Rigorous Pre-Flight Due Diligence
Operator vetting, aircraft suitability, insurance verification, crew review, and operational-history analysis — completed before a quote reaches you.
Charter Safety Standards
Higher standards. Built-in prevention. Continuous enforcement.
TRUSTED BY DISCERNING TRAVELERS SINCE 2007
Safety Beyond Compliance.
Private jet charter operates under strict FAA Part 135 regulations. Meeting minimum requirements, however, is not the same as actively managing risk.
At Stratos Jets, safety begins with deliberate judgment applied long before any flight is presented. We combine rigorous operator vetting, published crew and aircraft standards, and continuous monitoring through Stratos FMS™ — standards that are defined, published, and actively enforced.
Higher Than Regulatory
Published & Enforced
Continuously Monitored
Safety as Culture
Safety Is a Culture — Not Just a Standard
Private aviation safety is not determined by one badge, one certificate, or one aircraft photo. It depends on the judgment applied long before a flight is ever presented to a client.
At Stratos Jets, safety is ingrained in how we operate every day. It shapes advisor training, long-term operator relationships, and every flight recommendation.
We partner with air carriers that demonstrate consistent commitment to maintenance, crew professionalism, documentation, and operational discipline under real-world pressure.
“We’re not willing to take a chance with disreputable air carriers. Our responsibility is to protect our clients by working with operators that demonstrate the experience, discipline, and safety culture required for private aviation.”
Joel Thomas — Founder & CEO, Stratos Jets
The most important safety decision is sometimes the decision not to present an option at all.
What Are Stratos Charter Safety Standards?
The Foundation — Three Pillars Behind Every Recommendation.
Private jet charter safety standards are the specific criteria used to evaluate the operator, aircraft, crew, insurance, maintenance discipline, flight history, and operational readiness behind every proposed flight. At Stratos Jets, these standards are applied before an operator is even approved inside Stratos FMS™ — so safety is evaluated at the sourcing stage, long before any options reach the client.
Our safety program rests on three integrated pillars that support Risk-Managed Private Aviation™.
Published Crew & Aircraft Standards
Two pilots on every flight, ATP-rated jet Captains, defined experience thresholds, turbine aircraft only, and mission-appropriate selection — published and enforced.
Active Mission Monitoring & Re-Validation
Stratos FMS™ checkpoints at 24-hour and 4-hour intervals, real-time visibility, and re-validation when variables change.
Curated Operator Network
Not Every Aircraft. Not Every Operator.
Every flight we coordinate comes from a curated network of pre-screened operators. Before any operator is considered, they must:
- Be fully certified under FAA Part 135
- Demonstrate a strong operational track record
- Maintain the organizational depth for proper maintenance and training
- Show genuine commitment to safety culture and operational discipline
We don’t show you every available aircraft. We show you the aircraft that meet our standard.
Our Due Diligence Process
Multi-Layered Evaluation — Before You Ever See a Quote.
Every operator and aircraft undergoes a structured review. We incorporate ARGUS and Wyvern data — but never rely on it alone.
01
Pre-Screening & Qualification
Regulatory compliance (FAA Part 135), insurance verification, organizational review.
02
Operational History Review
Accidents, incidents, FAA actions, personnel consistency. Approved operators must be free of accidents involving serious injury to passengers and major FAA enforcement actions for a minimum of five years.
03
Cultural & Operational Evaluation
Safety management systems, training quality, real-world execution.
Result: Only operators that meet our standards are presented. Others are excluded.
Aircraft & Crew Standards
Published Standards. Enforced on Every Flight.
These minimums ensure qualified, experienced crews appropriate to the aircraft and mission.
Aircraft Standards
- Turbine aircraft only (no piston)
- Selected for mission suitability, not just availability
Pilot & Crew Standards
- Two pilots required on every flight
- ATP-rated Captain
- Annual recurrent simulator training (SIMCOM or FlightSafety International, where applicable)
- Minimum experience thresholds
Minimum Crew Requirements
Pilot-in-Command
Second-in-Command
Requirement
Jet
Turbo-Prop
Jet
Turbo-Prop
FAA Rating
ATP
Commercial (ATP preferred)
Commercial / Multi-Engine
Commercial
Total Time
3,000 hrs
2,000 hrs
1,000 hrs
1,000 hrs
Time as Captain
1,500 hrs
1,000 hrs
500 hrs
500 hrs
Time in Type
250 hrs
175 hrs
—
—
Transparency When Standards Cannot Be Met
No assumptions. No hidden compromises.
In rare cases where an aircraft is operationally suitable but falls short of a preferred standard, we disclose the exception clearly, explain the implications, and give the client the choice to accept, decline, or request an alternative.
No hidden compromises.
Insurance & Financial Protection
Layered Protection — Aligned With Operational Standards.
Operators must meet elevated insurance requirements, with active coverage verified for each trip. Stratos adds supplemental coverage on top of every flight.
