Chartering a private jet is much more than getting quotes for the hourly rate

 

Not all private aviation operators are the same. Before you charter a private aircraft, the National Business Aviation Association suggests you ask these questions. Keep in mind that one advantage of jet cards is your provider has set specific sourcing standards, so you only have to go through this once as opposed to every trip or each time there is a switch in the operator. You can compare over 100 jet cards by 65 variables by becoming a subscriber to Private Jet Card Comparisons. There’s more information here. Before chartering a private jet, the questions below will help you find an operator that you are comfortable with. 

Background and Experience

 

• Who is the FAA-certificated charter operator that will

conduct our charter flights? What experience does the

operator have? How long has the operator been in business:

In aviation? As an air charter operator?

 

• What type of aircraft is on the charter certificate? What

year(s) were the aircraft manufactured? What, if any, major

refurbishments (interior, flight equipment, paint, etc.)

were completed on the aircraft, and when?

 

• How many aircraft and crew does the charter operator

have? Has the FAA ever taken enforcement action against

the operator or one of its flight crew members?

 

• What experience does the crew have? How many flight

hours total time? How many hours in make/model of

each aircraft?

 

• If special operations (e.g., mountain airports, extended

over water) will be conducted, what experience (initial

and recurrent) does the crew have with these operations?

Safety and Security

 

• What is the operator’s safety record? Has the charter

operator had any aircraft accidents or incidents? If so,

what measures has the operator implemented to ensure

increased safety?

 

• Has the charter operator been audited by an independent

third-party organization? What were the audit findings,

and how does the charter operator compare to other charter

companies?

 

• What security screening procedures are in-place (e.g., to

identify passengers)? (Note: Appropriately, charter operators

will be hesitant to describe their security procedures/

plans; your questions should focus on what passengers

need to do to comply with the operator’s security program.)

 

• How often is training provided to the crew and what is

covered in the training? (e.g., does the charter operator

provide training above and beyond the minimum training

requirements established by the FAA)?

 

• Where is the training conducted? Is the initial and recurrent

training provided in a simulator or the aircraft?

 

• What is the charter operator’s policy on crew flight time

and duty limits? If a possible customer trip goes beyond

the crew flight/duty times, how would the charter operator

conduct the mission and maintain their policies?

 

• Will there be a flight attendant on board the flight? Is the

flight attendant assigned to your flight egress trained for

the specific make/model of aircraft you are flying on?

 

• Is the aircraft equipped with a defibrillator and are the

crew trained in its use? Does the aircraft have a subscription

to an in-flight medical assistance program in case of

medical emergency?

 

Aircraft Maintenance

 

• Who maintains the aircraft? If it is not maintained by a

factory service center, how often is/are the maintenance

technician(s) sent for training specific to that make/model

aircraft?

 

• How does the operator handle maintenance situations

that, on a rare occasion, might arise during a trip you have

booked?

 

International Operations

 

• If you are planning an international flight, what experience

does the operator have flying to/from/within the countries

you wish to visit?

 

• What specific safety and security measures does the

operator implement when conducting operations in that

region?

 

• Will the charter operator assist with immigration and

customs logistics, such as visas and customs forms?

 

Customer Service

 

• Do the pilots, flight attendants and other employees

receive customer service training? Are service standards

in place; what are they and how are they measured?

 

• What is the customer satisfaction rating: low, average,

good, excellent? What documentation does the operator

have to support that?

 

• How soon prior to the scheduled flight will the aircraft be

at the airport, ready for departure?

 

• To whom should concerns/complaints regarding flight

irregularities, safety, or customer service be directed?

Is there someone available 24/7 in case you have any of

these concerns?

 

Aviation Insurance

 

• What company issues the aviation insurance policy? What

are the charter operator’s insurance coverage and limits?

 

• Will the charter operator name you as an additional

insured?

 

• Will the charter operator provide you with a waiver of

subrogation and a certificate of insurance confirming the

coverage and aircraft that will be used for the flight?

 

Problem Resolution

 

• How will the charter company accommodate you if there

is a problem encountered with the flight arrangements?

(E.g., charter operator’s aircraft is unavailable either prior

to booking the trip or the aircraft becomes unavailable

after the trip is booked.) Will the operator find another

charter operator to conduct the flight?

 

If a problem is encountered and a substitute charter operator is to be used, who is that operator and what are the substitute’s answers to the above questions?