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Stratos Jet Charters Becomes BBB Accredited Agency

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

Stratos Jets was recently accredited with the Better Business Bureau

Stratos Jet Charters is one of the most reputable air charter agencies in the business aviation industry. As an industry leader, one of our main objectives is to engage in ethical operational and advertising practices that promote consumer confidence and better business. Since our inception, we have strived to perform honestly, and with integrity, to provide the highest level of air charter service in the industry. That’s why we are pleased to announce that we were recently accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a private, non-profit organization that promotes trustworthy businesses that engage in honest and fair advertising and selling practices.

The BBB Code of Business Practices represents sound advertising, selling and customer service practices that build consumer trust and confidence in business. The Code of Business Practices is built on the “BBB Standards of Trust,” eight principles that summarize the key elements of creating and maintaining consumer trust. At Stratos Jets, we believe that the principles of the BBB Standards of Trust closely resemble that of our own. As a fully-accredited BBB agency, we pledge to uphold the principles of the “BBB Code of Business Practices,” which we have explained in more detail below.

The BBB Code of Business Practices:

Build Trust: Establish and maintain a positive track record in the marketplace.

Stratos Jets’ industry reputation is why we are consistently able to offer our clients the best jet charter service in the industry. Our established reputation for honesty and integrity has enabled us to build and maintain close relationships with the finest aircraft operators in the world. Most of these operators prefer to work with Stratos Jets, which has allowed us to gain access to a wider pool of discounted one-ways and empty leg charter flights. Stratos Jets’ proven track record for providing honest, reliable service is the principal reason that Stratos Jets’ President, Joel Thomas, was elected president of the Air Charter Association of North America (ACANA), an industry-led organization promoting ethics, best practices and professionalism.

Advertise Honestly: Adhere to established standards of advertising and selling.

Some charter brokerages take advantage of consumer trust and confidence by presenting quotes that are devoid of applicable FET taxes, airport, landing and repositioning fees. Stratos Jets promises to offer clear, “all-in pricing” on every charter flight that we book through our agency. Unlike some charter brokerages that offer false discounts and promotions, with Stratos Jets, you can be assured that the price you are paying does not include hidden fees or taxes.

Tell the Truth: Honestly represent products and services, including clear and adequate disclosures of all material terms.

Stratos Jets was invited to join ACANA because of our continued commitment to honesty, integrity and professionalism. As an ACANA member, we stand against any charter broker that seeks to take advantage of consumers by misrepresenting products or services. This means that we will never engage in “speculative pricing,” the controversial act of bidding on “phantom aircraft,” or aircraft that are not readily available in the charter market. All of the quotes that we provide are based on actual aircraft availability.

Be Transparent: Openly identify the nature, location, and ownership of the business, and clearly disclose all policies, guarantees and procedures that bear on a customer’s decision to buy.

Stratos Jets is a worldwide air charter agency, not a Part 135 air carrier. We will never falsely identify or advertise ourselves as an aircraft operator, which is a direct FAA and DOT violation. We work with other ACANA members to promote transparency on all levels to other air charter service providers. Stratos Jets’ air charter agents, who are among the most knowledgeable and educated in the industry, are available 24 hours a day to explain all FAA and DOT regulations. At Stratos Jets, we openly and honestly represent all industry regulations, and we ensure that all of our vendors to do the same through the Stratos Jets’ Approved Vendor Program.

Honor Promises: Abide by all written agreements and verbal representations.

At Stratos Jets, our goal is to build long-term relationships with our clients instead of one-time transactions. We strive to honor our client relationships through our honesty and integrity. Our clients are important to us as invaluable members of our family, and we will never misrepresent ourselves or willfully deceive them. Stratos Jets is dedicated to meeting the individual needs of our clients. That is our promise to our clients. We faithfully meet and execute those demands each and every day.

Be Responsive: Address marketplace disputes quickly, professionally, and in good faith.

