Posts Tagged ‘Air Charter FAA Part 135’

Stratos Jets Certified as Wyvern Broker

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

Stratos Jets is a certified Wyvern Broker and can verify that charter flights are "Wyvern-Compliant"

What is the single most important factor in choosing your air charter service provider? Is it the safety and reputation of the air carrier, or is it the overall price and value of the charter flight? As an air charter consumer, you never have to choose between safety and service, provided that you make informed, educated decisions each time you fly. At Stratos Jet Charters, our job as air charter agents is to connect you to the safest, most reputable aircraft operators with the longest track record for providing excellent service at fair market price.

Stratos Jets recently became one of the few certified Wyvern Brokers in the Wyvern Pilot & Aircraft Safety Survey (PASS) program. Wyvern, Ltd. is the global leader in aviation safety auditing, consulting and information services. Wyvern specializes in performing on-site, safety audits on charter operators, and has conducted more than 1,700 safety audits worldwide, using the most experienced and highly-trained auditors in the industry.

During a Wyvern on-site safety audit, also known as a “safety evaluation,” Part 135 air charter operators are measured against “The Wyvern Standard” — a globally recognized seal of aviation safety. The Wyvern Standard is a set of safety measurement criterion that far exceed government regulations for safe flight operations and aircraft maintenance.

The information that is collected and analyzed during a Wyvern safety audit is compiled and maintained in a database that is accessible to Wyvern Brokers, like Stratos Jets, through the PASS Report program. For Stratos Jets, the PASS report system enables our agents to generate individual safety reports, called PASS reports, on both Wyvern-recommended and non-recommended aircraft operators.

Each PASS report contains invaluable safety information regarding the aircraft operator, aircraft and flight crew of individual charter flights. The pilot experience check, for example, verifies that the flight crew of any given charter flight is fully certified, properly type-rated, has met the necessary flight time requirements and has current medical and training records.

Stratos Jets has the ability to provide third party audits on all Part 135 Jet Charters, who are fully registered Part 135 and Part 121 carriers. Although any charter broker can access the PASS report system, only Wyvern Brokers like Stratos Jets, have the ability to run a PASS report on each and every charter flight, providing our clients with a greater sense of safety assurance.

Stratos Jets has long been a leader in promoting safety and best practices in the air charter industry. We developed the Stratos Jets’ Approved Vendor Program (AVP) to form an exclusive network of Part 135 aircraft operators that meet our safety standards, which are considered the strictest and most stringent standards in the industry. We have furthered these efforts by requiring all of our approved vendors to pass a Wyvern PASS Report or ARG/US third-party safety audit before induction into our program.

Additionally, Stratos Jets is a long-standing member of the prestigious Air Charter Association of North America (ACANA), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting best practices and professionalism to air charter service providers. Wyvern has pledged its full support to ACANA, as do we at Stratos Jets. Our goal is to help ACANA further its mission of educating air charter consumers about the benefits of working with reliable and ethical service providers like Wyvern Brokers.

At Stratos Jets, we are very proud of our recent certification as a Wyvern Broker. One of the major benefits of our Wyvern Broker certifcation is that it will make it easier for our air charter agency to verify that every charter flight meets our safety standards, along with those established by the Wyvern Standard. We hope that our Wyvern Broker certification serves as further proof of our commitment to safety, best practices and transparency.

Contact Stratos Jets:

1.888.478.7286

info@stratosjets.com

www.stratosjets.com

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Understanding the Different Types of Air Travel, From Passenger to Cargo

Monday, August 8th, 2011

At Stratos Jet Charters, we are committed to the education of consumers when it comes to private, on demand air charter services, and also aviation in general. In light of this commitment, we would like to better explain the various types of passenger and cargo air travel.

To begin with, Civil Aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial. Most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and work together to establish common standards and recommended practices for civil aviation through this agency. Civil aviation includes two major categories:

General Aviation

General Aviation refers to all flights other than military and regularly scheduled airline and cargo flights, both private and commercial. The majority of the world’s air traffic falls into this category, and most of the world’s airports serve general aviation exclusively.

General aviation includes a wide range of flights, both commercial and non-commercial, such as air charter, private flying and flight training, police aircraft, air ambulance, aerial firefighting, and many other smaller categories.

In the United States, on demand jet charter services (also sometimes called “air taxi” services) are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). As described by the FAR: “Part 135 – Operating Requirements: Commuter and On Demand Operations and Rules Governing Persons on Board Such Aircraft”.

