As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 24, 2004

Registration No. 333-            

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

AIRNET SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Ohio       31-1458309
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

3939 International Gateway, Columbus, Ohio 43219
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

AirNet Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)
    Gary W. Qualmann
Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Secretary
AirNet Systems, Inc.
3939 International Gateway
Columbus, Ohio 43219
(Name and address of agent for service)
      Copy to:
Elizabeth Turrell Farrar, Esq.
Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
52 East Gay Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
   

(614) 532-4072
(Telephone number, including area
code, of agent for service)
 

 

Calculation of Registration Fee

 
Title of securities
to be registered

  Amount to be
registered

  Proposed maximum
offering
price per share(1)

  Proposed maximum
aggregate
offering price

  Amount of
registration
fee

 
Common Shares, $0.01 par value   1,000,000   $4.50   $4,500,000   $570.15
 
(1)
Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the aggregate offering price and the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and computed on the basis of $ 4.50 per share, which is the average of the high and low sales prices of the Common Shares of AirNet Systems, Inc. as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on June 18, 2004.

Index to Exhibits begins at Page 12

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PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
 

Item 3.    Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

        The following documents filed by AirNet Systems, Inc. (the "Registrant") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), under File No. 1-13025 are hereby incorporated by reference:


        Any definitive proxy statement or information statement filed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and all documents which may be filed with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the completion of the offering contemplated under the AirNet Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, shall also be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and to be made a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Information furnished or provided by the Registrant under Item 9 or Item 12 of any of the Registrant's Current Reports on Form 8-K is not incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8.

 

Item 4.    Description of Securities.

        Not Applicable.

 

Item 5.    Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

        The validity of the issuance of the common shares of the Registrant being registered on this Registration Statement on Form S-8 will be passed upon for the Registrant by Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, 52 East Gay Street, P.O. Box 1008, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1008. Russell M. Gertmenian, a director of the Registrant, is a partner in such firm. As of June 23, 2004, partners in Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP and attorneys employed by Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, together with members of their immediate families, owned an aggregate of 8,750 common shares of the Registrant. As of June 23, 2004, Mr. Gertmenian and his family owned 4,500 of these common shares and held options covering an aggregate of 46,000 common shares of the Registrant. As a director of the Registrant, Mr. Gertmenian will be eligible to receive awards under the AirNet Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.  

Item 6.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers.  

        Section 14.05 of the AirNet Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), provides for indemnification of the Registrant's Board of Directors (the "Board") and the Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Committee"), which administer the Plan as follows:

             14.05 Indemnification. Each individual who is or was a member of the Committee or of the Board will be indemnified and held harmless by the Company [the Registrant] against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her

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    in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which he or she may be made a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to take action under the Plan as a Committee member and against and from any and all amounts paid, with the Company's approval, by him or her in settlement of any matter related to or arising from the Plan as a Committee member or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any action, suit or proceeding relating to or arising from the Plan against him or her as a Committee member, but only if he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the matter before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it in his or her own behalf. The right of indemnification described in this Section 14.05 is not exclusive and is independent of any other rights of indemnification to which the individual may be entitled under the Company's organizational documents, by contract, as a matter of law or otherwise.

        Division (E) of Section 1701.13 of the Ohio Revised Code governs indemnification by an Ohio corporation and provides as follows:

            (E)(1) A corporation may indemnify or agree to indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability company, or a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorney's fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

            (2)   A corporation may indemnify or agree to indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability company, or a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorney's fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any of the following:

              (a)   Any claim, issue, or matter as to which such person is adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the corporation unless, and only to the extent that, the court of common pleas or the court in which such action or suit was brought determines, upon application, that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court of common pleas or such other court shall deem proper;

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              (b)   Any action or suit in which the only liability asserted against a director is pursuant to section 1701.95 of the Revised Code.

            (3)   To the extent that a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorney's fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding.

            (4)   Any indemnification under division (E)(1) or (2) of this section, unless ordered by a court, shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case, upon a determination that indemnification of the director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section. Such determination shall be made as follows:

              (a)   By a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors of the indemnifying corporation who were not and are not parties to or threatened with the action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section;

              (b)   If the quorum described in division (E)(4)(a) of this section is not obtainable or if a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, in a written opinion by independent legal counsel other than an attorney, or a firm having associated with it an attorney, who has been retained by or who has performed services for the corporation or any person to be indemnified within the past five years;

              (c)   By the shareholders;

              (d)   By the court of common pleas or the court in which the action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section was brought.

            Any determination made by the disinterested directors under division (E)(4)(a) or by independent legal counsel under division (E)(4)(b) of this section shall be promptly communicated to the person who threatened or brought the action or suit by or in the right of the corporation under division (E)(2) of this section, and, within ten days after receipt of such notification, such person shall have the right to petition the court of common pleas or the court in which such action or suit was brought to review the reasonableness of such determination.

            (5)   (a) Unless at the time of a director's act or omission that is the subject of an action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section, the articles or the regulations of a corporation state, by specific reference to this division, that the provisions of this division do not apply to the corporation and unless the only liability asserted against a director in an action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section is pursuant to section 1701.95 of the Revised Code, expenses, including attorney's fees, incurred by a director in defending the action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the corporation as they are incurred, in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director in which he agrees to do both of the following:

              (i)    Repay such amount if it is proved by clear and convincing evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction that his action or failure to act involved an act or omission undertaken with deliberate intent to cause injury to the corporation or undertaken with reckless disregard for the best interests of the corporation;

              (ii)   Reasonably cooperate with the corporation concerning the action, suit, or proceeding.

            (b)   Expenses, including attorney's fees, incurred by a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent in defending any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division

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    (E)(1) or (2) of this section, may be paid by the corporation as they are incurred, in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding, as authorized by the directors in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent to repay such amount, if it ultimately is determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation.

            (6)   The indemnification authorized by this section shall not be exclusive of, and shall be in addition to, any other rights granted to those seeking indemnification under the articles, the regulations, any agreement, a vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in their official capacities and as to action in another capacity while holding their offices or positions, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such a person.

            (7)   A corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection, including, but not limited to, trust funds, letters of credit, or self-insurance, on behalf of or for any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability company, or a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under this section. Insurance may be purchased from or maintained with a person in which the corporation has a financial interest.