Responsiveness has always been a top priority for Stratos Jets. As experts in the field of private aviation, Stratos Jets agents are extremely knowledgable about the private aviation industry and current charter market. Should a marketplace dispute occur, we will react quickly and efficiently to settle the dispute with as little injury to our clients as possible. As an ACANA member, Stratos Jets is in the unique position to help represent the industry to the FAA and help shape future requirements in a way that positively affects business.

Safeguard Privacy: Protect any data collected against mishandling and fraud, collect personal information only as needed, and respect the preferences of consumers regarding the use of their information.

Stratos Jets handles our clients personal information safely and securely. Your information will never be shared with other organizations or individuals.

Embody Integrity: Approach all business dealings, marketplace transactions and commitments with integrity.

Stratos Jets is dedicated to being the best in the industry, which means fair pricing, deep industry knowledge, and representing ourselves honestly to our customers. These are standards that we have sought since our inception and ones that we will continue to pursue. At Stratos Jets, we believe our clients deserve only the finest charter service, and we aim to provide it on each and every charter flight.

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Stratos Jet Charters Launches Client Questionnaire

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

Stratos Jets will launch a client questionnaire to better serve our air charter clients

Since our beginning, Stratos Jet Charters has set the standard for excellence in business aviation, but what does it mean to be excellent? The dictionary defines excellence as “the quality of being outstanding or extremely good.” At Stratos Jets, we believe that a charter service is only as good as the level of service and customer satisfaction that it can provide. In our opinion, a valuable service is one that is constantly willing to improve upon its services.

As an on-demand air charter agency, we understand that each of our clients has individual needs, and we strive to meet each and every one of them. Beginning in January of 2012, we will start sending out online questionnaires to all of our clients upon completion of their charter flights. The goal of our client questionnaire is to gain a better understanding of our clients’ individual jet charter needs, while learning how to improve our service and provide the best, possible customer experience.

In our quick and easy-to-complete online survey, you will first be asked to answer key questions about your flying habits, such as “how often do you fly private,” “what routings do you typically fly,” and “what business model(s) have you used in the past?” The answers to these important questions will help us determine the type of charter service that you need to meet your travel demands.

Through our survey, we want to learn about your experience with our air charter agency. Did we respond to all of your needs in a timely manner? Was your air charter agent professional and courteous? Were you were fully educated about the safety and history of your aircraft and operator? We encourage you to be as honest and forthcoming as possible. With this information, we can learn about the level of service that was provided by the air charter agent and from our company as a whole.

The Stratos Jets’ client questionnaire will also feature a separate section that will focus on the quality of your overall charter flight experience. In this part, you will be asked to answer questions about the cleanliness of the charter aircraft, friendliness and professionalism of the flight crew, and the services that were offered to you at the fixed-based operator (FBO). We will share this information with our air charter agents to determine the quality and trustworthiness of the aircraft operator.

Client feedback is a vital part of constantly improving our service, which is why we encourage you to participate in our survey. Only through your feedback can we learn about our service and how we can help you achieve your personal and professional goals. As we continue to work together, we look forward to reading your appraisal of our service. Please do not hesitate to contact us directly should you wish to offer feedback on your charter flight.

Contact Stratos Jets:

1.888.478.7286

info@stratosjets.com

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Celebrating the True Meaning and History of Thanksgiving

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011
The Pilgrims thank the Lord for his blessings during the First Thanksgiving

The First Thanksgiving

As I make my preparations for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I often find myself reflecting on the true meaning of our national holiday. We all know that Thanksgiving is a day of celebration; a time to give thanks for the freedom, liberties and opportunities we have here in the United States. However, when I think back on past Thanksgiving celebrations, I often wonder why we sometimes forget to thank God first for our nation’s growth and prosperity.

At Thanksgiving dinner, most of us gather around the table to thank the Lord for His blessing. We bow our heads to give Him thanks and praise for the food he has provided us, and the good health and prosperity of our family and friends. While giving thanks for our good health and fortune is a very important part of Thanksgiving, we often forget to give thanks for the blessings and guidance our Lord has given our country; the very blessings that have helped shape every aspect of our great nation.

