When it comes to owning and operating a jet, having the proper aircraft insurance in place is one of the most important responsibilities you can undertake. It’s not a matter of should you or shouldn’t you, it’s more a matter of coverage, provider, and rates.
To better provide our clients with the information they need to make informed buying decisions, we’ve created an aircraft insurance guide to help clarify the types available and how they’re used.
Aircraft Hull & Liability Insurance
For aircraft owners and operators, there are many different variations and options available through an aircraft hull & liability insurance policy. Some owners prefer to purchase hull insurance only while others opt for additional liability insurance as well. Beyond those two basic forms, the options are extensive and can be a bit overwhelming to those new to the industry. To help educate our clients, our goal is to provide as much information as possible.
For a more detailed explanation of hull and liability insurance, please visit the Aircraft Liability Insurance page.
Our Carriers’ Minimum Coverage & Our Own Additional Policy
For clients booking charters, we’ve created our own in-house Air Carrier Due Diligence Program. With this program, each and every air carrier we work with is pre-screened before being hired for a mission. One of the requirements we screen for is that each private aircraft carrier must carry liability insurance at a minimum of $25 million for turboprop charters and $50 million for jets. However, many of the operators we work with greatly exceed these minimums.
In addition to these requirements, we’ve also invested in our own $10 million non-owned liability policy. We maintain this policy to give our clients peace of mind when booking a charter flight with us.
However, some charter clients feel more comfortable with additional coverage, and we’re happy to facilitate that. For more detailed information, please review the Non-owned Aircraft Liability page.
Fixed-base Operators Need Insurance Too
When it comes to aviation insurance, it’s not just aircraft that require liability insurance. Fixed-base operators (FBOs) require a general liability policy too. A proper policy can protect against a third party claim related to property damage or bodily harm.
Working with a reputable insurance broker can provide a policy that offers the appropriate coverage, such as:
- Premise Liability – Insures the premises against ordinary hazards
- Hangarkeeper’s Liability – Protects airports from claims related to aircraft damaged while in the care and custody of an airport
- Products and Completed Operations Liability – Intended to protect the airport from incidents arising from negligent work, and/or faulty products
- Personal and Advertising Injury Liability – This option can avoid penalties pertaining to “personal injury,” like false arrest, slander, privacy violiations, etc.
- Contractual Liability – Protects against issues that can arise due to contract disputes
When seeking FBO-related insurance coverage, it’s important to work with a reputable insurance broker that can help you take the necessary steps to safeguard your assets and make sure they’re properly cared for.
Stratos’ Commitment to Honest Advice and Fair Pricing
Aircraft insurance plans are complex and have many different variables, and it can be really challenging to put a policy in place that meets all your needs without consulting an industry expert. That’s why Stratos Jet Charters has decided to partner with an insurance broker that specializes in aviation insurance. We want to lend our expertise and knowledge to our clients to help them make informed buying decisions. Our transparent and informative approach in everything we do is what makes us proud to stand out as a leader in the private aviation industry.
Susan C.
We thoroughly enjoyed or experience. The pilot was very experienced and had a great personality as well. Equipment was in great shape. I have to admit, flying with Stratos taking care of the details is the only way to go! Thanks, Joel and the whole trip team.
Hobie L.
Recently booked a jet for 11 people from my organization to continue operations during hurricane Irma. As business owners know, operations do not cease during a disaster and customers must continue to be served. Stratos Jet Charters booked the aircraft we needed within an hour of reaching out. Our team was able to continue business operations in NYC seamlessly. Much appreciation to Joel and his team for fast action!
Claus K.
Hi Steve and Joel and Sandy,
Wanted to say thank you for the quick refund. It’s nice to work with you. Very professional.
Bye and best regards to the U.S.,
Claus
Megan G.
Anthony is great to work with and always extremely responsive which is key when we have an AOG and need a charter quickly!
Laura E.
Although I was not a traveler for this trip, I organized the flight and was the point of contact. The communication and details from our agent made this first time use of Stratos Jet Charters very pleasant. I was able to reach out directly to Steve and he was very patient and helpful with all the questions I had from booking to payment. The memorable moment was with a delay in the departure. Steve sent emails to all but also made a phone call to be sure I was aware. This was so appreciated so I could reach out immediately to the travelers. THANK YOU STEVE AND STRATOS JET CHARTERS.