Minimum $25M liability — turboprop
Minimum $50M liability — jet
Active coverage verified for each trip
Stratos listed as additionally insured, with coverage extending to Stratos-arranged passengers as applicable
Supplemental $50M liability policy on each flight
Layered protection — never assumed, always documented
From Standards to System
How Safety Is Enforced — Not Just Defined.
Standards alone don’t reduce risk — execution does. These protocols are enforced through Stratos FMS™.
01
Approved Operators Only
Only pre-screened operators are available for sourcing inside the FMS — no sidebar deals, no manual workarounds.
02
Embedded Due Diligence
Due diligence is embedded on each quote — same documented workflow for every flight, every time.
03
24-Hour & 4-Hour Checkpoints
Automated validation confirms aircraft readiness, crew legality, and mission alignment at defined intervals.
04
Continuous Real-Time Tracking
Aircraft, crew, weather, and mission variables tracked continuously — not at booking and forgotten.
05
Mission-Change Re-Validation & Post-Flight Feedback
Any change re-runs validation. Post-flight performance feeds back into future operator decisions.
Powered By
Stratos FMS™
Our proprietary operating system makes every safety standard an enforced rule — not a checklist.
Stratos FMS™ turns safety standards into enforceable rules — not just a checklist.
Continuous Evaluation & Improvement
Because Risk Doesn’t Stand Still.
Stratos FMS™ tracks changes in real time and feeds post-flight data back into operator evaluation — continuously refining selections and decisions.
This is how risk is reduced before departure and actively managed as conditions change.
Stratos vs Traditional Charter
Compliance Is a Floor. We Build the Ceiling.
Where traditional charter treats safety as a baseline check, Stratos treats it as an enforced framework — from sourcing through landing.
Aspect
Stratos Jets
Traditional Charter
Safety Approach
Risk-managed framework
Regulatory compliance
Operator Selection
Curated network
Broad marketplace
Due Diligence
Standardized & multi-layered
Varies
Monitoring
Continuous (Stratos FMS™)
Limited
Decision-Making
Proactive + transparent
Reactive
Enforcement
System-driven (Stratos FMS™)
Manual
Stratos Safety Credentials
Independent Validation, Across the Industry.
Our safety governance is anchored in independent, ongoing third-party review.
ARGUS Certified Broker
Continuous certification for over 11 years.
Wyvern Safety Data
Wyvern safety data and operator intelligence used as part of our multi-layered review.
Air Charter Safety Foundation
Active member supporting industry-wide safety.
The System Behind Every Flight
Risk-Managed Private Aviation™ is not a single feature — it is a coordinated system of standards, technology, and protections designed to deliver safer, more reliable, and more responsible private jet travel.
Explore each component:
Charter Safety Standards
Higher-than-regulatory operator, aircraft, and crew standards actively enforced on every flight.
FlightGuard™ Mechanical Recovery
Built-in financial protection and coordinated recovery that controls replacement aircraft costs if the original becomes mechanically unavailable.
Aviation Insurance & Supplemental Coverage
Comprehensive protection, including a $50 million supplemental liability policy on every flight—beyond the operator's coverage.
Stratos FMS™ Technology Platform
Centralized operating system providing real-time oversight, standardized sourcing, and coordinated execution across every mission—delivered through the Flight Deck™ client experience.
Sustainability Initiatives
Carbon offset programs and mission-specific aircraft sourcing designed to reduce environmental impact without compromising performance.
ARGUS Certified Broker Standard
Independent third-party validation of our safety, operational, and compliance standards.
We provide independent client advocacy with access to a vetted operator network, ensuring decisions are made in your best interest —not the operator’s.
Learn More: Why Use a Charter Broker
Common Questions
Charter Safety FAQs
Yes — private jet charter operates under strict FAA Part 135 regulations. Safety outcomes vary based on operator selection, crew experience, aircraft, and oversight. Stratos applies our Risk-Managed framework with structured vetting, elevated standards, and continuous monitoring to expand the margin of safety.
Yes. FAA rules set minimums. Our standards exceed them with two pilots on every flight, ATP-rated Captains with defined experience thresholds, turbine aircraft only, higher insurance minimums, the five-year clean record requirement, and continuous real-time monitoring through Stratos FMS™.
Many charter brokers stop at basic verification. Stratos goes further by evaluating operational history (including the 5-year requirement), mission-specific aircraft suitability, crew training quality, safety culture, and real-time conditions. We assess how the flight will actually be executed.
We use both as valuable tools but never in isolation. They feed into our broader due diligence, operational history review, and Stratos FMS™ monitoring.
We disclose any deviation clearly, explain the implications, and give you the choice to accept or decline. No hidden compromises.
If you don’t see your question here, a Private Flight Advisor is available 24/7 to walk through how our standards apply to your specific itinerary and how they tie into the broader Risk-Managed Private Aviation™ framework.
