Posts Tagged ‘charter broker’

What Constitutes Unethical Business Practices in Private Aviation?

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

In all ways, Stratos Jet Charters seeks to be open, honest and fair with our clients. As a member of the prestigious Air Charter Association of North America (ACANA), we are committed to promoting higher standards of ethics, professionalism and integrity. We engage in fair business practices, such as honest and fair advertising and clear pricing. A founding tenant of both our organization and ACANA is to provide our clients with the information they need to make informed buying decisions for each and every charter flight.

Because of the recent entry of air charter brokering in the industry, it is not yet fully regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT). This “free” environment has allowed for some air charter organizations to engage in unfair and dishonest business practices to undercut their legitimate competitors. As both an ACANA member, and agent for our clients, Stratos Jets has a responsibility to offer our clients insight into these deceptive business tactics to help them make the best decisions for their individual jet charter needs.

What Constitutes Unethical Business Practices in Private Aviation?

As one ACANA member said, “unethical business practices are the evil twin of best practices.” Unethical business practices can take on many shadowy forms, and are not always easy to identify. The best way to arm yourself against unethical brokers and operators is to commit yourself to only working with ACANA members. ACANA members play a key part in promoting best practices and professionalism and are barred from engaging in unethical business practices. However, if you should choose to work with a non-ACANA member, you need to be aware of the possibility of your charter broker engaging in dishonest and unfair business practices.

An example of a deceptive business practice that we have seen in the industry is “phantom aircraft bidding.” This practice occurs when a charter brokerage offers a firm quote on an aircraft at a price point that is not available in the charter market. After the charter broker “wins the trip” by procuring a contract with the client, he or she will try to “fill the requirement” by contacting several operators and using the client’s signature on the contract as leverage. If the broker can’t offer the aircraft they promised, they will then tell the client that a mechanical, or other event, has occurred to prevent the flight.

Another example of a deceptive business practice occurs when a charter broker offers a “best price guarantee.” Charter brokers who offer this type of pricing do not offer clients an “apples-to-apples” choice; but instead rely on taking advantage of a client’s inexperience or lack of knowledge to offer an aircraft from an operator with a poor safety history. These brokers will provide an aircraft with an unacceptably low-level of insurance to operate the flight, or an aircraft that has not been approved for aircraft charter operations.

Other examples of unethical business practices that are currently prohibited by ACANA include:

- Creating confusion in the consumer’s mind as to whether a service provider is an air carrier or a broker, such as creating marketing materials that imply a broker is an operator
- Engaging in speculative pricing that is not based on actual aircraft availability in an effort to undercut the legitimate pricing of competitors
- Engaging in behavior or other unlawful activity that results in enforcement action from the FAA or Department of Transportation
- Transacting business with operators that are not properly certified (135 or ICAO equivalent)

At Stratos Jets, we would never put profit over the safety and integrity of your charter flight experience. We understand the real costs of private aviation and relate these to our clients. Our air charter agents are among the most knowledgeable in the industry and are available 24 hours a day to answer and explain any questions you may have regarding your charter flight.

Stratos Jets only works with fully registered Part 135 and Part 121 Air Carriers, verified through independent agencies such as WYVERN and ARG/US. Stratos Jets’ In-house Safety Due Diligence program carefully screens all aircraft operators to ensure that every flight flown for our clients is on the safest, most well maintained aircraft under the command of two highly trained pilots. This ensures that your charter experience will be among the safest in the industry, as well as of the highest quality.

As an ACANA member, Stratos Jets’ goal is to inform the public about the requirements and expectations of a safe, effectual charter experience. We believe that the more knowledgeable our clients are, the better our industry, regulations, and services will be. We hope to be a contributor in helping ACANA shape the regulatory landscape of FAA and DOT regulations to continually improve the charter marketplace for the benefit of our clients.

Tags: ACANA, air carrier, Air Charter Safety, aircraft broker, Charter a Jet, charter aircraft, charter broker, jet charter, private charter regulations, private jet
Posted in Private Jet Charters and Aircraft Rentals | Comments Off

Stratos Jet Charters Works With ACANA to Promote Best Practices and Professionalism to Air Charter Service Providers

Friday, June 17th, 2011

With the economic downturn still in effect, many air charter consumers are looking for low-cost options for private jet charter. In recent weeks, we at Stratos Jet Charters, have endeavored to warn private jet travelers about charter brokerages who engage in dishonest, deceptive business practices to offer reduced pricing for charter flights.

At Stratos Jet Charters, we have taken a stand against charter brokers who actively solicit illegal charter operators or employ unregistered aircraft to sell charter flights. As a member of the prestigious Air Charter Association of North America (ACANA), we feel it is our responsibility as an industry leader to educate consumers about the value of working with ACANA members.

ACANA, a non-profit organization, was founded by several, leading air charter service providers, who recognized the need for self-regulation in the air charter industry. 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.

Stratos Jets is a long-standing member of ACANA, and has been intimately involved in the organization’s efforts to promote best practices and professionalism to other air charter service providers. Like Stratos Jets, ACANA places an emphasis on consumer education, and seeks to become the leading source of information on air charter safety.

One of our goals at Stratos Jets is to help our clients understand why it is so important to work with ACANA members. In addition, we want our clients to be able to identify the warning signs of a deceptive charter broker who may present aircraft that are not qualified to fly passengers under the FAR Part 135 regulations.

It is our belief that the need for a self-regulatory organization, like ACANA, is more important than ever, considering the increasing number of charter brokers who are engaging in unfair business practices to undercut legitimate air carriers.

Charter brokers who engage in deceptive business practices do so at great risk to consumer safety. These charter brokers often skirt FAA regulations and ACANA best practices to lower the price of charter flights for consumers. The problem is that these regulations and best practices were established to ensure your personal safety.