            (8)   The authority of a corporation to indemnify persons pursuant to division (E)(1) or (2) of this section does not limit the payment of expenses as they are incurred, indemnification, insurance, or other protection that may be provided pursuant to divisions (E)(5), (6), and (7) of this section. Divisions (E)(1) and (2) of this section do not create any obligation to repay or return payments made by the corporation pursuant to division (E)(5), (6) or (7).

            (9)   As used in division (E) of this section, "corporation" includes all constituent entities in a consolidation or merger and the new or surviving corporation, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, trustee, member, manager, or agent of such a constituent entity, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent entity as a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability company, or a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the new or surviving corporation as he would if he had served the new or surviving corporation in the same capacity.

        Article FIVE of the Registrant's Code of Regulations governs indemnification by the Registrant and provides as follows:

             Section 5.01. Mandatory Indemnification.     The corporation shall indemnify any officer or director of the corporation who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including, without limitation, any action threatened or instituted by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, manager or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager or agent of another corporation (domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees, filing fees, court reporters' fees and transcript costs), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a

6


    manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. A person claiming indemnification under this Section 5.01 shall be presumed, in respect of any act or omission giving rise to such claim for indemnification, to have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal matter, to have had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, and the termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, rebut such presumption.

             Section 5.02. Court-Approved Indemnification.     Anything contained in the Regulations or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding:

              (A)  the corporation shall not indemnify any officer or director of the corporation who was a party to any completed action or suit instituted by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager or agent of another corporation (domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in respect of any claim, issue or matter asserted in such action or suit as to which he shall have been adjudged to be liable for acting with reckless disregard for the best interests of the corporation or misconduct (other than negligence) in the performance of his duty to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County, Ohio or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite such adjudication of liability, and in view of all the circumstances of the case, he is fairly and reasonably entitled to such indemnity as such Court of Common Pleas or such other court shall deem proper; and

              (B)  the corporation shall promptly make any such unpaid indemnification as is determined by a court to be proper as contemplated by this Section 5.02.

             Section 5.03. Indemnification for Expenses.     Anything contained in the Regulations or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding, to the extent that an officer or director of the corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 5.01, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be promptly indemnified by the corporation against expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees, filing fees, court reporters' fees and transcript costs) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.

             Section 5.04. Determination Required.     Any indemnification required under Section 5.01 and not precluded under Section 5.02 shall be made by the corporation only upon a determination that such indemnification of the officer or director is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01. Such determination may be made only (A) by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors of the corporation who were not and are not parties to, or threatened with, any such action, suit or proceeding, or (B) if such a quorum is not obtainable or if a majority of a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, in a written opinion by independent legal counsel other than an attorney, or a firm having associated with it an attorney, who has been retained by or who has performed services for the corporation, or any person to be indemnified, within the past five years, or (C) by the shareholders, or (D) by the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County, Ohio or (if the corporation is a party thereto) the court in which such action, suit or proceeding was brought, if any; any such determination may be made by a court under division (D) of this Section 5.04 at any time [including, without limitation, any time before, during or after the time when any such determination may be requested of, be

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    under consideration by or have been denied or disregarded by the disinterested directors under division (A) or by independent legal counsel under division (B) or by the shareholders under division (C) of this Section 5.04]; and no failure for any reason to make any such determination, and no decision for any reason to deny any such determination, by the disinterested directors under division (A) or by independent legal counsel under division (B) or by the shareholders under division (C) of this Section 5.04 shall be evidence in rebuttal of the presumption recited in Section 5.01. Any determination made by the disinterested directors under division (A) or by independent legal counsel under division (B) of this Section 5.04 to make indemnification in respect of any claim, issue or matter asserted in an action or suit threatened or brought by or in the right of the corporation shall be promptly communicated to the person who threatened or brought such action or suit, and within ten (10) days after receipt of such notification such person shall have the right to petition the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County, Ohio or the court in which such action or suit was brought, if any, to review the reasonableness of such determination.

             Section 5.05. Advances for Expenses.     Expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees, filing fees, court reporters' fees and transcript costs) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 5.01 shall be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding to or on behalf of the officer or director promptly as such expenses are incurred by him, but only if such officer or director shall first agree, in writing, to repay all amounts so paid in respect of any claim, issue or other matter asserted in such action, suit or proceeding in defense of which he shall not have been successful on the merits or otherwise:

              (A)  if it shall ultimately be determined as provided in Section 5.04 that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as provided under Section 5.01; or

              (B)  if, in respect of any claim, issue or other matter asserted by or in the right of the corporation in such action or suit, he shall have been adjudged to be liable for acting with reckless disregard for the best interests of the corporation or misconduct (other than negligence) in the performance of his duty to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County, Ohio or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite such adjudication of liability, and in view of all the circumstances, he is fairly and reasonably entitled to all or part of such indemnification.

             Section 5.06. Article FIVE Not Exclusive.     The indemnification provided by this Article FIVE shall not be exclusive of, and shall be in addition to, any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification may be entitled under the Articles, the Regulations, any agreement, a vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be an officer or director of the corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such a person.

             Section 5.07. Insurance.     The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection, including but not limited to trust funds, letters of credit, or self-insurance, on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation (domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the obligation or the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article

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    FIVE. Insurance may be purchased from or maintained with a person in which the corporation has a financial interest.

             Section 5.08. Certain Definitions.     For purposes of this Article FIVE, and as examples and not by way of limitation:

              (A)  A person claiming indemnification under this Article FIVE shall be deemed to have been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 5.01, or in defense of any claim, issue or other matter therein, if such action, suit or proceeding shall be terminated as to such person, with or without prejudice, without the entry of a judgment or order against him, without a conviction of him, without the imposition of a fine upon him and without his payment or agreement to pay any amount in settlement thereof (whether or not any such termination is based upon a judicial or other determination of the lack of merit of the claims made against him or otherwise results in a vindication of him); and

              (B)  References to an "other enterprise" shall include employee benefit plans; references to a "fine" shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to "serving at the request of the corporation" shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best interests of the corporation" within the meaning of that term as used in this Article FIVE.

             Section 5.09. Venue.     Any action, suit or proceeding to determine a claim for indemnification under this Article FIVE may be maintained by the person claiming such indemnification, or by the corporation, in the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County, Ohio. The corporation and (by claiming such indemnification) each such person consent to the exercise of jurisdiction over its or his person by the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County, Ohio in any such action, suit or proceeding.

        In addition, the Registrant has purchased insurance coverage which insures directors and officers against certain liabilities which might be incurred by them in such capacities.

 

Item 7.    Exemption from Registration Claimed.