Scheduled Air Transport

Scheduled air transport includes all passenger and cargo flights that operate on regularly scheduled routes. The larger, scheduled airlines and air carriers that operate in the U.S. as well as worldwide are governed by the FAR – Part 121. As described by the FAR: “Part 121 – Operating Requirements: Domestic, Flag, and Supplemental Operations”.

It is important to note that Part 135 and 121 do not distinguish between type of aircraft used, but rather the type of activity done with the aircraft.

In general, Part 121 is more stringent on most aspects of operation than Part 135, though it should be noted that when followed to the letter, as members of ACANA (Air Charter Association of North America) such as Stratos Jets ensure on every flight, the level of safety and efficient operation is quite high.

Commercial aviation is the part of civil aviation (both general aviation and scheduled air transport) that involves operating aircraft for hire to transport passengers or cargo. A flight may be operated for money only if it meets three criteria:
The pilot must hold a valid commercial pilot’s certificate
The aircraft must hold a valid commercial registration
The operator must hold a certificate or some other authorization for commercial operations

Part 135 and On Demand Charter

As you have heard us mention before, at Stratos Jets we have become increasingly aware of those charter brokers who are far more interested in making a one-time profit than in developing a lasting relationship or providing an honest, reliable on demand charter service.

These low-cost charter brokers can offer rock bottom prices by ignoring critical safety and maintenance regulations required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Part 135 and the Department of Transportation (DOT). Consumers who fly with these brokers are likely to have negative experiences while flying privately, and will often choose not to utilize air charter services again, missing out on the many benefits afforded by private aviation.

Most Part 121 carriers offer “scheduled” travel services. Scheduled air travel consists of both large commercial airlines, and scheduled or “programmed” air charter services. This term applies to any regularly scheduled service, or “pre-planned programs” of flights, operating on a regular basis throughout a scheduling period.

Many (but not all) of Part 135 operators are categorized as “general air charter services” or “business aviation” providers. General air charter is utilized by individuals or groups as transport for personal, non-business-oriented needs, such as vacations or the need to conduct personal affairs in person.

Business aviation is defined as the sector of general aviation which concerns the operation or use of aircraft by companies for the “carriage of passengers or goods as an aid to the conduct of their business, and are piloted by individuals having, at a minimum, a valid commercial pilot license with an instrument rating”.
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Pros and Cons

Of course by their very nature – scheduled flights with commercial airlines or “programmed” private charter services give very little or zero flexibility in takeoff and arrival times right up front. This can create an automatic reduction in the value of the flight to you and your business or personal travel needs.

Similar to the issue of no flexibility in timing, scheduled and programmed flights also result in no flexibility in the choice of aircraft either. Although this may not be a major concern when considering travel with the major commercial airlines, when utilizing private jet charter this can present a big issue, especially on longer flights.

Your level of comfort, value and convenience can sometimes be so low that the decision to avoid private charter or business aviation services can be made.

As for a potential drawback of general air charter or business aviation services, although not a common occurrence, is that regularly scheduled services are given higher priority for takeoff and landing than on demand flights, in the event of a conflict arising between the two.

Private jet charter offers numerous benefits to those traveling for either business or pleasure. Whether you’re in a rush to an important meeting or you’re simply arranging a large family trip, a private jet charter is an excellent way to go. Why?

Airport Flexibility

With on demand charter, you’re able to select your own airport. And with smaller aircraft, the options expand dramatically as to which airports are available to use. You can skip crowded airports far from your actual destination and arrive only minutes away at many smaller or municipal airports. Stratos Jets can also arrange ground transportation, saving you the trouble of renting a car or finding alternative transportation to your destination.

Higher Security and Privacy

As you are traveling with your own party, a corporate jet does not require hours of security checks and the uncertainty of not knowing others on your plane. The flight crews of all private jet charters are also highly trained and accountable. FAA Part 135 ensures all aircraft safety, regulations, maintenance, and pilot licensure. To provide the best service possible, private jet charters meet or exceed Part 135 requirements.

And even in first class, there is no true privacy on a commercial aircraft. But on a jet charter, your team can prepare presentations or discuss important deals without the risk of being overheard. Sit back in comfortable chairs that face each other over a convenient table and use your time in the air constructively.

