07/15

This week’s episode of The VIP Seat hits all the major pressure points in business aviation: connectivity, new aircraft, regulation, legal risk, and AI‑driven fraud. Jessie and Preston start with Starlink’s latest aviation pricing changes, breaking down “Elonomics” at altitude—regional Aviation Unlimited rising to $12,500 per month with a 500 Mbps cap, the 25 GB plan doubling from $2,000 to $4,000, and a worldwide 1 Gbps unlimited tier now at $20,000 per month. They walk through what this means for

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00:25:46

Supersonic Flight Returns, Airport Expansion Blocked...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/07/08

This week on The VIP Seat, we’re covering one of the strangest weeks in aviation news yet.The FAA moves one step closer to allowing civilian supersonic flight over the United States, and what that could mean for Boom Supersonic and the future of business aviation.Plus:Canada’s bizarre battle between Billy Bishop Airport expansion and a historic nudist beach.China grounds virtually all general aviation around Beijing after a small aircraft crashes into a skyscraper.Inside the Sun Valley billionaires

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00:41:22

Flexjet's Exclusive Gulfstreams, AirSprint Sells to...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/07/01

This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie and Preston break down the biggest stories in business aviation — from Wheels Up becoming the launch customer for Surf Air’s AI-powered SurfOS platform to the growing race for the private aviation software layer.They also ring the Canadian M&A Gong for AirSprint’s private equity deal, unpack ATI Jet/JetVia’s lawsuit against Pratt & Whitney over engine program delays, and discuss new safety concerns from slacklines and drones creating risks for pilots.Plus,

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00:38:00

Air Force One Retires, NetJets Faces Tragedy &...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/06/24

This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland break down a packed week in business aviation.We start with Global Jet Capital’s $659 million aircraft-backed securitization and why Fortune 500 companies use operating leases for corporate jets. Then AirShare CEO John Owen joins us for a special Mile High Madness segment after the company went viral offering to fly Freddy to a World Cup match on a private jet.We also discuss the retirement of one of the classic Air Force One 747-200s, the

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00:33:58

Steve Varsano Joins Flexjet, FlyHouse Reshuffles &...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/06/17

This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland unpack a packed week of private aviation headlines. FlyHouse announces a leadership change, raising new questions about its ambitious “Uber for private jets” strategy. NetJets files for an exemption to extend certain crew duty limits, sparking a bigger conversation about fatigue, rest rules, and whether safety practices should be shared across the industry.Plus, Cirrus faces federal restrictions tied to Chinese ownership, AeroVanti’s founder

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01:01:20

Kenny Dichter on Billion Dollar Revenues, Leaving...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/06/10

This interview with Kenny Dichter and Robert Withers of REAL Jet covers the founding of Marquis Jet, the success of Avion Tequila, the experience with capital markets, the growth of Wheels Up, and the impact of going public on the industry. It also highlights the importance of authentic conversations and the journey to becoming a billion-dollar company.The conversation delves into the challenges faced during COVID, lessons learned, and the evolving landscape of the aviation industry. It also

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00:41:41

Biffle Crash Litigation: Pilot Liability, LLCs &...

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/06/03

Aviation attorney Joe LoRusso joins Jessie Naor and Preston Holland to explain the lawsuits following the Greg Biffle aircraft crash, including aircraft LLC liability, pilot qualification issues, insurance coverage questions, operational control, and why litigation often begins long before an NTSB final report is released.The episode also covers responsible crash commentary, underinsurance in private aviation, Flexjet’s win against the IRS over federal excise tax, the GAO’s eVTOL infrastructure

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00:28:20

Berkshire’s Delta Stake, Wheels Up’s Future

The VIP Seat: Private Aviation News ·

2026/05/27

Berkshire Hathaway has disclosed a major stake in Delta Air Lines — but with Delta now deeply tied to Wheels Up, what does that mean for private aviation, premium travel, and NetJets?This week on The VIP Seat, Jessie Naor and Preston Holland break down Berkshire’s Delta investment, Delta’s continued commitment to Wheels Up, and the growing connection between airline premium cabins and private jet customers. They also discuss the NTSB’s decision to shut down safety dockets after AI tools were used to

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