Decades ago, NetJets established a companywide culture of safety that defines our ethos and drives our actions. Since then, we continue to strengthen it, heeding our directive from Berkshire Hathaway’s founder and our owner, Warren Buffett: “Spend whatever it takes to be the safest and most secure. Then, spend whatever it takes to stay that way.”

While every provider touts a dedication to safety, none has proven it like NetJets. Year after year, NetJets has the lowest accident and incident rate, measured per 100,000 flight hours, of prominent private aviation operators across the U.S., according to National Transportation Safety Board reporting.* This has held true even as NetJets’ flight volume continues to increase.

This culture of safety unites everyone in working toward our goal of zero mishaps. The core of our culture of safety is formed by three distinct yet interconnected cultures.

The global gold standard of flight operations safety oversight is flight data monitoring (FDM). Part of NetJets’ FDM includes the Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) program. FOQA/FDM’s daily mission is to enable the assessment and resolution of systemic aircraft operational issues and trends, including those in safety and maintenance. At NetJets, FOQA/FDM has successfully produced actionable discoveries that have enhanced safety margins.

FOQA/FDM analyzes de-identified flight and sensor data to compare aircraft Flight Data Recorder (FDR) parameters against defined operating standards. These results are used to identify and address certain aircraft and operational trends. Automated processing tools assist with the detection of deviations or trends. Findings are evaluated and acted upon internally, as well as often shared with regulators that monitor trends in aircraft operations, and then appropriately allocate risk-reducing resources.

While FOQA/FDM is mandated for major airline operations, for providers like NetJets, it is not required by regulation for all aircraft types. Moreover, manufacturers of turbojet aircraft with fewer than 10 passenger seats do not have to install flight data recorders. As an early adopter of FOQA/FDM over 10 years ago, NetJets mandates that every jet delivered into our fleet is equipped with a flight data recorder.

Because FOQA/FDM provides valuable information, including information that protects safety margins, NetJets’ investment in the program continues to grow. NetJets plans to implement additional tools for Crewmembers to provide near real-time feedback on each flight. In fact, NetJets is the first shared ownership provider to deploy GE Aerospace’s FlightPulse application, which we will begin to launch at the end of 2025. FlightPulse equips pilots with critical safety-enhancing information, including flight data replay and comparison to defined operating standards.

NetJets recently established a special procedure for Nevada’s Henderson Executive Airport (KHND), a prime airport for Las Vegas events.

FOQA/FDM data identified high terrain on the final northern approach path, notifying NetJets of the opportunity to develop an avoidance procedure to reduce risk of an unstable approach. The NetJets Safety and Technical Compliance Teams collaborated to develop and implement this special procedure months ahead of an FAA-safety alert regarding the terrain. The diagram illustrates a consistent cluster of flight tracks navigating around terrain to the west, and then rejoining the final approach path. These are NetJets’ aircraft following the new special procedure.

FOQA/FDM is also leveraged for predictive maintenance efforts. Flight outlier and trending sensor data detect possible precursors of a component failure on an aircraft and are routinely monitored to identify and allow for relevant repairs or replacements before a malfunction occurs.

For example, increasing flap extension times may indicate flap drive motor degradation. Through proactive identification, the flap drive motor can be serviced or replaced before a failure occurs in the aircraft, preventing a possible diversion to a longer runway.

As the news suggests, the number of turbulence events has increased in recent years. However, flight volume has also increased, which means the rate of these events has remained relatively steady. Of all reported events with turbulence-related injuries since 2020, only five involved private jets.

Even so, any injury is too many. One tragic turbulence event occurred in May of 2024 on Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321. This Boeing 777-312ER, operating from London-Heathrow to Singapore, faced severe turbulence while passing above thunderstorms. One passenger suffered a fatal cardiac event, and 30 others sustained injuries requiring hospital treatment. The investigation found that most of those injured likely did not have their seat belts fastened at the time of the turbulence.

The NetJets Safety Team assesses all industry turbulence events for insights that reduce these encounters in our own operations, helping us work toward eliminating all turbulence-related injuries. Our multifaceted approach to mitigating turbulence includes incorporating our Crewmembers’ experience and skills, industry best practices and research, and new technologies.

Avoiding turbulence-related injuries begins on the ground with the NetJets Passenger Safety Briefing. All flights require a briefing to advise passengers that their seat belts should be fastened when the seat belt sign is illuminated and, preferably, anytime they are seated to protect them in case of unexpected turbulence.

This simple practice works. Turbulence research published in a 2021 report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) highlights the rarity of serious turbulence-related injury when seat belts are worn. From 2009–2018, 123 passengers or flight attendants were seriously injured due to turbulence. Only one person among them had their seat belt fastened.

Even moderate turbulence can cause an unbuckled passenger to make contact with the cabin ceiling. While turbulence cannot always be avoided, fastening seat belts significantly reduces the likelihood an encounter will cause injury.

NetJets pilots also use SkyPath during preflight to identify potential areas of turbulence. This increases their situational awareness and gives them added time to plan, ensuring they take the best routes at the best altitudes.

Since the rollout of SkyPath, NetJets has not experienced a serious turbulence-related injury. While our work is not finished, these results reinforce our investment in NetJets’ No. 1 priority—safety.