Clay Lacy Aviation has secured its designation as a Wyvern Wingman certified operator by maintaining Wingman status through the Flight Leader Program with quarterly coaching by Wyvern. The Wyvern Wingman standard, the first air charter audit standard in the aviation industry, establishes a trusted safety benchmark, enabling air charter customers to evaluate operator performance against recognised industry best practices.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, California with operations nationwide and managing one of the largest private aircraft fleets in the United States, Clay Lacy Aviation offers aircraft management, charter, maintenance and fixed-base operator services. First passing its external audit in 1997, the company has held a Wyvern safety rating for 29 years, longer than any other company.

“Renewing our Wyvern Wingman certification is not just about meeting standards, it is about the trust and adherence to safety protocols, continuous monitoring and robust training,” says Eloy Freitas, Clay Lacy Aviation vice president of safety, quality and continuous improvement. “This certification confirms that Clay Lacy Aviation not only meets but exceeds the highest industry-leading standards in safety management, compliance and operational integrity, ensuring every flight delivers both exceptional service and a deep commitment to safety.”

Achieving Wingman status requires meeting the industry's most rigorous safety criteria. The scope of the evaluation encompasses a review of the organisation's compliance management system, internal evaluation programme, safety management system, human factors management, safety culture analysis, risk management policies, procedures and practices, emergency response plans and training programmes.

“We applaud Clay Lacy Aviation, the very first Wingman operator, for renewing its Wingman certification, highlighting ongoing leadership in safety and aircraft operations,” comments Andrew Day, senior vice president of operations at Wyvern. “The Wingman programme validates operators through detailed assessments and continual safety monitoring.”