        Not applicable.

 

Item 8.    Exhibits.

        See the Index to Exhibits attached hereto at page 12.

 

Item 9.    Undertakings.

        A.    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

    (1)
    To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

    (i)
    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

    (ii)
    To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,

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        individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; and

      (iii)
      To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

      provided, however, that paragraphs A(1)(i) and A(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

    (2)
    That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

    (3)
    To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

        B.    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

        C.    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6 of this Part II, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Columbus, State of Ohio, on the 24th day of June, 2004.

    AIRNET SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/  
JOEL E. BIGGERSTAFF       
Joel E. Biggerstaff
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated, on the 24th day of June, 2004.

Name
  Title

 

 

 
/s/   JOEL E. BIGGERSTAFF       
Joel E. Biggerstaff
  Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer,
President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/  
GARY W. QUALMANN       
Gary W. Qualmann

 

Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and
Secretary (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/  
DENISE D. BROWN       
Denise D. Brown

 

Controller and Principal Accounting Officer

/s/  
*RUSSELL M. GERTMENIAN       
Russell M. Gertmenian

 

Director

/s/  
*DAVID P. LAUER       
David P. Lauer

 

Director

/s/  
*BRUCE D. PARKER       
Bruce D. Parker

 

Director

/s/  
*JAMES E. RIDDLE       
James E. Riddle

 

Director
*
By Joel E. Biggerstaff pursuant to Powers of Attorney executed by the directors and officers listed above, which Powers of Attorney have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


 

 

 
/s/   JOEL E. BIGGERSTAFF       
Joel E. Biggerstaff, Attorney-in-Fact
   

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.
  Description of Exhibit
*4   AirNet Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (reflects amendments through June 4, 2004)

*5

 

Opinion of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, counsel to Registrant

*23.1

 

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

*23.2

 

Consent of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Please LLP, counsel to Registrant, filed as part of Exhibit 5 hereto

*24

 

Powers of Attorney Executed by Directors and Officers of AirNet Systems, Inc.

*
Filed herewith

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QuickLinks

PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SIGNATURES
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 

 

Exhibit 4


AIRNET SYSTEMS, INC.
2004 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
[Reflects amendments through June 4, 2004]

1.00    PURPOSE

This Plan is intended to foster and promote the long-term financial success of the Company and to materially increase shareholder value [1] by providing Employees and Eligible Directors an opportunity to acquire an ownership interest in the Company, and [2] enabling the Company to attract and retain the services of outstanding Employees and Eligible Directors upon whose judgment, interest and special efforts the successful conduct of the Company's business is largely dependent.

2.00    DEFINITIONS

        When used in this Plan, the following terms have the meanings given to them in this Section 2.00 unless another meaning is expressly provided elsewhere in this Plan or clearly required by the context. When applying these definitions, the form of any term or word will include any of its other forms.

2.01    Act.     The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

2.02    Affiliated SAR.     An SAR that is granted in conjunction with an Option and which is always deemed to have been exercised at the same time that the related Option is exercised. The deemed exercise of an Affiliated SAR will not reduce the number of shares of Stock subject to the related Option, except to the extent of the exercise of the related Option.

2.03    Annual Meeting.     The annual meeting of the Company's shareholders.

2.04    Award.     Any Incentive Stock Option, Nonstatutory Stock Option, Restricted Stock, Performance Share, Performance Unit or SAR granted under the Plan. During any single Plan Year, no Participant may be granted Options affecting more than 200,000 shares of Stock (adjusted as provided in Section 5.03), Restricted Stock affecting more than 200,000 shares of Stock (adjusted as provided in Section 5.03), Performance Shares affecting more than 200,000 shares of Stock (adjusted as provided in Section 5.03), Performance Units affecting more than 200,000 shares of Stock (adjusted as provided in Section 5.03) and SARs affecting more than 200,000 shares of Stock (adjusted as provided in Section 5.03), including Options, Restricted Stock, Performance Shares, Performance Units and SARs that are cancelled [or deemed to have been cancelled under Treas. Reg. §1.162-27(e)(2)(vi)(B)] during the Plan Year granted. Any Right to Purchase or any shares of Stock issued pursuant to Section 10.00 of this Plan will not constitute an "Award."

2.05    Award Agreement.     The written agreement between the Company and each Participant that describes the terms and conditions of each Award.

2.06    Beneficiary.     The person a Member designates to receive (or exercise) any Plan benefits (or rights) that are unpaid (or unexercised) when he or she dies. A Beneficiary may be designated only by following the procedures described in Section 14.02; neither the Company nor the Committee is required to infer a Beneficiary from any other source.

2.07    Board.     The Company's Board of Directors.

2.08    Cash Account.     An account established for each Participant who elects to participate in an Offering to which amounts withheld through payroll deductions will be credited to purchase shares of Stock under the provisions of Section 10.00.



2.09    Cause.     Unless the Committee specifies otherwise in the Award Agreement, with respect to any Participant:

2.10    Code.     The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations issued under the Code and any applicable rulings issued under the Code.  

2.11    Committee.

2.12    Company.     AirNet Systems, Inc., an Ohio corporation, and any and all successors to it.

2.13    Director Option.     A Nonstatutory Stock Option granted to an Eligible Director under Section 6.05.

2.14    Disability.     Unless the Committee specifies otherwise in any applicable Award Agreement:

2.15    Effective Date.     The date this Plan is approved by the Company's shareholders.

2.16    Eligible Director.     An individual who, on an applicable Grant Date [1] is an elected member of the Board (or has been appointed to the Board to fill an unexpired term and will continue to serve at the expiration of that term only if elected by the Company's shareholders) and [2] is not an Employee. For purposes of applying this definition, an Eligible Director's status will be determined as of the Grant Date applicable to each affected Award.

2.17    Employee.     Any individual who, on an applicable Grant Date, is a common law employee of the Company or any Subsidiary. A worker who is classified as other than a common law employee but who is subsequently reclassified as a common law employee of the Company or any Subsidiary for any reason and on any basis will be treated as a common law employee only from the date of that determination and will not retroactively be reclassified as an Employee for any purpose of this Plan.  

2.18    Exercise Price.     The price at which a Member may exercise an Award.

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2.19    Fair Market Value.     The value of one share of Stock on any relevant date, determined under the following rules:

2.20    Freestanding SAR.     An SAR that is not associated with an Option and is granted under Section 9.00.

2.21    Grant Date.     The date an Award is granted to a Participant.

2.22    Key Employee.     Any Employee who, on any applicable Grant Date, is performing services the Committee concludes are essential to the Company's business success and to whom the Committee has granted an Award.