When I have reflections like these around Thanksgiving time, I am often reminded of a story I once heard about the first Thanksgiving celebration, shared in a broadcast by Rush Limbaugh. If you are one of the many avid readers of The Getaway, you may recall the story from last year’s Thanksgiving issue. I should also make it clear onc e more that I don’t share this story to be controversial. Even if you aren’t a big fan of Rush, I personally believe that this story teaches a valuable lesson that we can ALL benefit from at Thanksgiving time, now more than ever.

In the story, Rush explains the history of the first Thanksgiving in great detail, or at least in more detail than most of us remember from our elementary school lessons. Here is a summary of his tale, complete with some excerpts from his broadcast:

According to Limbaugh, the genesis of the first Thanksgiving began on August 1, 1620, when the Mayflower first set sail to the New World. The ship carried a total of 102 passengers, including forty Pilgrims led by the legendary William Bradford. During the long journey, Bradford established the Mayflower Compact, a social contract that established the Pilgrims as a unified community, irrespective of each member’s religious beliefs.

The Mayflower Compact provided the early settlers with a basis for government. Where did the revolutionary ideas expressed in the Mayflower Compact come from? The Bible. After all, the Pilgrims were devout followers of the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. The Pilgrims looked to the ancient Israelites for spiritual guidance and because of the biblical precedents set forth in the Scripture, they never doubted that their experiment would work.

After a very long, arduous journey to the New World, the Pilgrims finally landed in New England in November, 1620. According to Bradford’s detailed journal, what they found was a “cold, barren and desolate wilderness.” They had no food and no shelter, and the sacrifice they had made for freedom was just beginning. During the first bitter winter, half the Pilgrims, including Bradford’s own wife, died of either starvation, sickness or exposure.

When spring finally came, the Indians taught the settlers how to plant corn, fish for cod and skin beavers for coats. Life improved greatly for the Pilgrims, but they still did not prosper. This is where modern history books leave off. Thanksgiving is actually explained in some textbooks as a holiday for which the Pilgrims gave thanks to the Indians for saving their lives, rather than as a devout expression of gratitude founded in the tradition of both the Old and New Testaments.

Here is what history books omit: Before the Mayflower set sail in 1620, the Pilgrims entered into a contract with their merchant-sponsors in London that called for everything they produced to go into a common store. Each member of the community was entitled to one common share. All of the land they cleared and all of the houses they built belonged to the community as well. Everything was distributed equally and no one owned anything.

What the Pilgrims soon discovered from this collectivism was that the most creative and industrious people had no incentive to work any harder than anyone else, unless they could utilize the power of personal motivation. As a result, no one worked harder to produce more food for the community and the Pilgrims suffered from hunger and disease.And Bradford, now the new governor of the colony, quickly recognized that this form of collectivism would be as costly and as destructive to the Pilgrims as the first harsh winter. He decided to take quick action. He assigned a plot of land to each family to work and manage, thus turning loose the power of the marketplace.

Each family was assigned its own plot of land to work and permitted to market its own crops and products. What was the result? “This had very good success,” wrote Bradford, “for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been.”

In no time, the Pilgrims found they had more food than they could eat themselves. So they set up trading posts and exchanged goods with the Native Americans. The profits allowed them to pay off their debts to the merchants in London. And the success and prosperity of the Plymouth settlement attracted more Europeans and began what came to be known as the “Great Puritan Migration.”

The Pilgrims’ new system of governance and economy was essentially a birthplace of free market capitalism, allowing them to produce more than they could consume. So they invited the Native Americans to dinner, and gave thanks for all the plenty, which is the true story of Thanksgiving.

For the Pilgrims, that was what the first Thanksgiving was all about: thanking the Lord for His blessings and guidance during the first hard winter in Plymouth. And that is also what I and Stratos Jet Charters are most thankful for this year: the opportunity and ability to pursue excellence in our spiritual lives, personal relationships and business endeavors.