Enhanced Productivity

Much of the time spent at airports and in the air is wasted. You can spend hours working your way through security check points and waiting on delayed flights at the terminal. Even on the ground you may find yourself stuck in a plane waiting on a runway to clear or a gate to become available. Private jets are able to skip most or all of these delays, saving you both precious time and dollars.

Group Charter Opportunities

If you’re traveling with a large group, private jet charter may be surprisingly inexpensive. By chartering a private jet, you can travel with as many friends or colleagues as will fit in the aircraft, and use the time onboard to visit, work or conduct meetings, or just rest comfortably – virtually impossible on a traditional commercial flight.
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When taken in total, on demand private jet charter can be far more effective and convenient than commercial travel, providing benefits that simply cannot be duplicated. At Stratos Jet Charters, we would be happy to answer any additional questions you may have, or provide you with a quote on your next trip, and we look forward to showing you the highest level of personal service, safety and convenience that you will find anywhere, with any air charter agency.

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Shouldn’t Your Jet Charter Agent Be an ACANA member?

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

As a consumer of private aviation, you have a choice when it comes to selecting an air charter service provider. Having confidence in the jet charter agent you choose to do business with is an important part of this decision. In recent years, the air charter industry has expanded to include many, new charter brokerages. At Stratos Jet Charters, we have become increasingly aware of charter brokers who are more interested in making a one-time profit than in providing an honest, reliable charter service. These charter brokers offer rock-bottom prices for services that are likewise at the bottom. Consumers who fly with these brokers are not likely to fly privately again, and thus miss out on the benefits afforded by private aviation.

With these concerns in mind, Stratos Jets has taken an active leadership role in the Air Charter Association of North America (ACANA). ACANA, the industry’s first and only self-regulatory organization, is comprised of the finest and most reputable charter brokerages in North America. ACANA members work together to promote best practices and ethics to the growing number of charter brokers emerging throughout the industry. Stratos Jets, along with other ACANA members, adhere to the highest standards of integrity, ethics and professionalism, thereby setting the benchmark for excellence in the air charter industry. With that said, shouldn’t your jet charter agent be an ACANA member? In the following article, we will endeavor to explain the benefits of working with an ACANA professional.

Commitment to Best Practices and Professionalism

ACANA membership is exclusive: Only the finest and most well-established charter brokerages in North America are invited to join ACANA. ACANA members are specifically chosen for their excellent business structure, emphasis on consumer education, and most importantly, commitment to best practices and ethics. The stringent membership criteria of ACANA ensures that each member adheres to ACANA’s best practices and rules for professionalism. By working with an ACANA member, you can rest assured that your jet charter agency is among the finest in the industry.

Financial Stability and Health

ACANA was founded on the idea that every charter consumer deserves to have confidence in their charter service provider. For this reason, ACANA requires all prospective and current ACANA members to provide certified documentation that proves their financial stability and health as a company. As an ACANA member, we believe that the financial history and standing of your charter agent matters, both in terms of the assurances that you will receive what you have paid for and in the overall performance and quality of services you receive.

Adherence to FAA and DOT regulations

Unfortunately, low-cost charter brokers can offer greatly reduced prices by ignoring critical safety and maintenance regulations required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT). By working with an ACANA member, you are afforded the assurance that such illegal and dangerous practices will never occur. In addition to FAA and DOT pilot training and aircraft maintenance requirements, many ACANA brokers, including Stratos Jets, enforce their own enhanced safety and professional standards. As the industry’s only self-regulatory organization, ACANA provides key information to the DOT to help craft future air charter safety regulations for the industry.

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Stratos Jets is proud to be a leading member of ACANA, and to represent the best of what the industry has to offer. The philosophy of building close, long-term relationships with our clients has been a hallmark of our business since its foundation, and we are glad to see more charter agencies joining the ranks of ACANA. We will continue to set the benchmark for professionalism and excellence in business aviation and encourage more charter brokers to adopt the standards of ACANA. The goal of this article has been to teach you of the value and importance of ACANA, so that you can make wise decisions for private jet charter. Moving forward, we hope that you will put every charter broker to the test by asking if they are apart of our prestigious organization.

