JSX's response: Our safety record is second to none

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Alex Wilcox is the CEO and co-founder of JSX. An aviation entrepreneur, Alex's resume spans three decades and includes founding and/or executive roles at JetBlue, Kingfisher Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

John Pistole, former TSA administrator, writes that "security should never be exchanged in the name of convenience." As the CEO of JSX, I couldn't agree more.

I was in Washington late last month, meeting with regulators and elected officials from both sides of the aisle to correct the record about JSX's unwavering commitment to safety and security. I'll tell you exactly what I told them so that you, too, will understand why many thousands of letters were sent to Washington by customers and constituents who recognize the outsize value JSX's Part 380 public charter operations offer communities facing unprecedented reductions in air service.

The Part 380 regulations have been in existence for 45 years and are intended to promote a broader diversity of air service options for U.S. consumers and, in the process, keep the U.S. at the forefront of innovation. In fact, in 1997 the FAA issued a rule to make clear that public charters are not considered scheduled operations and are not subject to the Part 121 operating rules that govern commercial airlines. JSX exemplifies the purpose of public charters by providing flyers with safe, secure and reliable air service, while achieving an industry-leading Net Promoter Score of 76.

The efficacy of JSX's exhaustive safety and security protocols, which greatly exceed TSA requirements, is reflected by our flawless record -- one that meets or exceeds that of the large commercial airlines. We conduct explosive trace and weapons detection on every bag and customer using state-of-the-art technology. A secondary positive ID match is conducted at boarding. Our flight deck doors are armored.

JSX was a voluntary participant in the TSA Secure Flight vetting program for seven years; this has just recently become a requirement for similar public charter carriers. In fact, there have been zero fatalities or serious incidents on any public charter flights, ever.

This forum is a response to one by former TSA administrator John Pistole, who said he was concerned that JSX's model might exchange security "in the name of convenience." Read it here.

JSX is a threat to one thing: the continued dominance of entrenched commercial airlines. Our model is proof that underutilized airports can be served safely and securely within the confines of existing regulations established specifically for that purpose. For example, by operating public charters to unserved airports -- including Concord, Calif.; Rocky Mountain Metropolitan, near Denver; Taos, N.M.; Carlsbad, near San Diego; and Morristown, N.J. -- JSX becomes a vital economic engine to communities wholly overlooked by commercial airlines. There are more than 3,000 airports across our nation where large commercial airlines cannot operate. These airports have been accessible only to those with the means to fly private -- until now.

Giving oxygen to the meritless accusations lobbed against public charter carriers by American, Southwest and the Air Line Pilots Association enables a more sinister agenda: to deconstruct and outlaw any method of air mobility that isn't subject to Part 121 (commercial airline) regulation, in direct conflict with President Biden's 2021 Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy. JSX is a manifestation of the executive order in action: a novel business model created in full compliance with long-standing, previously uncontested regulation.

I stand by JSX's reputation for safety, security and service, alongside our superior operating and compliance history. Propagating unsubstantiated claims against public charters under the guise of aviation safety is deeply irresponsible. Moreover, it proves that those behind these baseless allegations are indeed picking convenience over safety and security, as they'd rather legislate than participate, degrading our nation's regulatory system. 

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