Click here to view the NBAA Aircraft Charter Consumer Guide.
The following will help you in selecting a charter operator.
- Who is the FAA-certificated charter operator that will conduct your charter flight?
- What is the name and Certificate Number on the FAA commercial air carrier certificate?
- How long have you been in business:
- In aviation?
- As an air charter operator?
- What types of aircraft are on your charter certificate?
- How many aircraft and crew do you have?
- What experience does your crew have?
- How many flight hours total time?
- Captain
- First Officer
- How many hours in make/model of each aircraft? (e.g., what are your policies and procedures on crew pairing?)
- Do you use FAA Part 142 training schools?
- How often do your crews attend re-current training?
- Is this training schedule above and beyond the minimum training requirements established by the FAA?
- How many flight hours total time?
- 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 your safety record?
- Have you had any aircraft accidents or incidents?
- If so, what measures have you implemented to ensure increased safety?
- Have you had any aircraft accidents or incidents?
- Have you been audited by an independent third-party organization (e.g., Wyvern, ARG/US)
Aircraft Maintenance
- Who maintains the aircraft?
- Under which program is the aircraft maintained (CAMP, AAIP, factory maintenance program, other program)?
- How do you handle maintenance situations that, on occasion, might arise during a trip you have booked?
International Operations
- What experience do you have flying to/from/within other countries?
- What, if any, different safety and security measures do you implement when conducting operations to other countries?
- Will you assist with immigration and customs logistics, such as visas and customs forms?
Customer Service
- Do the crews and other employees receive customer service training?
- How soon prior to the scheduled flight will the aircraft be at the airport, ready for departure?
- Is there someone available 24 hours/day, seven days/week for reserving or changing charter reservations?
Aviation Insurance
- What company issues the aviation insurance policy?
- Is the operator you are dealing with the Named Insured on the policy?
- What are the insurance coverages and limits?