Posts Tagged ‘jet charter broker’

Stratos Jets Certified as Wyvern Broker

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

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

Tags: ACANA, Air Charter, Air Charter FAA Part 135, Air Charter Safety, Business Jet Charters, charter flights, jet charter broker, Jet Charter Safety, Private Jet Rentals, Wyvern
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Winter Weather Concerns for Jet Charter Flights

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

Snow and slush, when not properly plowed off runways, can increase minimum takeoff and landing distances

Snow covers the directional signs, runways and airport facilities during after a heavy winter storm.

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Winter weather conditions present serious concerns regarding safety and availability of aircraft for winter travel. During the upcoming winter months, cold temperatures produce snow and freeze moisture in the air, producing hazardous icing conditions.

Snow and ice pose a number of different potential threats to private jet charter flights. First, when snow and slush are not properly plowed off runways they can increase minimum takeoff and landing distances for private jets. This creates potentially unsafe conditions, and increases the amount of time it takes for flights to safely takeoff and land which then causes air traffic delays.

Second, ice which forms on private aircraft also changes the shape of the wings and tail, altering the flow of air over the plane and causing critical control surfaces to become rough and uneven, which increases the weight and drag upon the aircraft and thus reduces lift capabilities. And if large pieces of ice separate when the aircraft is in motion they can be ingested in engines or hit propellers, and cause a potentially catastrophic mechanical failure.

To avoid these dangers, de-icing an aircraft on the ground prior to departure when there are freezing conditions and precipitation is crucial, which can take extra time and cause possible delays. The pilots use de-icing techniques on the wings and body of the plane, and also near engine inlets and sensors on the outside of the aircraft to be sure they are clear of ice or snow.

Another potential icing problem occurs in flight, where droplets of supercooled water often found in clouds, and abruptly crystallize into ice when they are struck by the wings of passing aircraft. Once again this disrupts airflow over the wing and reduces lift. All charter aircraft arranged by Stratos Jets that are expected to fly in such conditions are equipped with de-icing and anti-icing systems.

Air charter flights to New York and along mountain ranges such as the Sierras, Cascades, Appalachians and Rockies are locations that frequently encounter these hazardous icing conditions. Departing out of fog-prone areas on the coasts can also be difficult during the fall and winter months. As frustrating as aviation delays due to winter weather are for private jet travelers, they are sometimes unavoidable.

When winter weather affects your flight, the pilots, air traffic controllers and your Stratos Jet agent will work together to find an alternative solution without compromising the safety of your flight.

To avoid snow and ice weather delays, Stratos Jet Charters often utilizes larger, metropolitan airports during the winter months, as they typically have the necessary equipment to plow snow quickly off runways and can provide hangar facilities to prevent ice from forming on aircraft overnight. We also utilize airport hangers to avoid the threat of aircraft icing conditions.

When weather causes your original flight plans to be canceled or delayed, our expert air charter agents can also provide you with plenty of back-up options among the thousands of airports worldwide that we can utilize, including those near to your destination with more favorable weather conditions.

During these circumstances, it’s nice to step off your charter jet and directly into a waiting vehicle, which is especially helpful when your flight has been diverted to an alternative airport which is unfamiliar to you. In these situations, allow Stratos Jets to arrange luxury or rental ground transportation for you as part of your itinerary.
As your single source for private transportation services, we are able to quote and book your entire trip with a one call, one invoice and one relationship, providing you with a true end-to-end transportation solution.

At Stratos Jets, we believe flying should be a peaceful, stress-free experience. Our air charter agents closely monitor your aircraft and communicate with your ground transportation to ensure a fluid and convenient process, and have the cold weather expertise to help you and your loved ones travel safely during the fall and winter. We only work with the finest Part 135 aircraft operators that have the safest, icing-equipped and Wyvern compliant aircraft, and also the most experienced flight crew, trained to handle the effects of cold weather flying.

Tags: Air Charter, Aircraft Rental, Business Aviation, charter a jet after flight cancelation, cold weather flying, jet charter, jet charter broker, winter weather flight delays
Posted in Private Jet Charters and Aircraft Rentals | Comments Off

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.

Tags: air cargo, Air Charter, Air Charter FAA Part 135, Charter Flight, jet charter, jet charter broker, on-demand jet charter, Private Jet Charter
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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.

