April 14, 2005

Sentient Jet buys N.J. flight manager

Private jet membership company Sentient Jet has closed its purchase of an East Coast aircraft management and charter company.

Sentient Jet, of Norwell, announced Thursday that it had acquired Atlantic Aviation Flight Services, a 75-year-old firm owned by Voyager Group, a Pittsburgh-based private equity company.

Financial details of the purchase were not available.

The acquisition of Teterboro, N.J.-based Atlantic enables Sentient to meet its fast-growing membership with a larger base of aircraft supply, officials said.

Founded in 1999, Sentient's business membership model differs from other jet charter companies, many of which use fractional ownership or fractional card programs.

Officials said the aircraft management and flight services that Atlantic currently provides for its clients will continue their normal operations.