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Stratos Jets Warns Air Charter Consumers About Illegal Charter Flights

Monday, May 9th, 2011

In recent air charter news, the European Business Aviation Administration (EBAA) has launched a campaign to curb illegal charter flight activity in Europe. Stratos Jet Charters is a member of the prestigious Air Charter Association of North America (ACANA), which distinguishes our company as one of the finest and most reputable charter service providers in the private aviation industry. As a member of ACANA, we believe it is our responsibility to help the EBAA promote safe and legal charter flight operations in North America. In the following article, we would like to take this opportunity to discuss the issue of illegal charter flights, and the different ways you can protect yourself and your family from the threat of illegal charter operators.

In light of the recent economic recession, we understand that many aircraft owners are looking for ways to offset the high cost and expense of aircraft ownership, just as air charter consumers are searching for lower-cost options for private jet travel. But, before you set out to book a “discounted” charter flight from a small brokerage firm or operator, consider this: what price would you pay to ensure your personal safety?

Let’s assume that you were offered a stellar deal on your next charter flight by an unknown charter brokerage or operator. Initially, you might be pleased to find the pricing to be much lower than that of several long-standing and reputable charter brokers. Wouldn’t you be foolish not to go with the lowest-priced flight? Well, what if we told you that the aircraft you will be flying in wasn’t inspected according to FAA regulations, or that the flight crew wasn’t type-rated to fly the aircraft? What if we told you that your charter flight was illegal?

The safety issues caused by illegal charter flights has long plagued the air charter industry. According to the EBAA, a large number of air charter consumers unknowingly purchase illegal charter flights each year. An “illegal charter flight” occurs when a Part 91 aircraft owner conducts a charter flight under the guise of a fully-licensed Part 135 aircraft operator. Illegal charter flights pose significant safety risks to air charter consumers, which is why it is our goal to teach you about the possibility of illegal charter flight operations. Keep in mind that the goal of this article is not to frighten you, but to help you identify the signs of an illegal charter flight and the ways you can protect yourself and your family.

Aircraft owners who conduct illegal charter flight operations do so at great expense to consumer safety. Here’s why – illegal charter flights violate Part 135 Federal Aviation Administration Regulations (FARs), which specifically require aircraft operators to hold a “Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate.” An air carrier certificate is only granted to aircraft operators that show “sufficient financial strength and compliance with other legal requirements, including proof of proper insurance coverage,” according to the National Business Aviation Administration (NBAA).

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration requires aircraft operators to adhere to all Part 135 regulations, which spell out the necessary criteria for conducting a safe and legal operation. Under these requirements, aircraft operators are subject to many regulations regarding aircraft maintenance, flight crew experience, pilot training and insurance requirements. Outright aircraft owners, on the other hand, adhere to a separate set of rules and regulations, known as Part 91 regulations, which are far less restictive than Part 135 regulations.

So what do the FARs have to do with air charter safety? Well, everything. First, you need to know that the FAA makes an important distinction between aircraft owners and aircraft operators. As a rule, aircraft operators are held to much higher safety standards than owners because they are “certificate-holding entities,” rather than “self-interested parties.” As such, aircraft operators must adhere to more rigorous operational and maintenance requirements. In addition, aircraft operators are subject to routine audits, such as performance audits, flight reviews, pilot training and safety checks, to verify their compliance with FAA safety standards. Meanwhile, aircraft owners are given more freedom to establish their own safety procedures and protocols.

Since certified aircraft operators adhere to much higher safety standards, they encumber the costs of maintaining their aircraft and flight crew at peak safety levels. Oftentimes, these additional costs are factored into the price of your charter flight. Illegal charter operators don’t operate in accordance with Part 135 regulations, which is why they can offer significantly lower pricing on charter flights. Illegal charter operators create an un-level playing field and put consumer safety and confidence at risk. Consider it an investment toward your safety when you work with a reputable charter broker or operator.

So, how do you know that your private charter is legal? It’s not always easy to identify an illegal operator from a legitimate one. The first step is to ask some basic questions about the aircraft operator. Ask your charter broker for the operator’s certificate number or read up on the operator through the Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) at www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo. This information will help to ensure that your charter operator meets with all the necessary criteria for conducting a safe charter flight. If your charter broker is unable or unwilling to provide you with a copy of the operator’s air carrier certificate, it’s safe to assume that your charter flight is illegal. Any legitimate charter broker or operator should be more than happy to provide you with a copy of the operator’s Part 135 certificate. If you are asked to pay the pilots separately, this is a major red flag.