We would like thank each of you – the invaluable clients of Stratos Jets, who we seek to continually build strong relationships with – as we work together to accomplish your financial, personal and business goals. May your Thanksgiving and Holiday Season be a blessed and plentiful one, from all your friends here at Stratos Jet Charters.

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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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Understanding Aircraft Leasing and Aircraft Charter

Friday, May 28th, 2010

When deciding how to fly private, jet ownership can be a viable option for individuals and companies that fly more than 300 hours a year.  At this rate, the flexibility and added convenience of a corporate jet can compensate for the initial cost and ongoing expense of maintaining the aircraft.  But as with every important decision, there are a few important things to consider before purchasing a private aircraft. 

For individuals or organizations that fly less than 300 hours a year, private jet ownership can become a financial burden if the costs of aircraft maintenance outweigh the benefits of ownership.  When this happens, aircraft owners have one of two options: either sell the jet or lease their aircraft through a charter operator.

Many individuals and corporations elect to “charter out” their aircraft rather than to sell to retain the benefits of jet ownership.  This way, they can own and operate their aircraft whenever they like and still offset some of the costs of jet ownership.  This may seem like an easy fix to a complicated problem but there are still a few strings attached to the ownership/leasing model. 

Recently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed certain restrictions on aircraft owners regarding the leasing of their aircraft to charter operators.  These set of regulations, called the A008, specifically limit the amount of operational control aircraft owners have over their jet aircraft. 

Under A008, two different types of aircraft leasing agreements exist.  A “wet lease” is defined as a leasing agreement in which an aircraft owner provides an entire aircraft with at least one crew member.  A“dry lease” is a leasing agreement in which an aircraft owner provides an aircraft without any insurance, maintenance personnel or crew, including flight attendants.  

The important thing to understand is that under a wet lease, the lessor maintains complete operational control over the aircraft. It is considered a FAR Part 135 violation for any aircraft owner to wet lease an aircraft to a charter operator.  Under A008, the aircraft owner must dry lease his or her aircraft to a certified charter operator. 

Once the aircraft owner dry leases his or her aircraft to a certified charter operator, he or she no longer has any operational control over the aircraft during any and all charter flights.  It becomes the sole responsibility of the certified charter operator to ensure that every charter flight is conducted in strict accordance with FAR Part 135 regulations.  Aircraft owners have no say in which crew, maintenance program or insurance plan are used during charter flights. 

The reason the FAA has implemented these regulations is to ensure passenger safety by verifying that every charter flight is conducted by legitimate charter operators that adhere to FAR 135 regulations.  Among other things, FAR 135 regulations ensure that flight crews are appropriately type-rated and that aircraft are properly maintained according to FAA standards.   

When considering jet ownership, one important thing to consider is how much operational control is desired in the event an aircraft is leased to offset cost.  If individuals or companies prefer to employ their own personal flight crew or maintenance personnel, they will need to keep their aircraft under a Part 91 certificate and forego the leasing option.  The dry lease option is not really an option for those who wish to have full operational control over their aircraft at all times.

When all is said and done, private jet ownership is simply not the best option for individuals and companies who fly less than 300 hours a year. The best option for these private jet users is on-demand jet charter. Through on-demand jet charter, individuals and companies pay as they go for private jet flights, instead of paying for the ongoing expense of jet ownership.

In addition to the advantages in cost, on-demand jet charter service also grants individuals access to thousands of different private jet aircraft. Aircraft owners are limited by the range and performance capabilities of their private jet. For example, if an individual owns a Citation V light jet, this would not be the most appropriate aircraft for a long distance or large group flight. Instead, the aircraft owner would end up paying more for the added flight time.

By chartering a private jet through an on-demand charter service like Stratos Jet Charters, individuals and companies have access to safest and most highly-maintained aircraft that can meet the specific needs of their flight. They can then enjoy the convenience and comfort of a private aircraft without incurring the expense of jet ownership.