2.23    Member.     Each Participant and Terminated Participant to whom an Award has been granted, which Award has not expired under the terms of the Award Agreement or as provided in Section 11.00 and each Participant to whom Rights to Purchase have been granted, which Rights to Purchase have not been exercised or terminated as provided in Section 10.00.

2.24    Nonstatutory Stock Option.     Any Option granted under Section 6.00 that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

2.25    Offering.     An opportunity provided by the Committee to purchase shares of Stock under the provisions of Section 10.00. Offerings may be consecutive or concurrent, as determined by the Committee. The Committee will designate the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be purchased under each Offering. Shares of Stock not sold under one Offering may be offered again in any subsequent Offering.

2.26    Offering Effective Date.     The first business day of the month designated by the Committee as the start of the Offering Period applicable to an Offering.

2.27    Offering Period.     The duration of an Offering, as designated by the Committee. The Offering Period for any Offering will not exceed 12 months.

2.28    Option.     The right granted under the Plan to purchase a share of Stock at a stated price for a specified period of time. An Option may be either [1] an Incentive Stock Option or [2] a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

2.29    Participant.     Any Key Employee or Eligible Director who has not Terminated. In addition, for purposes of Section 10.00, the term "Participant" will include any Employee who has satisfied the requirements of Section 10.00 to acquire shares of Stock under this Plan.

2.30    Performance Goal.     The conditions that must be met before a Key Employee will earn a Performance Share or a Performance Unit or, if the Committee so determines, the conditions that must be met before a Key Employee or an Eligible Director will earn shares of Restricted Stock.

2.31    Performance Period.     The period over which the Committee will determine if applicable Performance Goals have been met; provided such period in any event will be at least one year.

2.32    Performance Share.     An Award granted under Section 8.00, which is paid in Stock.

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2.33    Performance Unit.     An Award granted under Section 8.00, which is paid in cash.

2.34    Plan.     The AirNet Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.

2.35    Plan Year.     The Company's fiscal year.

2.36    Restricted Stock.     An Award granted under Section 7.00.

2.37    Restriction Period.     The period over which the Committee will determine if a Key Employee or an Eligible Director has met the conditions, including, without limitation, Performance Goals, placed on Restricted Stock; provided such period will in any event be at least one year and provided, further, that if the conditions are solely time-based, such period will be at least five years.

2.38    Retirement.     Unless the Committee specifies otherwise in any applicable Award Agreement, the date:

For purposes of applying this definition, a Participant's status as a Key Employee or an Eligible Director will be determined as of the Grant Date applicable to the affected Award.

2.39    Right to Purchase.     An option to purchase shares of Stock granted to a Participant who elects to participate in an Offering under the provisions of Section 10.00. A Right to Purchase granted for an Offering will terminate following the close of business on the Right to Purchase Date for that Offering to the extent that such Right to Purchase is not exercised on such Right to Purchase Date.

2.40    Right to Purchase Date.     The last business day of an Offering Period to purchase shares of Stock under the provisions of Section 10.00.

2.41    SEC.     The Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto, including the staff thereof.

2.42    Share Account.     An account established for each Participant in an Offering who exercises a Right to Purchase under Section 10.00. A Participant's Share Account will be credited with the number of shares of Stock purchased on each Right to Purchase Date and debited for the number of shares of Stock withdrawn by the Participant after such date.

2.43    Stock.     The common shares, $0.01 par value, of the Company.

2.44    Stock Appreciation Right (or "SAR").     An Award granted under Section 9.00 that is a Tandem SAR, an Affiliated SAR or a Freestanding SAR.

2.45    Subsidiary.     Any corporation, partnership or other form of unincorporated entity of which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock, if the entity is a corporation; or of the capital or profits interest, if the entity is a partnership or another form of unincorporated entity.

2.46    Tandem SAR.     An SAR that is associated with an Option and which expires when that Option expires or is exercised, as described in Section 9.00.

2.47    Termination or Terminated.     Unless the Committee specifies otherwise in any applicable Award Agreement, [1] cessation of the employee-employer relationship between an Employee and the

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Company and all Subsidiaries for any reason or [2] cessation of an Eligible Director's service on the Board (and the boards of directors of all Subsidiaries) for any reason.

3.00    PARTICIPATION

3.01    Terms of Participation.

3.02    Conditions of Participation.     Each Participant receiving an Award agrees:

4.00    ADMINISTRATION

4.01    Committee Duties.     The Committee is responsible for administering the Plan and is granted all powers appropriate and necessary to administer the Plan. Consistent with the Plan's objectives, the Committee may adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to the extent appropriate to protect the Company's interests and has complete discretion to make all other decisions (including whether a Participant has incurred a Disability or been Terminated for Cause) necessary or advisable for the administration and interpretation of the Plan. Any action by the Committee will be final, binding and conclusive for all purposes and upon all persons.

4.02    Delegation of Ministerial Duties.     In its sole discretion, the Committee may delegate any ministerial duties associated with the Plan to any individual or entity (including Employees) that it deems appropriate.

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4.03    Award Agreement.     At the time any Award is made, the Committee will prepare and deliver an Award Agreement to each affected Participant. The Award Agreement:

4.04    Restriction on Repricing.     Regardless of any other provision of this Plan, neither the Company nor the Committee may "reprice" (as defined under rules adopted by the national securities exchange or other recognized market or quotation system upon or through which the Stock then is listed or traded) any Option without the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company.

5.00    STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN

5.01    Number of Shares of Stock.     Subject to Section 5.03, the number of shares of Stock available for delivery under the Plan may not be greater than 1,000,000. The shares of Stock to be delivered under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of treasury Stock or authorized but unissued Stock not reserved for any other purpose.

5.02    Cancelled, Terminated or Forfeited Awards.     Any Stock subject to an Award or Right to Purchase that, for any reason, is cancelled, terminated or otherwise settled without the issuance of any Stock or cash may again be granted under the Plan. Any Performance Share or share of Restricted Stock that has been issued to a Participant under the Plan and is subsequently forfeited pursuant to the terms of the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement will be forfeited to and acquired by the Company as treasury Stock and may again be granted under the terms of the Plan.