Next, ask your charter broker to provide you with a copy of the operator’s D085 (aircraft spec sheet). This important document will list every aircraft that is approved for service in that operator’s fleet. The aircraft listed on the D085 have been found by the FAA to meet with aircraft inspection, maintenance and insurance requirements. You should receive the tail number of your charter aircraft at least 24 hours in advance of your flight. Check to make sure that your aircraft’s specific tail number is listed on the D085 as apart of that operator’s fleet.

Now that you know how to identify a legal charter operator, the next step is to find a safe and legal operator to conduct your next charter flight. The Stratos Jets’ Approved Vendor Program enables our company to work with the safest and most reputable charter operators in the air charter industry. Through our approved vendor program, we do our due-diligence to ensure that your charter flight is safe and legal. All of our approved vendors are fully-licensed Part 135 operators that adhere to FAR regulations, along with our own rigorous safety standards. We keep updated records on all our approved vendors, and can easily provide you with a copy of the operator’s air carrier certificate, D085, and/or insurance standards upon request. We won’t send you a quote on an aircraft that hasn’t been fully-vetted on the front end. By working with Stratos Jets, you can rest assured that your charter flight meets or exceeds with the highest safety expectations in the industry.

As an air charter consumer, remember that you have a right to ask these important questions to ensure your personal safety on every charter flight. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact a Stratos Jets representative at any time. Our air charter agents are both experienced and knowledgeable, and place a special emphasis on air charter safety. Our goal is to help you find the safest and most well-maintained aircraft that can meet your personal travel needs for each and every flight.

Contact Stratos Jets:

1.888.478.7286

info@stratosjets.com

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ACANA Promotes Best Practices and Professionalism in the Air Charter Industry

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

In recent air charter news, Stratos Jet Charters announced that Joel Thomas, president and founder of Stratos Jets, was selected as the new President of the prestigious Air Charter Association of North America (ACANA).  ACANA, an elite, non-profit organization, is comprised of the finest and most well-respected air charter service providers in North America.  ACANA’s mission is to enhance and foster the air charter industry by promoting best practices and professionalism, representing ACANA members’ collective regulatory interests, and educating consumers about the benefits of private aviation.

Over the next few weeks, we at Stratos Jets would like to take the opportunity to explain the mission of ACANA and the role it plays in promoting a safer and better air charter experience for consumers.  In this week’s article, we would like to turn our attention to the first part of ACANA’s mission statement – promoting best practices and professionalism in the air charter industry.

Part 1 of our weekly series outlining the first part of the mission and vision of ACANA:

As with any free-market industry, air charter consumers have a myriad of choices when it comes to selecting a private jet charter service provider to work with.  A private jet traveler looking to charter a jet from Los Angeles to New York, for example, will have little difficulty in receiving a price and an option for their trip.  Unfortunately, determining the safety and quality of the aircraft along with the reputation of the air carrier is a much different matter.  With so many private jet charter brokers and operators to choose from, how can you, as a consumer, really be certain that you are working with the safest, most reputable private jet charter service in the industry?

That’s where ACANA comes in.  As we mentioned earlier in this article, the founding principle of ACANA is to promote best practices and professionalism to air charter service providers in the industry.  The 19 members of ACANA adhere to the highest standards of ethics and integrity to accomplish their goal of promoting best practices and professionalism to other service providers in the industry.  As a result, air charter consumers who choose to work with ACANA members have the added advantage of knowing that their charter service provider has met with the highest standards of safety, integrity and excellence in the industry.

At Stratos Jet Charters, we have furthered ACANA’s mission of promoting best practices and excellence by implementing the Stratos Jets’ Approved Vendor Program.  This program provides our clients with the same quality assurance they have come to expect from ACANA members.  The Approved Vendor Program is an invite-only organization that is comprised of the finest private aircraft and air carriers in the world.  Through our approved vendor network, we have access to the safest and most highly-maintained aircraft and in the industry.  Our approved vendors adhere to Federal Aviation Administration Part 135 and DOT regulations along with the safety requirements set forth by our company.  Our air charter agents utilize an ARG/US or Wyvern third-party safety audit to ensure that these safety requirements are met before inviting a vendor to join our exclusive network.

By continuing to promote best practices and professionalism, Stratos Jet Charters and other ACANA members can continually provide consumers with the best charter flight service possible.  To learn more about Stratos Jets’ approved vendor program or to arrange a charter flight, please contact Stratos Jets at 1.888.478.7286.