Contact Stratos Jets:

1.888.478.7286

info@stratosjets.com

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Air Charter Safety – Electing to land at an alternate airport

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

Last weekend, we heard the bad news about the tragic plane crash that took the lives of the Polish President, Lech Kaczynsk, his wife and 96 people.  If you didn’t hear about the accident, the president and several leaders of the country were traveling to western Russia to attend a memorial when their plane suddenly crashed into trees hidden by dense fog.

The horrific crash took everyone by surprise and launched Poland into a deep state of mourning.  We were also deeply saddened to learn about the accident and we send our thoughts and prayers to those affected by the tragedy.

Even though private aviation is the safest form of travel in the world, accidents can still happen when compromising decisions are made that jeopardize air charter safety.  For this reason, our jet charter agency analyzes accidents in private aviation to ensure that the same mistakes aren’t made during your air charter flight.

Based on early investigation reports of the accident, we know that the crash was caused by the pilots’ decision to fly into dense fog despite repeated warnings from air traffic control. If you’re unfamiliar with aviation weather, fog can become a serious issue for pilots when it reduces their ability to see the runway. The pilots in command of the 70-year old Russian airliner disregarded the warnings of thick fog several times and refused to divert to another airport.  This caused the pilots to descend below the flight path and accidentally crash into trees hidden by fog.

An integral part of air charter safety is knowing when to abort a flight mission and land at an alternate airport.  This particular incident could have been avoided had the pilots diverted to an alternate airport upon first receiving word of the inclement conditions from ATC.  Instead, the pilots refused to take the weather seriously, and it ended up costing the lives of everyone aboard the aircraft.

Pilots acquire the ability to determine when to divert to alternate airports through many years of training, strict adherence to FAA regulations and an appreciation of severe weather conditions.  In this particular incident, the pilots failed to appreciate the severity of the weather and had the pilots obtained a weather report maybe they would have never attempted to start the engines of the aircraft.

In order to ensure your air charter safety, our jet charter agency offers a free daily weather report system to pilots and our clients.  With the weather report, your pilots can stay informed of hazardous weather conditions, such as fog, that can significantly affect your air charter safety.  We also offer a personalized weather report for your charter flight that identifies inclement weather conditions along your specific flight.  By providing weather information about hazardous weather conditions, we believe that we can help reduce the number of weather-related flight accidents in private aviation.

Contact Stratos Jets:

1.888.478.7286

info@stratosjets.com

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Private Jet Innovativions – Blended Winglets

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Winglets are one of the best kept secrets in private aviation because of the time and money they save long-distance jet charter flyers. If you’re unfamiliar with winglets, they’re the vertical “fins” located at the wing’s edge. Experienced Gulfstream and Learjet flyers are probably the most familiar with the advantages of the winglet design. With their extended range, higher cruising speed and better fuel economy, winglet-equipped aircraft are some of the most desirable business jets in the charter market.

Winglets increase aircraft performance by reducing the amount of turbulence at the tip of a private jet’s wing. As a private aircraft moves through the air, high pressure on the bottom of the wing meets with low pressure on top of the wing, and creates a vortex at the wingtip. Wingtip vortices are tubes of air that circulate behind the tip of each wing and increase induced drag. These vortices are also responsible for creating hazardous wake turbulence.

There are several ways winglets can add value to your long-distance charter flight. By improving the lift-to-drag ratio, winglets are able to increase your jet’s cruising speed. This means you’ll reach your destination faster and burn less fuel at the same time. If your pilot decides to cruise at a lower airspeed, you’ll burn even less fuel and still reach your destination on time.

An increased airspeed also means an extended range. It’s no coincidence that long-range heavy jets like Gulfstream, Challenger and Global Express all have winglets. This extended range capability becomes extremely attractive for long-range and international charter flights.

Another benefit of winglets is their ability to prevent wake turbulence from occurring by reducing wingtip vortices. Wake turbulence is one of the biggest threats to light aircraft and is directly caused by wingtip vortices. If a small aircraft happens to fly in jet aircraft’s wake, the wingtip vortices are strong enough to flip the entire aircraft. With winglets installed on your jet aircraft, you can rest assured that your charter flight will not be a hazard to others.

