Finding Value in Experience - Selecting The Right Charter Agent

In the past few years a number of new entrants have arrived in the jet charter industry. Many of these startups have little to no experience. Trusting an inexperienced jet charter broker to properly execute the demands of your charter flight leaves the critical aspects of your schedule at risk.

In general people who charter private aircraft do so for flexibility and convenience. For many air charter users, the time savings afforded through the use of a private jet more than justifies the expense. When time and convenience is a critical issue, a flawless execution is essential. That is why it is so important to find an experienced air charter agent you can trust, to manage your busy schedule. Understanding the differences in the focus of a given charter jet company will play a valuable role in selecting your next air charter agent.

Experienced air charter agents with in-depth knowledge of Federal Aviation Regulations and extensive experience consistently arrange better quality charter flights. Their long established industry relationships allow them to quickly and effectively mitigate complications as they arise. They provide air charter consumers with more security, fewer complications and a lower financial risk. While hiring an inexperienced jet charter broker could leave you standing on the tarmac.

One of the key benefits of working with an experienced jet charter agent is the supplementary flight support they can provide. Recently-established charter jet brokerages don’t have the necessary longevity or the essential industry relationships to provide the security of a backup aircraft for every charter flight. Stratos Jets, on the other hand, has the resources in place to provide you with multiple aircraft options. Our charter agents have been trained to evaluate the market and to put in place precautionary measures in the event a complication may arise. Taking the chance on working with a jet charter broker could compromise the objectives of your flight.

Another benefit of working with highly-experienced jet charter agents is their knowledge of aircraft operators that exceed industry standards for safety. This invaluable information can only be acquired through years of market research and experience in the industry. Respected private jet charter agencies also have the ability to impose their own safety measures on aircraft operators. Stratos Jets, for example, requires minimum crew experience, insurance levels and maintenance practices. These operators are held accountable for achieving these standards by safety audits conducted on every charter flight. Stratos Jets reputation for expert advice and charter agents with first-hand experience make them one of the most prestigious air charter agencies in the country.

When it comes to cost, seasoned charter professionals offer the lowest financial risk. They can provide the best pricing on the safest most well maintained aircraft. Aircraft operators generally offer charter jet agencies deeply discounted rates to those they value and trust. Relationships between air charter operators and agents take years to form. Air charter consumers can take advantage of long established industry relationships by hiring an agent from Stratos Jets.

Stratos Jets reputation for expert advice and charter agents with first-hand experience make them one of the most prestigious air charter agencies in the country. Their reputation as a leader in the business aviation industry was built on their commitment to excellence.

Differentiating Beyond Price – Your Tool Kit For Making Intelligent Jet Charter Decisions Part 2: Aircraft Maintenance

Part 2 - Aircraft Maintenance and Your Safety and Security During Jet Charter Flights

When you hire Stratos Jet Charters as your air charter agent, it is our job to identify all relevant aircraft, ensure the proper certification, maintenance and safety of each plane and to create a competitive market for your charter flight. While there are some charter brokers who may understand all facets of the air charter industry, there are others with limited aviation experience who place a priority on their profit, and your needs second.

Determining the motivation of the broker you are working with can be a difficult task. So in order to help you read “between the lines”, we are actively working to educate our clients. With your safety in mind, we have created this educational series, a “tool kit” to arm you with useful information that will help you make the best, most educated decisions when you are chartering your next flight.

Our first topic centered on the issue of aircraft insurance verification and how important is for your protection. Now we move to a second and equally critical topic, the issue of aircraft maintenance.
When it comes to the maintenance of a Part 135 aircraft, there are different programs that can be utilized, such as CAMP, AAIP, factory maintenance or in-house maintenance. Aircraft maintenance is a major component in the hourly rate of your private charter flight. While the FAA has strict guidelines on the standards of maintenance for charter aircraft, the quality of that maintenance can vary when comparing maintenance facilities. If you are working with a broker, do they know who does the maintenance on the aircraft you will be flying? And if the maintenance is done in-house, for example, does your broker know what type of experience and certification this crew possesses?

With charter brokers who are not in business for the “long haul”, not only will your level of customer service almost certainly be diminished, but they may be willing to take more risks when it comes to your charter flight and your safety.

In their pursuit of profits, they may choose an aircraft operator who is also running at the lowest possible margins to remain profitable. Operators who run at such tight margins inevitably run into problems down the road. They can only run “thin” for so long, before they are forced to cut corners; from routine maintenance, to paying the best pilots and even retaining a quality dispatch crew. The business philosophy of these operators doesn’t leave much, if any, leeway when it comes to the issue of aircraft maintenance. This is certainly not a situation that you, your family or business associates want when boarding your next charter flight. Knowing that the operator(s) that your charter broker selects aren’t experiencing any financial difficulties or cash flow problems can give you the confidence and peace of mind you want and need during your next charter flight.

This is why you should never choose a charter broker or an aircraft operator based on price, and price alone. The safety and security of the passengers must be the primary consideration for every charter flight.

When you choose to work with an air charter broker, you will want to inquire about the broker’s aviation industry experience and knowledge of Federal Aviation Regulations as well as ensure the air charter broker provides you with the information requested in this Stratos Jet Charters Aircraft Charter Purchasing Guide so that you will be familiar with the air charter operator(s) that may conduct your flight(s). If the air charter broker is unwilling or unable to provide you with this required information, you should consider working with another agent, such as Stratos Jet Charters, who can provide you with the necessary information.

Of course, sometimes there are legitimate mechanical issues or problems that will arise, ones that are not the result in any way of improper maintenance or cost-cutting measures. After all, these are extremely complex machines we are talking about! In these situations, how will your charter broker handle the situation? If there is a mechanical problem of this nature during a Stratos Jet Charters flight, you can rest assured that we have backup aircraft sourced and waiting on standby for you. Our promise to you is that we will have another aircraft ready and available to you within 4 hours. This is all just another part of our commitment to you – our invaluable clients!

Joel Thomas – President, Stratos Jet Charters