Current report filing

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

v3.22.4
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and applicable rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
On February 1, 2022, the Board of Directors approved a change of the Company’s fiscal year-end from September 30 to December 31. The Company’s 2022 fiscal year began on January 1, 2022 and will end on December 31, 2022. The results of the Company’s operations, its cash flows and related disclosures for the three months ended December 31, 2020 are unaudited.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, current business factors, and various other assumptions that the Company believes are necessary to consider to form a basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities, the recorded amounts of revenue and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company is subject to uncertainties such as the impact of future events, economic and political factors, and changes in the Company’s business environment; therefore, actual results could differ from these estimates. Accordingly, the accounting estimates used in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements will change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired, as additional information is obtained and as the Company’s operating environment evolves.
Changes in estimates are made when circumstances warrant. Such changes in estimates and refinements in estimation methodologies are reflected in reported results of operations; if material, the effects of changes in estimates are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. Significant estimates and assumptions by management include the allowance for doubtful accounts, the carrying value of long-lived assets, the fair value of intangible assets and goodwill, revenue recognition, contingencies, the provision for income taxes and related deferred tax accounts, and the fair value of stock options and other stock-based awards.
Reclassification
Reclassification
Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
Revenue Recognition and Cost of Revenue
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The core principle of the revenue standard is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods and services transferred to the customer. The following five steps are applied to achieve that core principle:
Step 1: Identify the contract with the customer
Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract
Step 3: Determine the transaction price
Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
Step 5: Recognize revenue when the Company satisfies a performance obligation
The Company does not have any significant contracts with customers requiring performance beyond delivery.
For Short Distance revenue, seats or monthly or annual flight passes are typically purchased using the Blade App and paid for principally via credit card transactions, wire, check, customer credit, and gift cards, with payments principally collected by the Company in advance of the performance of related services.
MediMobility Organ Transport and Jet products are typically purchased through our Flier Relations associates and our app and are paid for principally via checks, wires and credit card. Jet charter payments are typically collected at the time of booking, while MediMobility Organ Transport payments are generally collected after the performance of the related service in accordance with the client's payment terms. The revenue is recognized as the service is completed.
The Company initially records flight sales in its unearned revenue, deferring revenue recognition until the travel occurs. Unearned revenue from customer credit and gift card purchases is recognized as revenue when a flight is flown or upon the expiration of the gift card. Unearned revenue from the Company’s monthly commuter pass and annual pass is recognized ratably over the term of the pass. For travel that has more than one flight segment, the Company deems each segment as a separate performance obligation and recognizes revenue for each segment as travel occurs. Fees charged in association with add-on services or changes or extensions to non-refundable seats sold are considered part of the Company's passenger performance obligation. As such, those fees are deferred at the time of collection and recognized at the time the travel is provided.
Contract liability is defined as entity’s obligation to transfer goods or services to a customer for which the entity has received consideration (or the amount is due) from the customer. As of December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021, the Company's contract liability balance is $5,976 and $4,654, respectively. This balance consists of unearned revenue, prepaid monthly and annual flight passes, customer credits and gift card obligations. Unearned revenue represents principally the flight revenues received in advance of the actual flight. Customer credits represents unearned revenue for flight reservations that typically were cancelled for good reason by the customer. The customer has one year to use the credit as payment for a future flight with the Company. Gift cards represent prepayment of flight costs. The Company recognizes revenue for expired customer credits and gift cards upon expiration. The table below presents a roll forward of the contract liability balance:
Three Months Ended
December 31,
2021 2020
Balance, beginning of period $ 4,654  $ 3,973 
Additions 18,003  7,943 
Revenue recognized (16,681) (7,498)
Balance, end of period $ 5,976  $ 4,418 
For the three months ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized $1,934 of revenue that was included in the contract liability balance as of October 1, 2021. For the three months ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized $1,175 of revenue that was included in the contract liability balance as of October 1, 2020.

Certain governmental taxes are imposed on the Company's flight sales through a fee included in flight prices. The Company collects these fees and remits them to the appropriate government agency. These fees are excluded from revenue.
The Company’s quarterly financial data is subject to seasonal fluctuations. Historically, quarters ended June 30 and September 30 financial results have reflected higher Short Distance travel demand and were better than the quarters ended December 31 and March 31 quarter financial results.
Blade operates in three key lines of business:
Short Distance – Consisting primarily of flights: (i) between 40 and 100 miles in distance with prices between approximately $250 and $795 per seat and (ii) between New York area airports and dedicated Blade terminals in Manhattan’s heliports for $195 per seat (or $95 per seat with the purchase of an annual Airport Pass for $795). Flights are also available on a full aircraft charter basis. Prices per seat are presented at full dollar value and not rounded.
MediMobility Organ Transport and Jet – Consisting of transportation of human organs for transplant, non-medical jet charter and, by-the-seat, jet flights between New York and South Florida.
Other – Consists principally of revenues from ground transportation services and brand partners for exposure to Blade fliers.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue consists principally of flight costs paid to operators of aircraft under contractual arrangements with Blade and landing fees.
Software Development Costs for Internal Use
Software Development Costs for Internal Use
Costs incurred for the development of the Company’s internal use software are expensed as incurred.
Selling and Marketing and General and Administrative
Selling and Marketing

Selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of advertising costs, staff salaries and stock-based compensation, marketing expenses, and promotion costs. Advertising costs, which are included in “Selling and marketing expenses”, are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs were $1,022 and $193 for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses principally include personnel costs, stock-based compensation, facility fees, credit card processing fees, and professional fees.
Stock-based Compensation
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 establishes accounting for stock-based awards exchanged for employee and consultant services. Under the provisions of ASC 718, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant). The fair value of the Company’s stock options are estimated using the Black Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: fair value of the Company’s common stock, expected volatility, dividend rate, risk free interest rate, and the expected life. The Company calculates the expected volatility using the historical volatility for a pool of peer companies over the most recent period equal to the expected term and evaluates the extent to which available information indicate that future volatility may differ from historical volatility. The expected dividend rate is zero as the Company does not expect to pay or declare any cash dividends on its common stock. The risk-free rates for the expected terms of the stock options are based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The Company determined the expected term of its stock option awards issued using the simplified method due to insufficient historical experience at the time of the grant. The simplified method assumes each vesting tranche of the award has a term equal to the midpoint between when the award vests and when the award expires. The Company recognizes forfeitures at the time the forfeiture occurs.
Restricted stock awards are granted at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors. These awards are restricted as to the transfer of ownership and generally vest over the requisite service period.
Income Taxes
Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements or in the Company’s tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined on the basis of the differences between U.S. GAAP treatment and tax treatment of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded in the provision for income taxes. The Company assesses the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and, to the extent it believes, based upon the weight of available evidence, that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is established through a charge to income tax expense. Potential for recovery of deferred tax assets is evaluated by considering taxable income in carryback years, existing taxable temporary differences, prudent and feasible tax planning strategies and estimated future taxable profits.

