Private Jet & Yacht Bug Sweeping
TSCM sweeps of business aircraft, private jets and yachts, carried out airside or dockside and coordinated with the operator, FBO, crew or marina around your schedule.
Please contact us from outside any space you believe may be compromised.
Why aircraft and yachts are swept
A private jet or yacht bug sweep is a TSCM inspection of the cabin, crew areas and onboard systems for listening devices, cameras and trackers. On board, principals speak freely: board discussions in flight, negotiations over dinner on deck, calls from the cabin.
Aircraft and yachts are also places where many people need access: crew, maintenance providers, handling agents, caterers, cleaners, charter guests and refit yards. An aircraft between flights, or a yacht in a marina or shipyard, can be reached by people the owner never meets.
We sweep before important trips, after maintenance or a refit, after a change of crew or management company, when a charter guest leaves, and on a regular schedule for owners who use the asset for business. The work is coordinated around flight slots, airside rules and crew schedules, so the asset is ready when you are.
What we look for on board
Cabin audio devices
Microphones in seats, tables, galley equipment, lighting and soft furnishings in the cabin, saloon and staterooms.
Hidden cameras
Covert cameras in fittings, smoke detectors and decorative items, aimed at seating and meeting areas.
Cabin systems & connectivity
In-flight entertainment, cabin management systems and onboard Wi-Fi that can be configured or fitted to pass audio or data off board.
Planted chargers & equipment
USB chargers, adapters and personal-looking items left on board after a previous trip, charter or maintenance visit.
Tracking devices
GPS and cellular trackers on tenders, in lockers or in crew areas, used to follow the owner's movements.
Maintenance & refit access
Areas opened during maintenance or a refit, such as panels, ceilings and technical spaces, where a device can be installed.
What an aircraft or yacht sweep covers
- Cabin, saloon, staterooms, meeting and dining areas
- Seats, tables, panels, lighting, galley and washroom fittings
- Cabin management, in-flight entertainment and onboard Wi-Fi
- Crew areas and lockers and, on yachts, the bridge, tender and deck spaces
- Power outlets, chargers and anything left on board
- The radio-frequency environment, with onboard systems on and off where the operator allows
- On request, the crew vehicle, hangar office or accommodation used for the trip
Every sweep layers RF spectrum analysis (10 kHz–24 GHz), non-linear junction detection, thermal imaging, telephone and line testing, Wi-Fi and lens detection, and a physical search. See our method for how each technique works.
How an aircraft or yacht sweep works
We coordinate access with the aircraft operator, FBO, captain or management company, with as few people as possible told why.
Sweeps are scheduled between flights or before the owner boards, and after maintenance, refit or charter.
RF, NLJD, thermal and a physical search of cabins, fittings and onboard systems, working with the crew where systems need to be powered.
Anything found is documented in place, and the operator and your advisers are informed before any action is taken.
A written report, with recommendations for access control on board and for the crew between trips.
Sweep after the maintenance, not before. Anyone who opens panels or works in technical spaces has the access needed to fit a device. Schedule the sweep after maintenance, a refit or a charter, and before the owner's next trip.
Who carries out the work
Our technical leadership includes Mike Moran, whose biography describes more than 25 years of intelligence, surveillance and counter-surveillance experience, and Paul Chauveau, an REI and cellular systems specialist. Read their professional backgrounds. The proposed inspection team, relevant qualifications and scope are confirmed for each assignment.
Timing, duration and cost
A business jet cabin usually takes half a day to a full day for a two-person team. Yachts take from one day to several, depending on length and layout. Work at airports and marinas is planned around movement slots, airside access rules and crew schedules.
Travel and expenses are charged in addition, and every engagement is confirmed with a fixed written quotation. For what drives the price, read how much a bug sweep costs.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sweep an aircraft at the airport?
Yes. Business aircraft are swept airside at the FBO or in the hangar, coordinated with the operator and the handling agent so that the inspection fits around flight schedules and airside access rules.
How long does a private jet sweep take?
A typical business jet cabin takes half a day to a full day for a two-person team, depending on the size of the cabin and the systems on board.
Do you sweep yachts in marinas and shipyards?
Yes. Yachts are swept in marinas, at anchor where access allows, or in shipyards after a refit. Larger yachts take from one day to several, depending on length, layout and the number of guest areas.
When should an aircraft or yacht be swept?
Before important trips, after maintenance or a refit, after a change of crew or management company, after a charter, and on a regular schedule for owners who use the asset for business.
Do you need the crew's cooperation?
Usually, yes: for access and to power onboard systems for testing. We agree with you which crew members are told, and keep that to as few people as possible.
Can you sweep the hotel and vehicles on the same trip?
Yes. Many trips combine the aircraft or yacht with the destination hotel suite, meeting rooms and vehicles, planned as one engagement.
Confidential Consultation
NDA on request. Answered personally — no call centres.