Tags: ACANA, Air Charter, Air Charter FAA Part 135, aircraft charter, Charter Jet, jet charter broker, Private Jet Rentals, Private Jet Safety
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Stratos Jet Charters, Inc. Acquires Air Charter Access

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

Furthering our strategy to meet the growing demand for private jet charter, Stratos Jet Charters, announced today that we have acquired Air Charter Access, one of the finest and most reputable air charter brokerages in the industry.

Recently, the air charter industry has seen the return of business and personal travelers seeking alternatives to the long lines, invasive security screenings, and route cancellations of commercial travel. We believe that the increased demand and heightened interest for private jet charter serves as a positive indicator of economic recovery.

Stratos Jets has already received an influx of charter flight requests, and we expect to see a significant increase in jet charter activity and traffic over the next few months. Stratos Jets recently acquired Air Charter Access, a leading air charter brokerage firm, to meet the increasing demand for jet charter, while still providing the same high level of service that our clients have come to expect from Stratos Jets.

Stratos Jets’ acquisition of Air Charter Access will benefit our clients by enabling our company to provide the highest level of personalized service and attention to detail in the industry. As a result of the acquisition, Stratos Jets will have the necessary resources to respond to the growing demand from charter clients for flights at or below market value. By acquiring Air Charter Access, Stratos Jets agents will be able to improve their work flow and consistently provide the highest level of service, while managing the increase in traffic and demand for jet charter.

Stratos Jets has developed a close relationship with Air Charter Access because of their similar philosophy for building and maintaing close personal relationships with their clients. The business model of Air Charter Access closely resembles that of Stratos Jets, with an emphasis on client development and retention. Air Charter Access flight coordinators are as equally committed to best practices and excellence as Stratos Jets agents, and bring a wealth of air charter knowledge and expertise to the table.

As the demand for jet charter continues to rise, Stratos Jets agents will work diligently with Air Charter Access flight coordinators to tailor our services to meet the exact needs of our clients. We would like to remind our clients that Stratos Jets and Air Charter Access will be available 24/7 to arrange jet charter flights to any destination in the world.

Contact Stratos Jets:

1.888.478.7286

info@stratosjets.com

Tags: Air Charter, air charter news, Aircraft Rental, Business Jet Charters, charter flights, jet charter broker, Jet Charter Safety, Private Jet Rentals
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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.

Tags: Air Charter Agent, Air Charter FAA Part 135, jet charter broker, Jet Charter Membership, Part 135, Private Jet rental, Private jets
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How to find Last minute charter flights

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Chartering a jet directly through an operator can be a pleasant and convenient experience. Especially when most of your flights have the same routing; it becomes familiar and routine. But as the seasons change so does the demand for jet charter service. Experienced flyers who charter jets regularly, have at some time or another found themselves scrambling to find a last minute charter flight because their regular plane is down for maintenance or off on a charter flight for the owner. Working exclusively with an operator for air charter limits your selection of aircrafts to what is within their fleet and thus limiting your availability.

Dependent upon the executive airport required for departure and the itinerary, last minute availability can be hard to find and can be costly. When you have the need for a last minute charter flight, repositioning an aircraft is likely required. When you are trying to get out of town quickly the last thing you want to do is spend time on the internet searching for an operator who has availability on the appropriate charter jet for your last minute charter flight.

Air charter agents exist because they can locate all of the relevant charter jets and evaluate the cost of repositioning multiple planes. They can then present you with the most affordable and cost effective options available industry wide as well as provide information related to the pilot’s level of experience and aircraft maintenance records. Air charter agents do not own or operate any aircrafts, but instead work with multiple operators to provide service regardless of the executive airport requested. This is why working with an air charter agent will allow you to gain you access to 24hr charter plane availability. An agent allows you to gain access to worldwide availability not just the regional availability that an operator has. Charter Agents that have solid relationships with many operators can provide multiple aircrafts at competitive bids that usually compete with the retail prices of an operator. It is important to work with a reputable air charter agency with strong relationships within the industry. The value of the air charter agent lies in the strength of the relationships that they have within their strategic network of operators with which they work. With an agent you can find the nicest charter jets at the best available price throughout the United States of America, Europe, the Caribbean Islands, Pacific Ocean, Asia and the Middle East. Working with a reputable agent helps ensure that when you NEED a last minute charter flight your aircraft can be available.