ACANA members, on the other hand, take every precaution to ensure the safety and legality of every charter flight, regardless of any additional expense.

When you decide to work with a non-reputable charter broker, there is no guarantee that your aircraft is properly maintained or that the pilots have the necessary training and experience to conduct your flight. Nor do you have the necessary liability coverage in place. Not only does this pose a significant risk to safety, it harms the industry as a whole by fostering an environment where unsafe, unregulated charter brokerages can succeed.

As ACANA continues to grow, Stratos Jets aims to be a model of ACANA standards for other charter brokerages in the industry. In addition to persuading other charter brokerages and operators to adopt ACANA best practices, we impose these standards on each and every flight. As other brokers and operators continue to adopt ACANA standards, we believe that both the future of the industry and the safety of consumers will improve.

Contact Stratos Jets:

1.888.478.7286

info@stratosjets.com

Tags: ACANA, Air Charter, Aircraft Rental, Business Jet Charters, charter broker, Charter Jet, Jet Charter Safety, Private Jet Safety
Posted in Private Jet Charters and Aircraft Rentals | Comments Off

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

Tags: ACANA, Air Charter FAA Part 135, Charter a Jet, charter broker, charter flights, Charter Flights from Los Angeles to New York, Jet Charter Safety, Private Jet Charter, Private Jet Rentals
Posted in Private Jet Charters and Aircraft Rentals | Comments Off

Aircraft Profiles – the Citation Excel

Friday, February 12th, 2010

The Citation Excel is a medium-sized business jet, built by Cessna and made in America by workers in Wichita, Kansas.

The Excel is one of Cessna’s most popular models, and for good reason. It is designed for quick and easy travel for up to 8 people, with an atmosphere that invites passengers to relax or work productively as they fly in complete comfort. Passengers can enjoy an onboard entertainment system and the convenience of an enclosed lavatory, a nice amenity on planes of this size.

The plane features state of the art navigation and superior runway performance, which gives it access to a large number of airports and advanced high altitude capabilities.

The Excel also boasts more storage than most other mid-sized aircraft; the large cargo area can hold lots of personal baggage or oversized items like skis or golf clubs, making the plane ideal for vacation getaways!

For business or pleasure, consider trying the Citation Excel for yourself on your next trip.

Cessna Citation Excel – Tale of the Tape:

* Crew: 2
* Capacity: 8 passengers
* Length: 52 ft 6 in
* Wingspan: 56 ft 4 in
* Height: 17 ft 2 in
* Max takeoff weight: 20,200 lb
* Min takeoff distance: 4,250 ft
* Cruise speed: 441 ktas
* Range: 1,858 nm
* Service ceiling: 45,000 ft

Tags: aircraft, cargo, charter broker, jet, mid-sized jet, Part 135, passenger, plane, travel
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Differentiating Beyond Price – Your Tool Kit For Making Intelligent Jet Charter Decisions Part 2: Aircraft Maintenance

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

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

Tags: aircraft maintenance, certification, charter broker, charter operator, FAA guidelines, flight crew, jet charter, mechanical issues, purchasing guide, safety
Posted in Private Jet Charters and Aircraft Rentals | Comments Off

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ONE-WAY FLIGHTS

From: Telluride, CO

To: St Louis, MO

Contact Stratos Jet Charters for information on One-Way Charter Flights from Telluride, CO to St Louis, MO at 1.888.478.7286

DISCOUNTED EMPTY LEGS

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, US (KPWA) - WEST PALM BEACH, FL, US (KPBI) Hawker 900XP - 8 Passengers Available:04-Mar-2012 11:00PM

BURLINGTON, VT, US (KBTV) - WASHINGTON, DC, US (KIAD) Citation Excel XLS+ - 8 Passengers Available:23-Feb-2012 12:59PM

MORRISTOWN, NJ, US (KMMU) - MORGANTOWN, WV, US (KMGW) Citation Excel XLS+ - 8 Passengers Available:24-Feb-2012 9:51AM

BURLINGTON, VT, US (KBTV) - TETERBORO, NJ, US (KTEB) Citation Excel - 7 Passengers Available:29-Feb-2012 6:31AM

WALTERBORO, SC, US (KRBW) - ATLANTA, GA, US (KPDK) Beechjet 400 - 8 Passengers Available:22-Feb-2012 5:00PM

RICHMOND, KY, US (KI39) - MEMPHIS, TN, US (KMEM) Learjet 60 - 7 Passengers Available:23-Feb-2012 5:50PM

JACKSON, MS, US (KJAN) - ATLANTA, GA, US (KPDK) Citation Jet 2 (CJ2) - 7 Passengers Available:23-Feb-2012 5:54PM

FT LAUDERDALE, FL, US (KFXE) - NAPLES, FL, US (KAPF) Citation Jet 2 (CJ2) - 7 Passengers Available:24-Feb-2012 1:48PM

POINT-TO-POINT PRICING

From: Santo Domingo

To: New York and London

Contact Stratos Jet Charters for Point to Point Pricing on charter flights from Santo Domingo to New York and London at 1.888.478.7286

© 2007-2012 Stratos Jet Charters, Inc.
Stratos Jet Charters, Inc. serves as an agent for air charter services on behalf of our clients. All aircrafts and air carriers selected by Stratos Jet Charters are fully certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation under Part 135 Regulations. Carriers are solely responsible for the air transportation arranged on behalf of Stratos Jet Charters clients. Stratos Jet Charters does not own or operate any aircrafts. Stratos Jet Charters is not a direct or indirect air carrier. All flights chartered through Stratos Jet Charters are operated by Part 135 air carriers.