Good morning from the VIP Seat - this week we’re taking a deep dive into shifting operator trends, FAA delays, and executive orders shaking the skies.

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From Eggs to the Skies

Vital Farms Founder Enters Aviation Entrepreneur Matt O’Hayer, known for founding Vital Farms, has acquired ATI Jet and rebranded it as Jetvia. The fleet includes 26 aging Learjets, raising questions about long-term scalability and modernization. With a background in public company leadership, O’Hayer appears ready to tackle the complexities of private aviation.

Where are the single-aircraft operators going?

A Sharp Drop in Single-Aircraft Part 135 Operators Data from the Private Aviation Safety Alliance shows a 6.6% decline in single-aircraft operators this year. It’s unclear whether the change reflects economic pressure, FAA enforcement activity, or M&A fallout. The two-to-nine aircraft segment is down slightly, while ten-plus fleets remain stable. Jessie and Preston discuss whether certificate consolidations from recent acquisitions are partly to blame.

Back in Compliance

Wheels Up Regains NYSE Compliance After a rocky stretch of trading below $1, Wheels Up has clawed its way back above the threshold to maintain public listing status. While the company reduced losses compared to last year, its first quarter still posted negative $56 million in EBITDA. Jessie and Preston dig into the challenges of achieving real scale in the charter space and whether strategic partnerships like Delta’s are paying off.

Trump Unleashes The Drones?

Executive Orders Push FAA on Drones and eVTOLs. The Trump administration issued a sweeping executive order demanding aggressive FAA action on drone integration and eVTOL regulation. Deadlines include a BVLOS rule within 240 days and at least five air mobility pilot programs. While some in the industry welcome the pressure, both hosts question whether such ambitious targets are realistic given past delays and limited FAA resources.

….and Supersonic Jets

Supersonic Flight Over U.S. Could Return Another executive order directs the FAA to repeal the 1973 ban on overland supersonic flight. The administration wants draft rules within 18 months and full implementation by 2027. Boom Supersonic, currently leading the charge, is positioned to benefit. Jessie and Preston reflect on how regulatory and technological changes could finally make domestic supersonic travel viable again.

Mile High Madness

In this week’s fav social media posts, we unpack a viral video of a pilot using a bike pump to inflate the nose wheel of a jet (FYI, not legal unless you’re also a certified mechanic) and dissect Jake Paul’s flashy new Global, along with the rookie mistake of his friend accidentally revealing the tail number on social media.

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