In 2018, while most private aviation companies focused either on fleet expansion or cost-cutting to stay competitive, Thomas Flohr made a characteristically contrarian bet. He directed VistaJet to begin implementing Evidence-Based Training (EBT), a revolutionary pilot training methodology that had never been attempted in business aviation. Seven years later, that investment has made history.
VistaJet Limited has become the first-ever business aviation operator to achieve certification for Baseline Evidence-Based Training—placing it in exclusive company alongside only seven other organizations in Europe, including commercial aviation giants Air France, Iberia, and Finnair. The achievement perfectly exemplifies Thomas Flohr’s approach to building competitive advantages long before they become industry necessities.
“Whilst others wait, VistaJet builds,” explains Nick van der Meer, Chief Operating Officer. “We were the first to implement EBT in business aviation—years ahead of the industry—and we’ve set the blueprint others now look up to.”
The Patient Investment
Thomas Flohr’s decision to pursue EBT in 2018 reflected his pattern of identifying transformational opportunities before competitors recognize them. At the time, EBT was starting to appear as the upcoming gold standard in commercial aviation training, but it had never been attempted in business aviation—a sector traditionally resistant to adopting complex and time-expensive methodologies from the commercial world.
The implementation timeline reveals the scope of Flohr’scommitment. VistaJet began with concept development and manual drafting in 2019, progressed through instructor standardization in 2020, and evolved into comprehensive data collection by 2021. The company developed instructor concordance programs by 2023, activated Safety Management System feedback loops in 2024, and finally achieved certification in 2025.
This methodical seven-year development represents exactly the kind of long-term strategic thinking that distinguishes Flohr’sapproach. While competitors focused on quarterly metrics, he invested in capabilities that would create lasting competitive advantages.
“We always like the first mover approach,” explains Matteo Atti, a senior VistaJet executive. “If we see an opportunity, we explore it, we pilot it, and implement it. We don’t wait for it to become so obvious that everybody’s at it.”
Revolutionary Training Philosophy
EBT represents a fundamental paradigm shift from traditional pilot training. While conventional methods focus on repetitive execution of predetermined maneuvers—what the industry calls “checking regulatory boxes”—EBT uses data-driven, competency-based instruction that creates individualized training programs addressing specific pilot weaknesses.
The system evaluates pilots across nine core competencies, including situational awareness, workload management, leadership and teamwork, and problem-solving under pressure. Rather than generic training, EBT starts with identifying individual weaknesses and then focuses on targeted improvement.
This personalized approach required significant investment that only makes sense with Flohr’s long-term perspective. VistaJetbuilt teams of in-house simulator instructors and examiners, developed data collection systems analyzing tens of thousands of data points, and created instructor concordance programs ensuring consistent delivery across global operations.
Competitive Advantages Created
The EBT certification creates multiple competitive advantages that will be extremely difficult for rivals to replicate. The seven-year development timeline means competitors starting today wouldn’t achieve similar capabilities until the early 2030s—assuming they could match VistaJet’s investment levels and technical expertise.
For pilot recruitment, EBT certification enables VistaJet to attract top-tier aviators who prefer working with operators providing the most advanced training available. In an industry facing significant pilot shortages, access to superior training programs becomes a crucial recruiting advantage.
For clients, the certification provides tangible evidence of VistaJet’s safety leadership. When sophisticated corporate clients evaluate aviation providers, they increasingly examine training methodologies as part of risk management due diligence. Being the only business aviation operator with EBT certification creates clear differentiation that competitors cannot match.
Industry Transformation
Thomas Flohr’s EBT achievement represents a broader industry transformation. By successfully implementing commercial aviation-grade training standards in business aviation, VistaJethas forced the entire sector to reconsider what constitutes adequate pilot preparation.
The certification validates that business aviation operators can meet the same rigorous training standards as major airlines—something many industry observers doubted was possible given the sector’s fragmented structure. VistaJet’s industry leadershipwill likely prompt regulatory authorities to consider raising training standards industry-wide, potentially making EBT-level requirements mandatory.
This regulatory evolution would create significant barriers to entry for smaller operators lacking the resources to develop comprehensive training programs. Established operators like VistaJet, who have already made necessary investments, would benefit from reduced competition as marginal players exit the market.
The Pattern Continues
The EBT certification joins a growing list of “firsts” that have defined VistaJet’s market position under Thomas Flohr’sleadership: first global subscription model, first to pioneer one-way pricing, first with comprehensive digital booking systems, and first to establish operations in emerging markets like Saudi Arabia.
Each innovation required significant upfront investment with uncertain returns, but collectively they have created a competitive position that strengthens over time. As discussed in recent aviation insights, the EBT achievement demonstrates that Flohr’s willingness to bet on future capabilities continues to generate tangible competitive advantages that others struggle to match.
As van der Meer notes, “We invest early, think long-term, and set standards not just for ourselves, but for the entire sector.” The seven-year EBT journey from concept to certification validates this approach while creating another sustainable competitive moat.
Thomas Flohr’s latest bet has paid off in exactly the way his previous investments have—by creating industry-leading capabilities that competitors will spend years trying to replicate. This approach to transformational business strategy continues to distinguish VistaJet in an increasingly competitive market.
In business aviation, where safety and training quality can mean the difference between life and death, being seven years ahead of the competition isn’t just a business advantage—it’s a responsibility that Thomas Flohr continues to take seriously. The EBT certification stands as the latest proof that his contrarian approach to industry leadership consistently delivers results that reshape entire sectors.