Rebekah V.
Thanks for the great service again Kyle!
Kristof Catteeuw
Transparant, smooth, easy working with the entire team
Phil W.
My wife received treatment for cancer in Tijuana. It wasn’t possible to bring her home on a commercial flight. I reached to several charter services and Kyle at Stratos was so helpful. He immediately responded to my request and answered all my questions. He stayed engaged with us through the entire trip. The next time I need to charter a plane I will only make call. Stratos!! Great experience!!! Phil
Michael M.
Everything was great. Prompt and clear comms about flight / craft options. Kept us informed about key status. Nice account website and live-links for details. And, just friendly and pleasant people to work with. One big thing was that our original operator's plane cancelled due to mechanical the day before our departure. We know that happens sometimes and not Stratos' fault. What was great was how quickly the Stratos team got us viable alternatives. Within probably an hour we had an alternate operator confirmed. We were very pleased how well Stratos reacted. And, the replacement craft and crew were top-notch as well.
Kevin D.
Great service. Responsive and thorough.
THERESA L.
KERRY HILL WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO HELP ME WITH THIS TRIP FOR MR. SOLLBERGER. SHE IS PATIENT AND KNOWLEDGABLE AND WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP SEE THAT MR <REDACTED> ARRIVED SAFELY ON THE GROUND AND AT HIS HOTEL . I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT KERRY'S EXCELLENCE. THE FLIGHT AND CREW WERE EXCELLENT AS WELL.
Eric Sanchez
Always great working with you guys!! Great job all around as usual.
Laura L.
I will recommend Stratos and will give them Randy name/number, he was very professional, on the ball in all aspects!!!!! I had contacted 4 other companies - Randy was the best, that is why we went with Stratos .
John S.
Start to finish the team was very professional.
Rich B.
As a part 135 operator, I have been doing business with Stratos Jets since it was founded by Joel Thomas in 2006. Since the first trip I could tell they were a different type of Jet brokerage. Joel and his team of aviation advisors have always conducted themselves with the highest of standards and partnered with platinum operators like us to give their customers a luxurious private jet experience. Thank you for a decade of partnership and excellence. Thank you for your friendship! Rich Brennan VP of Sales
Charles D.
For our far flung family, Stratos has been a consistently dependable, and cost conscious alternative to fractional and no-minimum jet programs. For us, safety is number one and cost is number two... Stratos has excelled in both areas. Their response to requests is always prompt and personal. It is a pleasure working with Stratos.
James R.
After our flight, I sent an email to Joel Thomas (CEO) telling him about our experience. Joel called me last night to thank me for email. In part, my email to Joel said: Ernest Hemingway once said: "The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them". We trusted Stratos Jet Charters with our first charter flight, and the actions of all of your employees and contractors sustained our trust in Stratos. I told my wife when we were flying down: "Kyle (Jones) must sleep with his phone or computer on his pillow". It didn't matter when I called, texted, or emailed. Kyle always responded on a near immediate basis. Wow! Since this was our first charter, Kyle professionally and patiently walked us through the entire charter process with accurate, complete, and well-documented information. He seemed to always be a step ahead and in many, many cases, anticipated our questions and preemptively answered them. In a world where you hesitate to call a service provider or financial institution because you know you will be stuck on hold or in voicemail hell, it is indeed a breath of fresh air to find a company who communicates so very, very well and truly appears to care about their customers and the customer's experience with them. Most of my interaction was with Kyle Jones but I also had communications with Sandy Milam and she exhibited the same responsiveness as Kyle. The ground crews at Signature Flight Services at TEB and PBI were equally adept at continuing that service of excellence. Last but certainly not least, pilots Ernie Guido and Don Poskitt were the icing on the cake. As a former CEO of a professional services business, I know how important the client experience is and how communication is one of the very key components. I just wanted to be sure you heard about our experience from a very satisfied customer. Kudos to you and your staff.
