Sentient Introduces Groundbreaking Private Aviation Safety Standards

9/30/2002

From: Steve Morton of Sentient, 866-473-6843 Mike Feldman or Julie Goldberg, 202-337-0808, both of The Glover Park Group

NORWELL, Mass., Sept. 30 -- Sentient, the pioneer and leader of the fastest growing segment of the private jet industry, and Aviation Research Group/US (ARG/US), a national leader in aviation safety, announced today a relationship that delivers aggressive safety programs far exceeding all current private aviation safety measures. The new standards are unrivaled in the industry and signal Sentient's continued efforts to be the industry leader for all facets of private aviation.

"Sentient has committed to the most comprehensive safety program we have seen in the Part 135 aviation industry," said Joe Moeggenberg, President of ARG/US. "Sentient is aggressively and proactively improving private aviation safety - their commitment represents a whole new level in the industry. Sentient is clearly taking a lead role."

"Sentient is committed to the safety of every single flight," stated Sentient CEO, Mark Stone. "We have a long standing record of using the country's premier Part 135 operators, and we now have a program, developed in conjunction with ARG/US, that ensures continuous, around-the-clock safety checks of all aircraft, pilots and operators. No passenger will ever board a Sentient jet that has not been fully vetted to meet the highest safety and quality standards in the industry."

Sentient's entire fleet of aircraft operates under FAA Part 135 standards, the most stringent safety requirements in aviation and far more strict than the FAA Part 91 standards governing fractional ownership. In addition to the Part 135 standards, Sentient is implementing a number of new safety requirements including:

-- Every operator in the Sentient fleet must meet rigorous ARG/US audit certification standards -- Every aircraft in Sentient's fleet is independently audited by ARG/US ensuring each jet is continually being serviced and maintained in accordance with Part 135 regulations as well as pursuant to Sentient's Master Service Agreement. -- Every Sentient flight must pass comprehensive 24/7 ARG/US background checks - which include checks on pilots, aircraft, the operator and verification of all trip elements

"From the operator's perspective, Sentient's safety program requirements represent an enormous step forward in safety," stated Mike Sowa, Managing Director for the eastern U.S. Division of Jetstream Aviation in Allentown, Pennsylvania, an organization that operates a fleet of over 20 jets. "Sentient has always had very strict safety policies on top of our Part 135 requirements, but the new initiatives represent significant advances in private aviation safety standards."

With a nationwide network of more than 1,400 Part 135, ARG/US-audited jets, Sentient provides premium executive class aircraft with a guaranteed response time anywhere in the United States in 5 hours or less. Sentient, formerly known as eBizJets, is privately held and is a portfolio company of CSFB Private Equity, the $25 billion private investment arm of the global Credit Suisse Group. For more information, please visit http://www.sentientjet.com.