When trying to find last minute charter flight availability, it is wise to provide a firm but flexible budget. By providing your agent a budget for your last minute flight, will enable your agent to work quickly and on your behalf to find available aircrafts at the very best price. It is best to give a general budget for guideline for your agent to act within. By providing a budget you will send a powerful buying signal that your agent can work with to negotiate pricing on your behalf. To develop a relationship with a reputable air charter agency, I recommend you visit http://www.stratosjets.com/ or contact them at 1.888.478.7286

Tags: Air Charter Agent, jet charter broker, Last minute Private jet charter, Private Jet Charter
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Emergency Charter Evacuations and Humanitarian Relief Assistance

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

The recent major earthquake in Haiti provides another example of how quickly events can occur and evacuation needs can arise. When a catastrophe like this happens, it’s hard to know what to do next. If you were impacted by a natural disaster while in a foreign country, who would you call?

If you or a loved one was seriously injured during a disaster like this one, would you receive adequate medical care? The needed medicine(s)?

The effects of the disaster itself, the added language barrier and the long distances involved can quickly turn a bad situation into a horrible nightmare for many families.

When you or loved ones are abroad and need emergency evacuation services, Stratos Jet Charters is always here for you. Stratos Jets will help get you out of your destination country and back to the U.S. as quickly as possible, sometimes within hours.

We also stand ready to arrange the delivery of life saving supplies – such as food, water. vital medicine and medical equipment, or shelter and clothing.
We also have a Spanish speaking staff member here at Stratos Jets, 24-hours-per-day, who can immediately assist you to arrange your safe return home or to medical facilities in the United States by emergency air charter transportation from Latin American countries.

Regardless of your situation, no matter what your needs may be, arranging for emergency evacuations or other critical, urgent travel needs is a forte here at Stratos Jets. It could save your life.

And of course we can facilitate other travel requirements as well, caused by potential violence or social unrest, medical emergency or life-threatening illness, or an emergency family situation back at home. The bottom line: we will always do whatever possible to assist you during a time of crisis!

For more information, give us a call at 888 478-7286 to find out more about your many options and all of our services here at Stratos Jet Charters.

We all wish we could avoid every natural disaster, like this current emergency in Haiti. But when the situation arises, we look forward to the opportunity to provide critical assistance during your time of great need.

Joel A. Thomas, Owner – Stratos Jet Charters
Phone: 888 478-7286
Email: joel@stratosjets.com

Tags: advice, aircraft, aircraft charter, charter agent, Evacuation, flight, jet charter, jet charter broker, Language Barrier, Medical Emergency, Spanish Speaking, travel
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Differentiating Beyond Price – Your Tool Kit For Making Intelligent Jet Charter Decisions

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Part 3 – Pilot Certification

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. And determining the motivation of your broker can sometimes be difficult, especially those brokers with limited aviation expertise – who place a priority on their profits, not your safety. This is why we created this educational series, or “tool kit”, to provide you with the knowledge that you need to make well-informed jet charter decisions.

Our first two topics discussed aircraft insurance verification and aircraft maintenance, and how vital each is to your safety. Our third, and equally critical topic focuses on the issue of pilot certification.

First, some basics on pilot certification and training. To fly air charter, a pilot must progress through flight training and obtain a commercial pilot’s license, an instrument rating, and a multi-engine rating. After obtaining these licenses, every operator has a minimum number of hours of Pilot in Command experience which they require for a pilot to be eligible to fly air charter. As the aircraft becomes more complex, the minimum hours required by operators and also their insurance companies increase.

Pilots should receive a minimum of 5 to 10 hours of in-flight training covering every possible emergency that can happen in an aircraft. They should also have a primary concern for safety, including the safe condition or airworthiness of the plane; knowledge of weather factors affecting the safety of the flight; flight regulations; air traffic control procedures, and air navigational aids designed to provide maximum safety in the air.

After their training, pilots take an oral and written examination, as well as a flight check in which they must demonstrate their ability to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examiner. Pilots need to demonstrate to the FAA that their flying skills, knowledge and state of health are at all times acceptable for the particular flying jobs they perform. These flight checks are demanding, and can be failed.

And while these standard FAA requirements are stringent, Stratos Jet Charters goes even further in our own pilot requirements. Each Pilot in Command of a charter flight arranged by Stratos Jet Charters is required to have a minimum of 3,000 hours of total flight time. And each Second in Command is required to have a minimum of 1,000 total flight hours.