James Taylor
My experience with Joel and his team a Stratos was great! We had a little wrinkle in our trip when we were diverted from our destination to another airport. It had nothing to do with our flight. There was a disabled plan on the runway. We diverted to the other airport and waited briefly for word on when it would clear. Joel and his team were all over it. They had alternate transportation lined up for us, which, we didn't end up using and ultimately got back on the plane and went to our intended destination. There were no extra charges and we only lost about an hour. Our return trip was fast and uneventful. Stratos helped us find the right plane for our trip and kept us within our budget. Thanks Joel and team!
Dan F.
Everything great but itineraries always change last minute (tail #, terminal) which has caused problems.
Christine L.
Great trip! Keep us informed of empty legs to Aspen
Bobbi Dent
Looking forward to our next booking with you! Professionalism at its finest!
Tim K.
HI Heather, I just wanted to let you know that the trip was fabulous. Everyone was especially excited about the trip to and from Florida on the jet. The pilots were very friendly and professional. We will definitely be using your service again. The G200 was the perfect aircraft for us also. Thank you again for your help in arranging such perfect transportation.
Curt C.
Great equipment, a competent/courteous crew and a smooth flight make for a terrific trip!!
James Mead
I like the new summary sheets you are sending, information is the key and they work. Have always loved running for you guy, you make it easy. Thank you for all you do and it is our goal to keep the relationship growing. Thanks Team! Jim
Bill P.
awesome
Geraldine C.
Booking was great, Kyle is wonderful a asset to your company. However the pilots were not. They were not there on time never offered an apology or explained as to why. When questioned they were extremely RUDE. I was told that the Pilots went to eat lunch so they kept myself and family waiting over an hour past wheels up time. I arrived at 12:30 for a 1:00 flight they arrived at 1:30 for a 1:00 flight with BAD attitudes
Gary L.
Yes very
Teresa M.
Everything went off smoothly and everyone I worked with at Stratos was very patient and helpful. Our small group felt very special! What a treat and yes I’d recommend Stratos to anyone.
David R.
We were on a commercial flight from Detroit to Salt Lake City when part way into our flight we got notification from Delta app that our delay was going to cause us to miss our connection. We were on a long weekend for MLK to go skiing in Lake Tahoe. We were going to be rescheduled the following day, thus missing half of our vacation. I had email only, and emailed Garett asking if they had an operator in SLC who could get us to Tahoe that evening. Within 20 minutes he came back with two quotes. By the time we landed he had set up the flight, emailed me the number to the shuttle to get from Delta terminal to the private terminal, and did it all for a great price. To throw things off even more, we were set to fly to Tahoe, but Delta somehow got our bags on the flight to Reno that they said we couldn't make. So at the last minute we changed from Tahoe to Reno for a destination. By the time we took the shuttle to the FBO our flight plan was set and we took off within 10 minutes. It could not have been more seamless. It literally saved our vacation. Time is the most precious resource we have and time with family is even more precious. Our daughter is a senior and this is one of the last trips we'll have with her; it meant a lot, and Stratos savings our vacation, allowing us to create memories, means all that much more. Thank you!! Dave
Stewart G.
Pilot did a terrible job of synchronizing the engines. It was bad enough at one point that the two guest passengers were worried we would need an emergency landing. I have flown on Hawkers for 15 years now and never had that experience. Crew was very nice, but the pilot needs some instruction. It was very disconcerting.
Alie G.
We only ever book with Stratos-- Joel and his team are so professional and helpful, even with last-minute travel needs. They are the best!
Joel M.
Since it was my first charter I have no comparisons
Elizabeth P.
At last minute's notice I needed to find a private plane to get my elderly parents from Bangor, Maine to Atlanta. I googled charter companies and Stratos Charters was first to pop up. I called immediately and Joel (founder and president of company) answered. He could not have been more gracious and helpful. He was the perfect combination of professional and personable. Our charter was arranged and the trip went through seamlessly. Stratos Charter and Joel made a stressful situation into a very pleasant one for us. I highly recommend their services and will definitely use them in the future. Thank you to them!
Joe B.
The whole process was easy and went BETTER than planned. Glenn was my agent and he made sure everything was handled completely and we had no worries. The plane left exactly on time and was an upgrade from the originally chosen plane. The car was waiting when we landed at the hanger and only had a few steps from the plan to the car. We made our appointment as planned and my family was so happy. I recommend Stratos highly.
