Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know what air charter services include with their fees

Whether your business hires air charter cargo services or air charter services for passengers, it's important that you understand what your fee does and does not buy you. Knowing what you're paying for early in the process helps you effectively comparison shop and averts potential frustration later. Both domestic and global air charter services have standard fees as well as extras, so take the time to research what you're paying for and how to get it at the best price.

I recommend: Air Charter Service provides a detailed list of what you should expect with each type or charter service. Air Planning also details its charter services and offers the option of instant messaging the company with any questions.

Understand what level of service you can expect from the air charter operators

This is not the same as what your business pays for. Air charter operators vary in how they provide the same services: some provide uniformed captains and crew while others may offer more in-flight services. If you hire cargo charter flights, then you'll probably base your decision more on pre- and post-flight services, so pay attention to those as well as prices.

I recommend: Members of the Air Charter Association of North America must meet certain criteria, so start by looking at its membership criteria and consider chartering one of its member companies. If you're looking for an air cargo carrier, then you'll want to stay on top of your cargo's progress, so consider an air cargo carrier like Alaska Airlines. It has a tracking system as well as a rate calculator, both handy online conveniences.

Find out where to look to comparison shop for air charter services

When you're shopping around for air charter services online, look for air chartering operations that have plenty of photographs of their fleet as well as information about their entire operation. Make sure, too, that the air charter operators have a base of operations close to where you need to fly out of, or else you'll waste time and money.

I recommend: When considering air charter services, look for a company that has a website with pictures and prices like Bay Air Charter has. Amerijet International offers online rate estimates for air freight and air cargo charter services.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you frequently need a combination of international charter flights, air cargo charters and domestic air charter services, then consider joining a jet membership program that allows your business to take advantage of several different types of airplanes. An international charter flight requires a bigger plane than a domestic hop across the state, so you could save money on fuel and plane rentals if you belong to a program that gives you access to many aircraft.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Price out the players in the global air charter industry

Check out Executive Jet Management, labled 'Best Charter Service' from Professional Pilot magazine the last 10 years in a row for their global air charter services. Virgin Charter offers international charter flights and domestic services, and they act more as a broker for other flight companies.

I recommend: Executive Jet Management has an ISO 901:2000 certification, and the long term stability of being backed by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway company. You can request a quote online or simply obtain a quick estimate. Virgin Charter lets you find flights directly from their website, or you can check out their hot deals on their one way empty leg flights. Global Charters specializes in global jet charters, and you can sign up to receive their empty leg newsletter for discounted flights.

Find one-stop comparisons for air chartering services

Much like travel websites Expedia and Travelocity, you can also look up and compare prices for charter services.

I recommend: The Air Charter Guide lets you see what’s available via their flight planner services. They also have a free e-newsletter available if you plan to make air charter travel a regular thing.

Send your gear via air charter cargo flights

Companies such as National Air Cargo offer you air charter cargo services, or you can run a search for other companies by state and/or country.

I recommend: National Air Cargo offers you door-to-door Charter Services as well as international charter flights for cargo. They specialize in hazardous and sensitive materials, and they have no weight or size restrictions for what you are shipping. The Air Charter Guide helps you find domestic or global cargo charter flights.

Book a broker to look out for your best interests

If you don't have time or don't want to worry about your trip details, you can hire a broker to handle those arrangements for you. Whether you are looking for a global air charter or planning to take a domestic trip, a broker may be the perfect person for you to turn to, especially if you are inexperienced in looking up your own air charter services.

I recommend: For a directory of US and international brokers, check out the Air Charter Guide’s list by state and country.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider gourmet catering for your flight.
• •  Let your broker not only handle your trip arrangements but your contingency plan as well. Inclement weather can easily ground an airplane, and you need to make sure that you have backup arrangements.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn the FAA rules for air charter operators

Whether your business involves air charter cargo operations, carrying passengers on an international charter flight or domestic charter operations, the FAA has ultimate authority over how and if you operate. Any business or person wishing to operate air charter services must get a Part 135 Certification, which falls under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

I recommend: Study the requirements from the FAA for getting Part 135 certification so you understand the criteria. For practical advice on getting a Part 135 certification, check out the Air Taxi Industry Updates from Mark Fava.

Consider a consultant to get your air charter operators certification (Part 135)

Once you know what you need to do to get your air charter operator certification you may decide your business can't devote the time needed to go through the certification process alone. Consultants can lead your business through the process of getting certified to operate an air charter service.

I recommend: 135Cert will help your business get its air charter operator certification. If you want to get your Part 135 air charter operator certification quickly, then you can order Fast Track services from USAC Aviation, a consultant service that offers accelerated Part 135 certification assistance.

Get a safety audit for air charter operators

While the FAA will issue a Part 135 certification, many global jet charters and air charter operators also get independent audits to evaluate the safety of their operation. These safety audits go beyond the FAA requirements for Part 135 air charter operators.

I recommend: CharterX offers Wyvern Standard safety audits for air charter operators. Their audits also examine the pilot in command and second in command. The Aviation Research Group offers on-site and compliance audits for air charter operators.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to fly international charter flights, then you'll also need to be intensely familiar with the laws in the countries in which you plan to fly. Global air charter services need to know about things like overflight permits and international charter flight regulations. The FAA can help you amass the information you need and direct you toward the appropriate agencies in the countries your air charter services will visit.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Aircraft charter operator

An aircraft charter operator is a business that holds the appropriate licenses from the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, and sells its charter services at either retail or wholesale prices.

I recommend: The National Business Aviation Association describes what a good aircraft charter operator should offer its clients. It also describes how an aircraft charter operator works.

Part 91 and Part 135

Part 91 and Part 135 govern private planes and commercial planes for hire, respectively. The FAA issues these licenses.

I recommend: JetSales.com explains the ins and outs of both Part 91 and Part 135. This website also compares and contrasts the two federal codes.

Fixed base operator

A fixed base operator, or FBO, is a service plaza for airplanes. Typically an FBO offers aviation fuel, supplies, maintenance and repair and charter services, although services offered may vary from airport to airport.

I recommend: Stratos Jet Charters goes into detail explaining the function of fixed base operators.

Positioning, positioning time, and repositioning time

These terms refer to getting an airplane in the proper place for a scheduled flight. Positioning refers to a scheduled flight with passengers.

I recommend: Exquisite Air Charter explains these terms and how they relate to each other. Paramount Business Jets explains the process of positioning, citing examples.

General aviation (GA)

General aviation refers to any non-military flight except for scheduled passenger flights such as Delta or American Airlines. This includes aircraft charter services.

I recommend: General Aviation Serves America is a website dedicate to providing education to the public on GA and its role in the economy. You can find out what GA is and learn more about it by visiting the site.

Segments and legs

Segments and legs refer to portions of the charter trip. A segment is the time between takeoff and landing. A leg refers to travel between two points. Although some people use these two terms interchangeably, a leg may not include stops for fuel while a segment refers only to time in the air. Therefore the leg time may be longer than the segment time.

I recommend: Both Air Charter Guide and Worldtek Travel describe the similarities and differences between a segment and a leg.