Sentient Goes On A Buying Spree

Oct 24, 2007 1:57 PM, Frederick Gevalt

On Friday of last week, Sentient Flight Group and TAG Aviation Holdings shook hands on an undisclosed deal which transfers TAG ownership from its former Swiss owners and TAG management to the Wemouth based Sentient Flight Group, headed by former consultant and travel industry professional Steven Hankins. While the sale was obviously necessary for TAG to retain its employees and customers, Sentient explained its purchase by essentially citing TAG’s stature as a brand and organization that would be critical for Sentient to progress forward with the integration of the smaller charter/management holdings it has already made. More acquisitions continue, with the recent addition of former Raytheon owned Hawker Beechcraft, which preceded the recent acquisition of TAG.

Less advertised about Sentient is the presence on its board of former FAA Administrator Jane Garvey. Without suggesting anything untoward about such a board member (The Air Charter Guide had former deputy Administrator Barry Valentine on its board for many years) it is unfortunate for the rumor mill, given the timing of TAG’s demise at the hands of the FAA and its subsequent purchase, and has raised a couple of industry eyebrows.

But we wish them all good luck, and hope that armed with the help of the former Administrator, Sentient can help get the FAA settled down during the necessary process of certification of this record breaking influx of charter aircraft. Because what works for Sentient will obviously have to be acceptable for the rest of the industry as it goes through this trying period. And if the Sentient/TAG/Hawker Beechcraft alliance are successful in quickly moving over one hundred charter aircraft onto a certificate somewhere in a timeframe that suits the owners, then other regions and FSDOs will have to measure up.

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