Daniel W.
Worked with Glenn and he really worked to find the right plane at the right time! Aircraft crew were professional and courteous. Two great cross country flights.
Jamie Thies
Thank you for using Business Jet Access, we appreciate your business and it was a pleasure working with the Stratos team. Information was provided in a timely manner and communication was clear. Thanks again and we look forward to future trips.
Kyle B.
This service was unmatched and couldn’t have been better!
Todd C.
Incredibly responsive, great service, sourced a great plane, would definitely recommend to friends.
Tyler Grady
I work on the operator side of this business. Joel and his team (Christina, Simon, Kerry, and more) are all incredibly wonderful to work with. They are always responsive in a timely manner and deliver accurate information consistently. They bring a very positive attitude and outlook to this industry. Hopeful to book many more trips with them in the future.
Jaime D.
Plane was not clean. One pilot claimed to have a mask but never wore it, despite being told to. My booking with Stratos was clear and should have been obvious even if I hadn’t specifically asked for a clean plane and a masked crew. My wife and I neither ate (to not remove our masks) nor used the bathroom ( the unmasked pilot had to use the bathroom shortly after departure). By far our most uncomfortable air travel made worse by the fact that it was private.
________________
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I appreciate the feedback and opportunity for me to address this with the air carrier. I have contacted them and shared your experience with them. Your health and safety is of the utmost importance to us. While operating in this COVID-19 environment brings new challenges; sharing your experience, has allowed Stratos to identify opportunities to improve the customer experience by implementing several pro-active steps as well as additional QA requirements on the day of flight. We sincerely appreciate our relationship with you and your willingness to help us get better every day!
Soar Higher - Joel A. Thomas / CEO
Travis C.
I worked with Kimberly from Stratos Jet Charters. She was very enthusiastic and helpful. In fact because of her enthusiasm and helpfulness, I chose Stratos over a another company that gave me a slightly lower quote. She answered all my questions and did her best to meet all my requests. The flight was excellent, plane was comfortable and the pilots were very helpful and professional. There was a bit of miscommunication about the hours of customs at my home airport .. and lead to a bit of confusion about the return departure time. Ice for beverages had melted on the first leg, and not all the drinks were stocked according to what was promised. My requests were fulfilled however for the return flight. I'm a coffee drinker, coffee was well stocked, but very little cream available, kinda curdled!!. These are tiny details but better supply of online refreshments would have made the flight perfect!! Beautiful views, no delays, smooth landings, and comfortable seats and lav. Beautiful shiny, clean plane. . the CJ3. Had a great time!
Joe Stephenson
Always a pleasure to work with you all. Please let me know about the app you've developed. Thanks, Joel. Sincerely, Joe Stephenson Merlin One
Trevor B.
Pricing to be competitive with Marquis etc.
Robert G.
Everything went perfect. great job. Yes I would recommend your company to my friends.
Caroline L.
This was our first experience chartering a jet, and it was wonderful! I reached out to 40 private jet companies. We chose Stratos because Daniel went above and beyond from day one. He was incredibly responsive and knowledgeable about the aircraft. We weren't even sure what we were asking for in the beginning. We just had a checklist we were looking for. Daniel took this and helped us find the perfect aircraft for the trip. Daniel over-communicated and helped all along the way. The trip was so smooth. I can't recommend Stratos (and Daniel) enough. Thank you for such a wonderful and stress-free experience!
Tom C.
Anthony worked hard on our request and came up with a perfect solution. The plane was the right size to hold all our luggage, and the flight on-time, comfortable, and in all respects outstanding. Highly recommended.
David A.
I called my go to guy Anthony when another provider bailed the last second. He got me a plane ready to take off in two hours. Doesn't get any better than that!!
Paul A.
Prompt excellent cost saving service. Many choices. Always working to meet my needs.
Chris B.
None. My experience with Strosjets honestly couldn't have been better
Matteo G.
The flight was excellent, 24 hours prior Sarah helped us with a departure window and the crew and FBO were really accommodating as we were running behind. Really nice Hawker 900XP nice pilots and smooth flight. Cant give enough praise to the Stratos process and ease.