5.03    Adjustment in Capitalization.     If, after the Effective Date, there is a Stock dividend or Stock split, recapitalization (including, without limitation, the payment of an extraordinary dividend), merger, consolidation, combination, spin-off, distribution of assets to shareholders, exchange of shares, or other similar corporate change affecting Stock, the Committee will appropriately adjust [1] the number of shares of Stock which may be delivered under the Plan, [2] the number of Awards that may or will be issued to Participants during a Plan Year, [3] the number of shares of Stock subject to outstanding Awards (as well as any share-based limits imposed under this Plan), [4] the respective Exercise Price, number of shares and other limitations applicable to outstanding or subsequently issued Awards, [5] the number of shares of Stock and the purchase price per share subject to purchase under Section 10.00 of the Plan and [6] any other factors, limits or terms affecting any outstanding or subsequently issued Awards.

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6.00 OPTIONS

6.01    Grant of Options.     The Committee may grant Options to Key Employees at any time during the term of this Plan. Options granted to Key Employees may be either [1] Incentive Stock Options or [2] Nonstatutory Stock Options.

6.02    Option Price.     Subject to Section 6.05, each Option will bear the Exercise Price the Committee specifies in the Award Agreement. However:

6.03    Exercise of Options.     Subject to Section 11.00, Options granted to a Key Employee under Section 6.01 may be exercised at the times and subject to the restrictions and conditions (including a vesting schedule) that the Committee specifies in the Award Agreement. However:

6.04    Incentive Stock Options.     Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary:

6.05    Director Options.

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6.06    Payment for Options.     Unless the Committee specifies otherwise in the Award Agreement, the Exercise Price associated with each Option must be paid in cash. However, the Committee may, in its discretion, develop, and extend to some or all Members, procedures through which Members may pay an Option's Exercise Price, including allowing a Member to tender Stock he or she already has owned for at least six months before the exercise date, either by actual delivery of the previously owned Stock or by attestation, valued at its Fair Market Value on the exercise date, as partial or full payment of the Exercise Price.

6.07    Transferability of Stock.     Unless the Committee specifies otherwise in the Award Agreement, Stock acquired through an Option will be transferable, subject to applicable federal securities laws, the

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requirements of any national securities exchange or other recognized market or quotation system upon or through which the Stock is then listed or traded, or any applicable blue sky or state securities laws.

7.00    RESTRICTED STOCK

7.01    Restricted Stock Grants.     The Committee may grant Restricted Stock to Key Employees or Eligible Directors at any time during the term of this Plan. The Committee also will include in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement applicable restrictions, which may vary between Key Employees and Eligible Directors, may be different each time a Restricted Stock Award is made and may be either time-based or subject to the Performance Goals described in Section 8.02[2] or both.

7.02    Transferability.     Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Restriction Period. Restricted Stock normally will be held by the Company as escrow agent during the Restriction Period and will be distributed as described in Section 7.03. However, at any time during the Restriction Period, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, issue Restricted Stock (provided such Restricted Stock is not subject to Performance Goals) to a Key Employee or an Eligible Director in the form of certificates containing a legend describing restrictions imposed on such Restricted Stock.

7.03    Removal of Restrictions.     As of the end of each Restriction Period:

Shares of Restricted Stock will be:

7.04    Rights Associated with Restricted Stock.     During the Restriction Period:

8.00.    PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS

8.01    Performance Shares and Performance Unit Grants.     The Committee may grant Performance Shares or Performance Units to Key Employees at any time during the term of this Plan.  

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8.02    Performance Criteria.

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8.03    Earning Performance Shares and Performance Units.     As of the end of each Performance Period, the Committee will certify to the Board the extent to which each Participant has or has not met his or her Performance Goal. Performance Shares or Performance Units will be:

8.04    Rights Associated with Performance Shares.     During the Performance Period, and unless the Award Agreement provides otherwise:

9.00    STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

9.01    SAR Grants.     Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee may grant Affiliated SARs, Freestanding SARs and Tandem SARs (or a combination of each) to Key Employees at any time during the term of this Plan.

9.02    Exercise Price.     Unless the Committee specifies otherwise in the Award Agreement, the Exercise Price specified in the Award Agreement will:

9.03    Exercise of Affiliated SARs.     Affiliated SARs will be deemed to be exercised on the date the related Option is exercised. However:

9.04    Exercise of Freestanding SARs.     Freestanding SARs will be exercisable subject to the terms specified in the Award Agreement.

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9.05    Exercise of Tandem SARs.     Tandem SARs may be exercised with respect to all or part of the shares of Stock subject to the related Option by surrendering the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option. A Tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to the shares of Stock for which its related Option is then exercisable. However:

9.06        Settling SARs.

At the discretion of the Committee, the value of any Tandem SAR or Freestanding SAR being exercised will be settled in cash, shares of Stock or any combination of both.

10.00    STOCK PURCHASE PROGRAM

10.01    Eligibility.     Each Employee whose employment with the Company or a Subsidiary commenced prior to an Offering Effective Date will be eligible to participate in the Offering which is applicable to such Offering Effective Date. Nothing contained herein and no rules and regulations prescribed by the Committee may permit or deny participation in any Offering contrary to the requirements of the Code (including, without limitation, Code §§ 423(b)(3), 423(b)(4) and 423(b)(8)). Nothing contained herein and no rules and regulations prescribed by the Committee may permit any Participant to be granted a Right to Purchase:

For purposes of Section 10.01[1] above, the provisions of Code § 424(d) will apply in determining the stock ownership of each Participant. For purposes of Section 10.01[2] above, the provisions of Code § 423(b)(8) will apply in determining whether a Participant's Rights to Purchase and other rights are permitted to accrue at a rate in excess of the permitted rate.

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10.02    Purchase Price.     The purchase price for a share of Stock under each Offering will be determined by the Committee prior to the Offering Effective Date and will be stated as a percentage of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on either the Right to Purchase Date or the Offering Effective Date, whichever is the lesser, but the purchase price may not be less than the lesser of 85 percent of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock as of the Offering Effective Date or 85 percent of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock as of the Right to Purchase Date for the Offering.

