I disagree.

The “local/regional charter operator” could be a reputable, highly rated ARG/US provider or comparable to a run-of-the-mill South Florida nightmare. If your friend has the means, he probably has friends with the means. Ask for recommendations from other people who already use those services. If he doesn’t have that network in place by all means find a broker that knows what to look for.

I can’t imagine going to the yellow pages and using the “eenie meenie miney moe” method for something that important and wide ranging.