Operators chosen by Stratos Jets are required to only hire pilots with a 100% training record and all pilots must attend Flight Safety School at least once per year. We also require that every aircraft contracted by Stratos Jet Charters be regularly audited by an independent agency, such as Wyvern or ARGUS.

Wyvern and ARGUS have the two most recognized safety auditing standards in the industry. During an on-site safety evaluation, Part 135 charter operators are measured against the demanding ARGUS or Wyvern operating standards, both which far exceed government regulatory oversight. The reliability of audit results depends on the application of well-defined, consistent audit processes and standards. The strength of both Wyvern and ARGUS safety audit programs lie in the experience, qualifications and superior training of their audit teams, reviewing operators’ aircraft fleets, crews and maintenance. Every area of the operation is scrutinized.

And meeting these standards does make a real difference in safety. This can be observed in historical safety records. A miniscule percentage of both fatal and non-fatal FAR Part 135 accidents from January 1991 to April 2009 involved ARGUS or Wyvern-compliant and recommended aircraft or aircrew, far less than 1%. Having an ARGUS or Wyvern compliant operator, crew and maintenance program is your assurance that the pilots of your flight have a record clear of accidents, incidents and enforcement actions, are adequately experienced in the aircraft they will be flying, and have all proper certifications and type ratings.

When it comes to the safety of your charter flight, know that Stratos Jet Charters will never, ever cut corners. Which is why, once again, that you should not choose a charter broker based solely on price. The safety and security of you and your fellow passengers MUST be the primary consideration for every charter flight. This is just another aspect of our commitment to you – our invaluable clients!

Joel Thomas – President, Stratos Jet Charters

Tags: Accident, aircraft charter, FAA guidelines, flight crew, jet charter, jet charter broker, Part 135, pilot, pilot certification, safety, travel
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Stratos Jet Charters Now Rated By Dun & Bradstreet With “Strong” Financial Ranking

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

As our regular readers know, we at Stratos Jet Charters have always felt that having confidence in those you do business with is a critical component of the decisions you make every day. The financial history and standing of the charter company you choose to do business with matters, both in terms of your assurances that you will receive what you have paid for, and in the overall performance and quality of services that relate directly to your travel experience.

This explains why we are proud to announce that Stratos Jet Charters has recently received the rating of STRONG regarding the financial condition of our company from Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE: DNB). D&B; is the world’s leading source of credit information and reports, commercial information and insight on businesses in both the US and internationally. They provide their customers with the financial foundation that their customers rely on to make vital business decisions.

In both the Financial Stress Class score and the Credit Class score, Stratos Jet Charters received the highest possible ranking of 1. This places Stratos Jets above the national average for the Jet Charter Industry, the South Atlantic Region, within our Employee Range and for the Number of Years in Business by significant margins in both categories. Here is a link to our official release announcing our rating, with more detailed category descriptions.

Dun & Bradstreet also compile payment performance data independently from the various trade references of each rated company to create a D&B; PAYDEX score. This score is a unique, dollar weighted indicator of payment performance based on the payment experiences of a company’s business partners and vendors. Among the 58 vendors reporting to the D&B; file regarding Stratos Jet Charters, we paid within credit terms in 100% of all reported cases, for a total score of 80 – compared to an industry median PAYDEX score of 70 – which places Stratos above the 75th percentile in PAYDEX ranking.

Our Dun & Bradstreet rating is just another of the many reasons why you can travel with confidence when you choose Stratos Jet Charters as your agent, and partner, for your next flight.

We believe that enduring client relationships are created by providing both great travel experiences and the best charter pricing possible on every flight. With every client interaction and customer service opportunity we are presented with at Stratos Jet Charters, our goal is to create long-term, repeat business relationships with our clients.

With Stratos Jet Charters you will always have the Right Plane, for the Right Trip, and at the Best Price.

Thanks,

Joel Thomas – President, Stratos Jet Charters

Tags: charter agent, charter pricing, D and B ranking, D and B rating, Dun and Bradstreet, financial condition, flight, jet charter, jet charter broker, travel
Posted in Private Jet Charters and Aircraft Rentals | Comments Off

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ONE-WAY FLIGHTS

From: Charleston, SC

To: Worcester, MA

Contact Stratos Jet Charters for information on One-Way Charter Flights from Charleston, SC to Worcester, MA at 1.888.478.7286

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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

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From: Rome

To: New York and Los Angeles

Contact Stratos Jet Charters for Point to Point Pricing on charter flights from Rome to New York and Los Angeles 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.