10.03    Participation in Offerings.     Except as may be otherwise provided for herein, each Employee who is eligible for and elects to participate in an Offering will be granted Rights to Purchase for as many shares of Stock as the Participant may elect to purchase during that Offering, to be paid by payroll deductions during such period. The Committee will establish administrative rules and regulations regarding the payroll deduction process for this Section 10.00, including, without limitation, minimum and maximum permissible deductions; the timing for initial elections, changes in elections and suspensions of elections during an Offering Period; and the complete withdrawal by a Participant from an Offering. Amounts withheld through payroll deductions under this Section 10.03 will be credited to each Participant's Cash Account. Such amounts will be delivered to a custodian for the Plan and held pending the purchase of shares of Stock as described in Section 10.05. Amounts held in a Participant's Cash Account will not bear interest. If a Participant withdraws entirely from an Offering (pursuant to rules established by the Committee), the Participant's Cash Account balance will not be used to purchase shares of Stock on the Right to Purchase Date. Instead, the portion of the Cash Account equal to the Participant's payroll deductions under the Plan during the Offering Period will be refunded to the Participant without interest. Such a Participant will not be eligible to re-enroll in that Offering, but may resume participation on the Offering Effective Date for the next Offering. In addition, the Committee may impose such other restrictions on the right to withdraw from Offerings as it may deem appropriate.

10.04    Grant of Rights to Purchase.     Rights to Purchase with respect to shares of Stock will be granted to Participants who elect to participate in an Offering. Such Rights to Purchase may be exercised on the Right to Purchase Date applicable to the Offering. The number of shares of Stock subject to Rights to Purchase on each Right to Purchase Date may not exceed the number of shares of Stock authorized for issuance during the applicable Offering.

10.05    Exercise of Rights to Purchase.     Each Right to Purchase will be exercised on the applicable Right to Purchase Date. Each Participant automatically and without any act on the Participant's part will be deemed to have exercised a Right to Purchase on each Right to Purchase Date to purchase the number of whole and fractional shares of Stock which the amount in his or her Cash Account at that time is sufficient to purchase at the applicable purchase price. Any remaining amount credited to a Participant's Cash Account after such application will remain in such Participant's Cash Account for use in the next Offering unless withdrawn by the Participant. The Company will deliver to the custodian of the Plan as soon as practicable after each Right to Purchase Date a certificate for the total number of shares of Stock purchased by all Participants on such Right to Purchase Date. The custodian will allocate the proper number of shares of Stock to the Share Account of each Participant. If the aggregate Cash Account balances of all Participants on any Right to Purchase Date exceed the amount required to purchase all of the shares of Stock subject to Rights to Purchase on that Right to Purchase Date, then the shares of Stock subject to Rights to Purchase will be allocated pro rata among the Participants in the proportion that the number of shares of Stock subject to Rights to Purchase bears to the number of shares of Stock that could have been purchased with such aggregate amount available, if an unlimited number of shares of Stock were available for purchase. Any balances remaining in Participants' Cash Accounts due to over subscription will remain in the Participants' Cash Accounts for use in the next Offering unless withdrawn by the respective Participants.

10.06    Withdrawals from Share Accounts and Dividend Reinvestment.     A Participant may withdraw the shares of Stock credited to the Participant's Share Account on a first-in-first-out basis. The

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Committee will establish rules and regulations governing such withdrawals. All cash dividends paid, if any, with respect to the shares of Stock credited to a Participant's Share Account will be added to the Participant's Cash Account and thereby will be applied to exercise Rights to Purchase for shares of Stock on the Right to Purchase Date next succeeding the date such cash dividends are paid by the Company. An election to leave shares of Stock with the custodian will constitute an election to apply the cash dividends with respect to such shares of Stock to the exercise of Rights to Purchase under this Section 10.00. Shares of Stock so purchased will be applied to the shares of Stock credited to each Participant's Share Account.

10.07    Termination.     If a Participant Terminates for any reason, including death, Disability, Retirement or other cause, his or her participation in this Section 10.00 of the Plan will automatically and without any act on his or her part terminate as of the date of Termination. As soon as practicable following the Participant's Termination, the Company will refund to such Participant (or Beneficiary, in the case of the Participant's death) any amount in the Participant's Cash Account which constitutes payroll deductions, without interest, and the custodian will deliver to such Participant (or Beneficiary) a share certificate issued in the Participant's (or Beneficiary's) name for the number of whole shares of Stock credited to the Participant's Share Account through prior Offerings.

10.08    Effect of Merger or Liquidation Involving the Company.     If the Company undergoes a merger or consolidation of the Company or reclassification of Stock or the exchange of Stock for the securities of another entity (other than a Subsidiary) that has acquired the Company's assets or which is in control [as defined in Code § 368(c)] of an entity that has acquired the Company's assets and the terms of the plan or agreement are binding on all holders of Stock (except to the extent that dissenting shareholders are entitled to relief under applicable law), then the Committee may, in connection with any such transaction, cancel each outstanding Right to Purchase and refund sums previously collected from Participants under the canceled Rights to Purchase, or, in its discretion, cause each Participant with outstanding Rights to Purchase to have his or her Rights to Purchase exercised immediately prior to such transaction and thereby the balance of his or her Cash Account applied to the purchase of shares of Stock at the purchase price in effect for that Offering, which would be treated as ending with the effective date of such transaction. The balances of the Cash Accounts not so applied will be refunded to the Participants, without interest.

11.00    TERMINATION/BUY OUT

11.01    Retirement.     Unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, all Awards, that are outstanding (whether or not then fully vested and exercisable) when a Participant Retires, will become fully vested and exercisable and may be exercised at any time before the earlier of [1] the expiration date specified in the Award Agreement or [2] 24 months (three months in the case of Incentive Stock Options) beginning on the Retirement date (or any shorter period specified in the Award Agreement).

11.02    Death or Disability.     Unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, all Awards, that are outstanding (whether or not then fully vested and exercisable) when a Participant Terminates because of death or Disability, will become fully vested and exercisable and may be exercised by the Participant or the Participant's Beneficiary at any time before the earlier of [1] the expiration date specified in the Award Agreement or [2] 24 months (12 months in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) beginning on the date of death or Termination because of Disability (or any shorter period specified in the Award Agreement).

11.03    Termination for Cause.     Unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, all Awards that are outstanding (whether or not then exercisable) if a Participant Terminates for Cause will be forfeited.

11.04    Termination for any Other Reason.     Unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement or subsequently, any Awards that are outstanding when a Participant Terminates for any reason not

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described in Sections 11.01 through 11.03 and which are then exercisable, or which the Committee has, in its sole discretion, decided to make exercisable, may be exercised at any time before the earlier of [1] the expiration date specified in the Award Agreement or [2] three months beginning on the date the Participant Terminates.