Contact Stratos Jets:

1.888.478.7286

info@stratosjets.com

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Private Jet Charter Q & A – Week 1: How much do private jet charters cost?

Friday, August 20th, 2010

How much will my private jet charter cost? Where can my private jet land? How much luggage can I bring on my charter flight? These are just a few of the questions we receive here at Stratos Jet Charters. It comes as a surprise that so little information is available about private jet charters, considering the growing popularity of private air travel. At Stratos Jets, our mission is to educate and inform air charter consumers about the most important information and topics in private aviation. Recently, we launched a new “Private Jet Charter Question & Answer” series to help answer some of the most common questions in the air charter industry. Each week in the series, our expert air charter consultants will answer one question concerning private jet charter that will help our air charter buyers make educated, informed decisions each time they fly private.

How much does a private jet charter cost?

One of the most frequent asked questions we receive at Stratos Jets is how much private jet charters cost. For many of our clients, price is the determining factor in deciding which aircraft to book for their charter flights. While Stratos Jets agents can always provide a rough estimate for charter flights, the actual cost of your individual flight depends on the specific needs of your request, aircraft availability and several important factors.

The standard method for providing a rough estimate for your charter flight is to calculate flight costs by hourly rate. There are six different categories of private aircraft available for private charter and each has its own standard price range. These categories include helicopters, turboprops, light, mid-size and heavy jet aircraft and airliners. Using this standard hourly rate method, helicopter typically charter for about $1,000 to $5,000 per flight hour and turboprops charter from about $1,550 to $2,500 per flight hour. Light jets range anywhere from $2,250 to $3,450 and mid-sized jets charter for about $3,450 to $5,000 per flight hour. Heavy jets charter from $5,000 to $9,000 per hour and airliners start at $6,500 per hour.

As we mentioned earlier, the actual cost of your flight ultimately depends on several key components. These factors include aircraft age, safety procedures, operational costs, aircraft category, length of stay, repositioning and landing fees as well as added catering costs. Any number of these factors could combine to increase your charter flight’s price from a couple thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. A charter flight on a brand new Gulfstream heavy jet, for example, will cost thousands more than a private jet charter on an older Citation Jet. A charter flight to Oakland International Airport instead of the San Francisco International Airport, could save you as much as as $1,200 in landing fees.

As you can see, determining the actual price of your charter flight requires a thorough understanding of the charter market and extensive market research. The best way to receive the best, possible price for a jet charter flight is to hire an expert air charter agent to conduct the necessary research for your flight. At Stratos Jets, our air charter consultants can find the safest and most comfortable aircraft that can meet the specific needs of our your flight.

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Caveat Emptor –Safety Concerns with Charter Flights Provided by Non-Certified Pilots

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Stratos Jet Charters is a well known resource to those seeking information on jet charters and jet rental service. As the private aviation industry grows and welcomes a new wave of jet charter flyers to their ranks; Stratos Jet Charters will continue to provide assistance to jet charter flyers. Their goal is to help jet charter flyers make informed decisions by educating them on important issues related to private charter flights, jet charters and air charter safety.

Requirements for Legal Charter Flight Operations

The Federal Aviation Administration requires all charter flights to be conducted under Part 135 operations. Even though these rules are clearly spelled out, private pilots and aircraft owners regularly provide air transportation to friends and friends of friends. While this arrangement is perfectly acceptable under Federal Aviation Administration Part 91 regulations, they are forbidden from profiting from their service. Unfortunately, illegal charter flights of this nature are conducted everyday under the Part 91 guidelines. There are some key issues that one should be aware of regarding the safety and insurability of one who engages in this activity.

Part 135 – Charter Flight Safety

Part 135 requirements for aircraft maintenance and safety procedures are far stricter than that of the general aviation Part 91 requirements. The FAA requires that all charter flights be conducted under the Part 135 Operating Requirements. These requirements are designed to provide a standard for professionalism, safety and best practices within the private charter flights industry. The Part 135 rules govern pilot training and experience, aircraft maintenance, safety procedures, insurance requirements and the general best practices of the airplane charter industry. It is important to one’s own safety to make sure that the aircraft is a registered Part 135 Certificate holder and is in good standing with the FAA before chartering a private jet. One should first determine whether or not any limitations have been placed on the charter operator’s operations specifications (ability to fly charter flights). These limitations could be limited to the charter company’s ability to provide international charter flights or prevent the charter operator from conducting flights under the instrument flight rules. It is important to know the operational history of the company providing the charter flight. Make sure that your charter agent or broker works only with reputable FAA certified air charter operators.

