Example: Private-jet signal
How Pro is designed to connect flight data, SEC filings, the press and Berkshire's letters, using the 2019 Occidental jet flight to Omaha.
The question#
Did any corporate jet flights come before Berkshire's big deals?What it connects#
| Domain | Record |
|---|---|
| Flight data | Every leg flown by N550XY, a Gulfstream G550 the press reported as Occidental's, April 8 to May 17, 2019 |
| SEC filings | Occidental's, Chevron's and Berkshire's filings on the Anadarko contest, April 12 to May 10, 2019 |
| Press | Bloomberg and CNBC reports of the flight |
| Berkshire letters | What Buffett had written about acquisitions before the flight |
The answer#
- The flight. On Sunday, April 28, 2019, N550XY flew from Ellington Field, Houston, to Eppley Airfield, Omaha, spent 2 hours 16 minutes on the ground, and flew back.
- The press. Bloomberg reported it the next day: “Occidental Jet Flew to Omaha This Weekend, Flight Data Shows.”
- The filing. On April 30, Berkshire committed $10 billion to Occidental's bid for Anadarko (Form 425). The signed terms (8-K, May 3) were 100,000 shares of 8% preferred stock and a warrant for 80 million shares at $62.50.
- What followed. Chevron declined to raise its offer (May 9); Anadarko paid Chevron's $1 billion termination fee and agreed to Occidental's deal (May 10). The $10 billion closed on August 8, 2019.
The artifacts#
- Flight map: the Houston → Omaha legs, with times and time on the ground.
- Sequence: flights, press and filings on one dated line.
- Deal brief: a cited report of the above, as PDF, Word or Slides.