11.05    Limits on Exercisability/Forfeiture of Exercised Awards.     Regardless of any other provision of this Section 11.00 or the Plan and unless the Committee specifies otherwise in the Award Agreement, a Member who fails to comply with Sections 11.05[3] through [9] will:

The forfeiture described in Sections 11.05[1] and [2] will apply if the Member:

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11.06    Buy Out of Awards.     At any time, the Committee, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the affected Member, may cancel any or all outstanding Awards held by that Member, whether or not exercisable, by providing to that Member written notice ("Buy Out Notice") of its intention to exercise the rights reserved in this Section 11.06. If a Buy Out Notice is given, in the case of an Option, the Company also will pay to each affected Participant the difference between [1] the Fair Market Value of the Stock underlying each exercisable Option (or portion of an Option) to be cancelled and [2] the Exercise Price associated with each exercisable Option to be cancelled. With respect to any Award other than an Option, the Company will pay to each affected Participant the Fair Market Value of the Stock subject to the Award. However, unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, no payment will be made with respect to any Awards that are not exercisable when cancelled under this Section 11.06. The Company will complete any buy out made under this Section 11.06 as soon as administratively possible after the date of the Buy Out Notice. At the Committee's option, payment of the buy out amount may be made in cash, in whole shares of Stock or partly in cash and partly in shares of Stock. The number of whole shares of Stock, if any, included in the buy out amount will be determined by dividing the amount of the payment to be made in shares of Stock by the Fair Market Value as of the date of the Buy Out Notice.

12.00    MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SIMILAR EVENT

If the Company undergoes a merger or consolidation of the Company or reclassification of Stock or the exchange of Stock for the securities of another entity (other than a Subsidiary) that has acquired the Company's assets or which is in control [as defined in Code §368(c)] of an entity that has acquired the Company's assets and the terms of that plan or agreement are binding on all holders of Stock (except to the extent that dissenting shareholders are entitled to relief under applicable law), then: [a] all Options will become fully exercisable and each affected Participant will receive, upon payment of the Exercise Price, if applicable, securities or cash, or both, equal to those the Participant would have been entitled to receive under the Plan or Award Agreement if the Participant had already exercised the Options, [b] all SARs will become fully exercisable, [c] all restrictions on Restricted Stock will lapse; and [d] all Performance Goals associated with Restricted Stock, Performance Shares or Performance Units will be deemed to have been met and all Performance Periods accelerated.

13.00    AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION OF PLAN

The Board or the Committee may terminate, suspend or amend the Plan at any time without shareholder approval except to the extent that shareholder approval is required to satisfy applicable requirements imposed by [1] Rule 16b-3 under the Act, or any successor rule or regulation, [2] applicable provisions of the Code or [3] any national securities exchange or other recognized market or quotation system upon or through which the Company's securities are listed or traded. Also, no Plan amendment may [4] result in the loss of a Committee member's status as a "non-employee director" as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Act, or any successor rule or regulation, with respect to any employee benefit plan of the Company, [5] cause the Plan to fail to meet requirements imposed by Rule 16b-3 or [6] without the consent of the affected Member, adversely affect any Award issued before the amendment, modification or termination. However, nothing in this Section 13.00 will restrict the Committee's right to exercise the discretion retained in Section 11.06.

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14.00    MISCELLANEOUS

14.01    Assignability.     Except as described in this Section 14.01, an Award or Right to Purchase may not be transferred except by will or the laws of descent and distribution and, during the Member's lifetime, may be exercised only by the Member, the Member's guardian or legal representative. However, with the Committee's written consent (which may be withheld for any reason or for no reason), a Member or a specified group of Members may transfer Awards (other than Incentive Stock Options) to a revocable inter vivos trust, of which the Member is the settlor, or may transfer Awards (other than an Incentive Stock Option) to any member of the Member's immediate family, any trust, whether revocable or irrevocable, established solely for the benefit of the Member's immediate family, or any partnership or limited liability company whose only partners or members are members of the Member's immediate family ("Permissible Transferees"). Any Award transferred to a Permissible Transferee will continue to be subject to all of the terms and conditions that applied to the Award before the transfer and to any other rules prescribed by the Committee. A Permissible Transferee may not retransfer an Award except by will or the laws of descent and distribution and then only to another Permissible Transferee.

14.02    Beneficiary Designation.     Each Member may name a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to receive or to exercise any vested Award that is unpaid or unexercised at the Member's death. Each designation made will revoke all prior designations made by the same Member, must be made on a form prescribed by the Committee and will be effective only when filed in writing with the Committee. If a Member has not made an effective Beneficiary designation, the deceased Member's Beneficiary will be his or her surviving spouse or, if none, the deceased Member's estate. The identity of a Member's designated Beneficiary will be based only on the information included in the latest beneficiary designation form completed by the Member and will not be inferred from any other evidence.

14.03    No Guarantee of Employment or Participation.     Nothing in the Plan may be construed as:

14.04      Tax Withholding.

17


14.05    Indemnification.     Each individual who is or was a member of the Committee or of the Board will be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which he or she may be made a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to take action under the Plan as a Committee member and against and from any and all amounts paid, with the Company's approval, by him or her in settlement of any matter related to or arising from the Plan as a Committee member or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any action, suit or proceeding relating to or arising from the Plan against him or her as a Committee member, but only if he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the matter before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it in his or her own behalf. The right of indemnification described in this Section 14.05 is not exclusive and is independent of any other rights of indemnification to which the individual may be entitled under the Company's organizational documents, by contract, as a matter of law or otherwise.

14.06    No Limitation on Compensation.     Nothing in the Plan is to be construed to limit the right of the Company to establish other plans or to pay compensation to its employees or directors, in cash or property, in a manner not expressly authorized under the Plan.

14.07    Requirements of Law.     The grant of Awards and Rights to Purchase and the issuance of shares of Stock will be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and to all required approvals of any governmental agencies or national securities exchange, market or other quotation system. Also, no shares of Stock will be issued under the Plan unless the Company is satisfied that the issuance of those shares of Stock will comply with applicable federal and state securities laws. Certificates for shares of Stock delivered under the Plan may be subject to any stock transfer orders and other restrictions that the Committee believes to be advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC, any national securities exchange or other recognized market or quotation system upon or through which the Stock is then listed or traded, or any other applicable federal or state securities law. The Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any certificates issued under the Plan to make appropriate reference to restrictions within the scope of this Section 14.07.

14.08    Term of Plan.     The Plan will be effective upon its adoption by the Board and approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of voting stock present in person or represented by proxy at the first Annual Meeting occurring after the Board approves the Plan. Subject to Section 13.00, the Plan will continue until the tenth anniversary of the date it is adopted by the Board or approved by the Company's shareholders, whichever is earliest.