For your next long-range or international charter flight, ask your Stratos Jets air charter agent to source aircraft with winglets. They will provide you with a safe, reliable aircraft that meets the specific needs of your charter flight.

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Sluggish US Economy’s impact on Air Charter Industry

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

It is no secret that Americans are facing tough times in today’s economy. Major sectors of our economy are struggling, wholesale inflation is on the rise across the board and the cost per barrel of oil seems to have no ceiling. The housing and construction industry, along with leading financial institutions are among the hardest hit. Multinational organizations and Fortune 500 companies are downsizing, trimming the budget and eliminating unnecessary expenses. For many companies, eliminating travel is not an option. But with the high cost of charter flight service, what kind of impact has been seen within the corporate charter flight industry from the poor economic news?

It seems logical that companies would be cutting back on travel expenses these days. One could naturally assume that the corporate cost cutting trend has hurt demand for jet charter flights. While it is true that many ‘would be private jet charter flight’ customers are seeking other means of travel, it is not clear whether or not the pool of private jet charter flight customers is actually shrinking or if revenues are decreasing. The reason for this could be that some of the large US companies who have dedicated flight departments are selling off their fleet and opting for the comparatively inexpensive on-demand charter flight option. Private jet charter flights allow company executives the opportunity to have access to a well maintained aircraft with highly experienced pilots. Often times the private charter flight aircrafts are as luxurious if not more so than their corporately owned counterparts.

While the US economy may be struggling and domestic demand for private jet acquisition and charter flights is burdened by economic woes, production of business jets hasn’t stopped. Gulfstream a leading manufacturer of luxury private jets has just introduced their newest plane to the market, the Gulfstream G650. The G650 is largest, fastest and most expensive Gulfstream ever. Signing a $1.9 billion deal with Warren Buffets international fractional jet ownership company, Net Jets. Continued growth in the private aviation sales and charter markets is likely attributed to a strong global economy. According to Forbes, the explosion of oil wealth in Russia combined with their lack of good airlines, has fueled demand for private jets and has become a relatively strong market for charter flights. Joel A. Thomas, President of Stratos Jet Charters’ Inc., a leading international charter jet and jet sales agency, has said “despite the tough economic times domestically, Stratos Jets has found success by tapping into a network of air charter consumers in Europe and the Middle East.” He went on to say, “international demand for our service now represents close to 30% of our business.” According to an Aviation International News forecast, this trend is expected to continue at the rate of 9.4% for the next 14 years.

Domestic demand for private aviation and charter flight jet service remains strong despite the cutbacks in corporate spending. Stratos Jet Charters, Inc. has not seen a decrease in overall demand, but reports that they have seen a shift toward more economical aircrafts. Explaining this shift, Joel Thomas commented “We have seen demand remain strong for our service, but have seen a shift toward more budget conscious flights. Air charter clients are spending more of their time researching charter jet costs and looking for the best deal.” Air charter agencies, like Stratos Jet Charters, place an emphasis on client education. By educating the client, you help them ensure that they are able to make an informed buying decision. “Client education has been the cornerstone to our success. In this way, we become their resource for private aviation.”

Joel A. Thomas. Stratos Jet Charters invites jet charter flyers to compare service. They are confident that they can provide you multiple options to meet your charter flight needs.

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Noise Abatement Regulations at Private Airports in the U.S.

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

One of the hot topics at executive airports around the country centers on the issue of aircraft noise. Over the past few years, many municipal airports and private airfields have passed or are now considering passing noise abatement ordinances. For aircraft charter flyers, noise ordinances may play a role in establishing the scheduled departure or arrival of your charter flight.

Under Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 36, the FAA has established a noise classification system to determine the decibel level of an aircraft during take-off and landing. This classification system certifies aircraft in stages 1-4 and is based primarily on weight, the number of engines and passenger capacity of a given aircraft.