Each period, the Company analyzes whether it is more-likely-than-not that tax positions will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the positions. In evaluating whether a tax position has met the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Company presumes that the position will be examined by the appropriate taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. When differences exist between tax positions taken in a tax return and amounts meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the Company will record an uncertain tax position, resulting in one or more of the following: an increase in a liability for income taxes payable, a reduction of an income tax refund receivable, a reduction in a deferred tax asset, or an increase in a deferred tax liability. The Company records penalties and interest relating to uncertain tax positions as part of income tax expense. As of December 31, 2021, the Company has no unrecognized tax benefits. See Note 8 for additional information.
Net Income (Loss) per Common Share
Net Income (Loss) per Common Share
The Company has granted restricted stock awards with dividend rights that are considered to be participating securities. Accordingly, a portion of the Company’s earnings is allocated to those participating securities in the earnings per share (“EPS”) calculation under the two-class method. Basic earnings per common share is computed using the two-class method by dividing income available to common stockholders after the allocation of dividends and undistributed earnings to the participating securities by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated using the more dilutive of the treasury stock method or the two-class method. Diluted earnings per common share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised, and is computed after giving consideration to the weighted average dilutive effect of the Company’s stock options, warrants, and nonvested restricted stock, where applicable. Diluted EPS under the two-class method also considers the allocation of earnings to the participating securities. Antidilutive securities are disregarded in earnings per share calculations. Diluted EPS shown below reflects the two-class method, as diluted EPS under the two-class method was more dilutive than under the treasury stock method.
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less on their acquisition date as cash and cash equivalents. Restricted cash consists principally of Company funds on deposit with a financial institution, which supports a letter of credit by the financial institution in favor of the Company’s obligations to the United States Department of Transportation as well as deposits posted for collateral with certain of the Company’s vendors.
Short-Term Investments
Short-Term Investments
Short-term investments consist of highly-liquid investments available for sale. As of December 31, 2021, short-term investments consisted of available-for-sale, traded, debt securities funds, which are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported, net of tax, in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)”, unless unrealized losses are determined to be unrecoverable. Realized gains and losses on the sale of securities are determined by specific identification. The Company considers all available-for-sale securities as available to support current operational liquidity needs and, therefore, classifies all securities as current assets within short-term investments on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. These short-term investments are excluded from disclosure under “fair value of financial instruments” due to the Net Asset Value practical expedient.
Accounts Receivable Accounts ReceivableAccounts receivable consists principally of amounts due from the Company’s MediMobility organ transport customers, which are large hospitals that receive terms for payment. Receivables are reviewed on a regular basis for collectability.
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets Prepaid Expenses and Other Current AssetsPrepaid expenses include prepaid insurance, the costs of which are amortized on a straight-line basis over the related coverage periods, prepaid marketing supplies and prepayments to aircraft operators, which are expensed based upon usage or flight time.
Property and Equipment, Net Property and Equipment, NetProperty and equipment are carried at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed utilizing the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset. Leasehold improvements depreciation is computed over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the asset. Additions and improvements are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.
Acquisitions AcquisitionsThe Company accounts for acquisitions of entities or asset groups that qualify as businesses in accordance with ASC 805, “Business Combinations” (“ASC 805”). The purchase price of the acquisition is allocated to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over those fair values is recorded as goodwill. During the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.
Joint Venture
Joint Venture
Investments in joint arrangements are classified as joint ventures. Joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method. When the Company’s investment in the joint venture does not qualify for accounting under the equity method because the Company does not have sufficient control or influence, then, except as provided for below, the investment in the joint venture would be accounted for at fair value.
Specifically, ASC 321-10-35-2 states, in part, that an entity may measure an equity security without a readily determinable fair value that does not qualify for the practical expedient to estimate fair value in accordance with paragraph 820-10-35-59 at its cost minus impairment, if any. As such, Blade has recorded its investment in the joint venture at cost less impairment, if any. See Note 4 for additional information.
Intangible Assets, Net Intangibles Assets, NetThe Company has finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but are reviewed for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the asset may be impaired. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Following initial recognition of the finite-lived intangible asset, the asset is carried at cost less any accumulated amortization. Amortization of the asset begins when the asset is available for use. Amortization is recorded in general and administrative expenses on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. See Note 5 for additional information.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, except for goodwill and indefinite intangible assets, are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be fully recoverable. Impairment expense is recognized to the extent an asset’s expected undiscounted future cash flows are less than the asset’s carrying amount. There were no impairment charges during the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. As of December 31, 2021, the Company determined that long-lived assets were not impaired.
Goodwill
Goodwill
In testing goodwill for impairment, the Company has the option to begin with a qualitative assessment, commonly referred to as “Step 0”, to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit containing goodwill is less than its carrying value. This qualitative assessment may include, but is not limited to, reviewing factors such as macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, entity-specific financial performance and other events, such as changes in the Company’s management, strategy and primary customer base. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company performs a quantitative goodwill impairment analysis by comparing the carrying amount to the fair value of the reporting unit. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, goodwill will be written down to the fair value and recorded as impairment expense in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company performs its impairment testing annually and when circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. The Company performed its annual impairment assessment of goodwill as of December 31, 2021 and concluded that goodwill was not impaired.
Leases
Leases
Leases are recorded on the balance sheet as “right-of-use” assets and lease liabilities. Leases are classified as either operating or finance leases and lease expense is recognized within “General and administrative expenses.” As a lessee, for operating leases, total lease expense is recognized using a straight-line method. Finance leases are treated as the purchase of an asset on a financing basis. See Note 6 for additional information.
Warrant Liability
Warrant Liability
The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”) and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own common shares and whether the warrant holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of the Company’s control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent, quarterly, period-end date while the warrants are outstanding.
For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded at their initial fair value on the date of issuance and each balance sheet date thereafter. The Company accounts for the warrants issued in connection with its Initial Public Offering in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40-15-7D, under which the warrants do not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as liabilities. Accordingly, the Company classifies the warrants as liabilities at their fair value and adjusts the warrants to fair value at each reporting period. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. See Notes 11 and 12 for additional information.
Concentrations
Concentrations
Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consists principally of cash amounts on deposit with financial institutions. At times, the Company’s cash in banks is in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance corporation (“FDIC”) insurance limit. The Company has not experienced any loss as a result of these deposits.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements - Adopted
In December 2019, FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplification of Income Taxes (Topic 740) Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”). ASU 2019-12 simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify U.S. GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. ASU 2019-12 is effective for public companies for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of the ASU did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements - Not Adopted
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging— Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40). The objective of this update is to simplify the accounting for convertible preferred stock by removing the existing guidance in ASC 470-20, Debt: Debt with Conversion and Other Options, (“ASC 470-20”), that requires entities to account for beneficial conversion features and cash conversion features in equity, separately from the host convertible debt or preferred stock. The guidance in ASC 470-20 applies to convertible instruments for which the embedded conversion features are not required to be bifurcated from the host contract and accounted for as derivatives. In addition, the amendments revise the scope exception from derivative accounting in ASC 815-40 for freestanding financial instruments and embedded features that are both indexed to the issuer’s own stock and classified in stockholders’ equity, by removing certain criteria required for equity classification. These amendments are expected to result in more freestanding financial instruments qualifying for equity classification (and, therefore, not accounted for as derivatives), as well as fewer embedded features requiring separate accounting from the host contract. This amendment also further revises the guidance in ASU 260, Earnings per Share, to require entities to calculate diluted EPS for convertible instruments by using the if-converted method. In addition, entities must presume share settlement for purposes of calculating diluted EPS when an instrument may be settled in cash or shares. The amendments in ASU 2020-06 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2020-06 to have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Fair Value Measurements
The Company follows the guidance in ASC 820 for its financial assets and liabilities that are re-measured and reported at fair value at each reporting period, and non-financial assets and liabilities that are re-measured and reported at fair value at least annually.
The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1:    Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
Level 2:    Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
Level 3:    Unobservable inputs based on management’s assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.