14.09    Governing Law.     The Plan, and all agreements hereunder, will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws (other than laws governing conflicts of laws) of the United States and the State of Ohio.

14.10    No Impact on Benefits.     Plan Awards are incentives designed to promote the objectives described in Section 1.00. Also, Awards are not compensation for purposes of calculating a Member's rights under any employee benefit plan.

18




QuickLinks

AIRNET SYSTEMS, INC. 2004 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN [Reflects amendments through June 4, 2004]
 
 

EXHIBIT 5

[Letterhead of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP]

         Writer's Direct Dial Number
(614) 464-6400

June 24, 2004

Board of Directors
AirNet Systems, Inc.
3939 International Gateway
Columbus, Ohio 43219

Gentlemen:

        We have acted as counsel to AirNet Systems, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof in order to register 1,000,000 common shares, $0.01 par value (the "Common Shares"), under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Rules and Regulations"), for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the AirNet Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

        In connection with rendering this opinion, we have examined an original or copy of, and have relied upon the accuracy of, without independent verification or investigation: (a) the Registration Statement; (b) the Plan; (c) the Company's Amended Articles, as currently in effect; (d) the Company's Code of Regulations, as currently in effect; and (e) certain corporate records of the Company, including resolutions adopted by the directors and by the shareholders of the Company. We have also relied upon such representations of the Company and officers of the Company and examined such authorities of law as we have deemed relevant as a basis for this opinion.

        In rendering this opinion, we have assumed, with your permission, the authenticity of all records, documents, agreements and certificates examined by us, the correctness of the information contained in all records, documents, agreements and certificates examined by us, the genuineness of all signatures, the authority of all persons entering and maintaining records or executing documents, agreements and certificates (other than persons executing documents, agreements and certificates on behalf of the Company), and the conformity to authentic originals of all items submitted to us as copies (whether certified, conformed, photostatic or by other electronic means) of records, documents, agreements or certificates.

        We have relied solely upon the examinations and inquiries recited herein, and, except for the examinations and inquiries recited herein, we have not undertaken any independent investigation to determine the existence or absence of any facts, and no inference as to our knowledge concerning such facts should be drawn.

        Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the further qualifications and limitations set forth below, as of the date hereof, we are of the opinion that the 1,000,000 Common Shares available for issuance under the Plan, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable award agreements, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, assuming compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.

        We are members of the Bar of the State of Ohio and do not purport to be experts in the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Ohio, including the applicable provisions of the Ohio Constitution and the reported judicial decisions interpreting those laws, and the United States of America.



        This opinion is based upon the laws and legal interpretations in effect, and the facts and circumstances existing, on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should any such law or legal interpretation be changed by legislative action, judicial interpretation or otherwise or should there be any change in such facts or circumstances.

        This opinion is furnished by us solely for the benefit of the Company in connection with the offering of the 1,000,000 Common Shares covered by the Registration Statement pursuant to the Plan and the filing of the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto. This opinion may not be relied upon by any other person or assigned, quoted or otherwise used without our specific written consent.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, we consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us therein. By giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the Rules and Regulations.


 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

/s/ Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

 

 

VORYS, SATER, SEYMOUR AND PEASE LLP

ETF/mre

2



 
 

EXHIBIT 23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan of AirNet Systems, Inc. of our report dated February 16, 2004, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of AirNet Systems, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/   ERNST & YOUNG LLP       

Columbus, Ohio
June 21, 2004





Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 

Exhibit 24  

POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer and director of AirNet Systems, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the registration of certain of its common shares for offering and sale pursuant to the AirNet Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, hereby constitutes and appoints Gary W. Qualmann as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Registration Statement on Form S-8 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange, and grants unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies and confirms all things that said attorney-in-fact and agent may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand as of the 22nd day of June, 2004.


 

 

/s/ JOEL E. BIGGERSTAFF

Joel E. Biggerstaff

POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer of AirNet Systems, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the registration of certain of its common shares for offering and sale pursuant to the AirNet Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, hereby constitutes and appoints Joel E. Biggerstaff as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Registration Statement on Form S-8 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange, and grants unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies and confirms all things that said attorney-in-fact and agent may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand as of the 22nd day of June, 2004.


 

 

/s/ GARY W. QUALMANN

Gary W. Qualmann

POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned officer of AirNet Systems, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the registration of certain of its common shares for offering and sale pursuant to the AirNet Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan hereby constitutes and appoints Joel E. Biggerstaff and Gary W. Qualmann, and each of them, as her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents for her and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Registration Statement on Form S-8 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange, and grants unto each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as she might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies and confirms all things that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set her hand as of the 22nd day of June, 2004.


 

 

/s/ DENISE D. BROWN

Denise D. Brown

POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of AirNet Systems, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the registration of certain of its common shares for offering and sale pursuant to the AirNet Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, hereby constitutes and appoints Joel E. Biggerstaff and Gary W. Qualmann, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Registration Statement on Form S-8 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange, and grants unto each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies and confirms all things that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand as of the 4th day of June, 2004.


 

 

/s/ RUSSELL M. GERTMENIAN

Russell M. Gertmenian

POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of AirNet Systems, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the registration of certain of its common shares for offering and sale pursuant to the AirNet Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, hereby constitutes and appoints Joel E. Biggerstaff and Gary W. Qualmann, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Registration Statement on Form S-8 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange, and grants unto each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies and confirms all things that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand as of the 4th day of June, 2004.


 

 

/s/ DAVID P. LAUER

David P. Lauer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of AirNet Systems, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the registration of certain of its common shares for offering and sale pursuant to the AirNet Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, hereby constitutes and appoints Joel E. Biggerstaff and Gary W. Qualmann, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Registration Statement on Form S-8 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange, and grants unto each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies and confirms all things that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand as of the 4th day of June, 2004.


 

 

/s/ BRUCE D. PARKER

Bruce D. Parker

POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of AirNet Systems, Inc., an Ohio corporation, which is about to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the registration of certain of its common shares for offering and sale pursuant to the AirNet Systems, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, hereby constitutes and appoints Joel E. Biggerstaff and Gary W. Qualmann, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Registration Statement on Form S-8 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange, and grants unto each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies and confirms all things that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand as of the 4th day of June, 2004.


 

 

/s/ JAMES E. RIDDLE

James E. Riddle