Stage 1 aircraft refers to the oldest (and loudest) aircraft; these planes are no longer permitted to operate in the United States as commercial aircraft, however a small number are still flown privately.

Stage 2 aircraft are the current subject of debate. Since January of 2000 stage 2 aircraft over 75,000lbs have been required by law to be phased out of commercial service.

Stage 3 and 4 Aircraft have become progressively quieter from earlier models. Stage 4 noise regulations became applicable to all new designs introduced after January 1, 2006.

The current issues surround Stage 2 aircraft – the oldest planes still in service. Out of the 16,000 or so business jets that are registered in the country, it’s estimated that about 1,400 of them are Stage 2 (or older). However, this small percentage of planes, about 9%, account for a much larger number of noise complaints.

Throughout the country a number of private airports, mostly near residential areas, have expressed a desire to reduce or eliminate the number of stage 2 flights that are serviced by their local executive airport. Independent organizations have formed proposing initiatives such as the “Sound Initiative” to lobby for the complete phase out of Stage 2 aircraft.

Many private airports have already put in place a number of restrictions. It is common to see increased landing fees, early morning/late evening departure and arrival restrictions and in some cases even outright bans on Stage 2 aircraft.

If you are renting a private jet or booking a charter flight into an airport with noise restrictions, you should check with your agent to see if the aircraft they charter on your behalf complies with the noise abatement ordinances of that airport.

The following private airports have implemented restrictions on Stage 2 aircraft:
Aspen, Colorado (ASE)
Burbank, California (BUR)
Jackson Hole, Wyoming (JAC)
Lake Tahoe, California (TVL)
Naples, Florida (APF)
Santa Monica, California (SMO)
Teterboro, New Jersey (TEB)
Van Nuys, California (VNY)

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Finding Value in Experience – Selecting The Right Charter Agent

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

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.

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One Way Charter Flights
ONE-WAY FLIGHTS

From: Red Wing, MN

To: Lafayette, LA

Contact Stratos Jet Charters for information on One-Way Charter Flights from Red Wing, MN to Lafayette, LA at 1.888.478.7286

Discounted Empty Leg Air Charter
DISCOUNTED EMPTY LEGS

MELBOURNE, FL, US (KMLB) - TETERBORO, NJ, US (KTEB) Mitsubishi Diamond - 9 Passengers Available:18-Feb-2012 12:00AM

TALLAHASSEE, FL, US (KTLH) - MERRITT ISLAND, FL, US (KCOI) King Air 90 - 6 Passengers Available:12-Feb-2012 7:00PM

MELBOURNE, FL, US (KMLB) - TETERBORO, NJ, US (KTEB) Mitsubishi Diamond - 9 Passengers Available:14-Feb-2012 12:00AM

MELBOURNE, FL, US (KMLB) - MARATHON, FL, US (KMTH) Beechjet 400 - 8 Passengers Available:12-Feb-2012 12:00AM

TETERBORO, NJ, US (KTEB) - VAN NUYS, CA, US (KVNY) Gulfstream III - 12 Passengers Available:11-Feb-2012 2:15PM

NEW ORLEANS (KENNER), LA, US (KENNER) - FT LAUDERDALE, FL, US (KFXE) Learjet 60 - 8 Passengers Available:11-Feb-2012

TETERBORO, NJ, US (KTEB) - WEST PALM BEACH, FL, US (KPBI) Hawker 800A - 8 Passengers Available:13-Feb-2012 12:00AM

MONTEREY, CA, US (KMRY) - PONTIAC, MI, US (KPTK) Gulfstream IV - 0 Passengers Available:11-Feb-2012 7:19AM

Point to Point Jet Charter
POINT-TO-POINT PRICING

From: Newport, Rhode Island

To: Van Nuys, CA

Contact Stratos Jet Charters for Point to Point Pricing on charter flights from Newport, Rhode Island to Van Nuys, CA at 1.888.478.7286