Part 135 – Charter Flight Insurance Requirements

In tough economic times people begin looking for ways to bring in extra income in order to support their expensive hobbies. For most hobbies, this can be a great way to continue the activities one most enjoys. Like the fisherman who loves to fish that applies for his captain’s license in order to fish on the weekends or the golfer who gives a few lessons to pay his weekly greens fees. The general aviation pilot who charters his plane for private and business flights however, is breaking the law and putting their passengers at risk. Illegal charter flights violate the terms of the insurance required for legitimate Part 135 charter flights. This means that in event of an accident or injury the passenger may not have adequate insurance coverage to meet their needs or the needs of their family. This can be especially dangerous to jet charter consumers who unknowingly fly on part 91 flights. Even those who used a jet charter broker, who put his own interests ahead of their clients or did not do the appropriate research to verify operational history of the aircraft operator. Stratos Jet Charters recommends requesting a background repot of the aircraft operator for all charter flights.

Jet Charter Agents – Their Role in arranging charter flights.

The air charter agent’s knowledge of the charter market plays an extremely valuable role in arranging charter flights. The primary role of the air charter agent is to know the operational history of the part 135 certificate holders and to ensure the qualifications of the pilots when arranging charter flights. A caring and professional air charter agent will put the safety of their client first will provide them with a detailed report verifying the Part 135 certificate and the pilots level of experience. If your charter flight agent does not provide this background report with your flight itinerary, you should ask to see it. Third party verification companies make it easy for air charter agents to quickly research the safety habits of the charter aircrafts operations.

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FAA Part 135 Charter Flights and Jet Charter Safety Standards for Air Charter Flights in the United States

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Safety in aviation has come a long way since the days of the Wright brothers and Amelia Earhart. There have been incredible advancements in aircraft design, engines, performance, avionics and materials. All of these advancements have collectively reduced the risk of flying. Over the past 100 years, the safety and maintenance procedures have been developed to contribute to the safety of the pilots and passengers. These standards have enabled the creation of a global industry for air travel. For many people, air travel and charter flights have become a necessary activity for business in today’s world. Unfortunately, aviation related accidents and fatalities are a part of life. So what can charter jet flyers do to protect themselves? Let’s take a closer look at the standards set forth by the FAA that regulates safety within in the private air charter industry along with ways that air charter flyers can research the level of experience their pilots may have.
The Federal Aviation Administration has created the Part 135 Regulations to standardize the safety and operations of aircraft charter flights taking place within the United States. The Part 135 Regulations govern non-scheduled flights where money is exchanged in excess of the direct operating costs of the flight. All non-owner flights where a profit is made are regulated by FAR Part 135 and require a Part 135 Certificate. This Part 135 Certificate spells out the specific maintenance requirements, pilot experience and appropriate level of insurance to be carried by the operator when making a profit.

While the Part 135 certification does set the standard safety procedures and pilot licensing requirements of all charter flights flown within the United States, these standards are recognized as the minimum standards required to conduct legal air charter flights. In order to provide jet charter flyers and charter jet consumers with the assurance that the charter jet operator does adequately meet the standards set forth by the FAA, third party companies are available for verification.

There are several third party air charter verification companies that can be hired to ensure safety; however two leading air charter safety verification companies ensure that charter jet operators not only meet the FAA requirements set forth in the Part 135 certification process, but also have increased safety standards of their own. These verification companies research the aircraft maintenance records through an onsite analysis; they review the pilots’ level of experience flying a given aircraft and the flight history of the charter jet certificate holder.

By hiring a third party to provide a detailed analysis for a proposed charter flight, can help to ensure that all of the standards set forth by the FAA are being exceeded and that only the most experienced pilots are in command of your charter flight. When scheduling a charter flight, an air charter agent can help to ensure that the aircraft you will be flying on is well-maintained and that your pilots have exceptional safety records. The knowledge of the charter jet industry along with the familiarity of pilots, crew and their experience that is held by most air charter agents, makes chartering a private jet simple. In addition to providing you with multiple options, air charter agents do the hard work and due diligence to ensure that the aircraft chartered on your behalf is the safest available.

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From: Dayton, OH

To: St Petersburg-clearwater, FL

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