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Almost every company in the industry claims to have the best safety standards. But how can a customer really determine what defines high standards? Below is a general guideline to consider when working with any private jet provider.
FAA Documentation
A charter company must have a valid FAA Part 135 air taxi certificate which authorizes it to fly for hire. Sometimes companies attempt to fly under the less strict Part 91 regulations. These rules have far less FAA oversight, and as a result, the liability of the passenger is increased. Therefore, it's important to ask for a copy of the FAA air taxi certificate, and which regulations your flights will be flown. Jets.com requires a copy of the 135 certificate from every aircraft operator we work with.
Insurance
Insurance can provide a great deal of information about a charter company. Typical limits are $25mm for a small jet, $50mm for a mid-sized, and $100mm for a large jet. At Jets.com, every operator we work provides proof of adequate coverage and name Jets.com as 'additionally insured' before the trip can be booked. We also carry an additional $50mm insurance coverage for added protection.
Third-party Verification
Essential data about the aircraft operator can be obtained from an industry auditing company. At Jets.com each operator has the distinction of a Wyvern Recommendation and/or a Gold or Platinum ARG/US rating.
Pilot Experience
Does the provider have minimum standards for pilot hours? Are the assigned pilot's hours verified prior to the flight? In addition to the audit rating, prior to every trip, Jets.com performs an ARG/US TripCHEQ to verify the assigned pilots' required flight hours on the specific jet type. Our standards are high - we require each captain to have at least 3000 total flight hours and 300 hours in the specific aircraft type. Our customers fly with pilots averaging 9,900 flight hours.
Operational Control
This is an essential aspect of safety, yet knowing whose jet you're flying on isn't always clear-cut. Many customers book a private jet through a well-known jet provider, but are placed - without knowing it - on a small independent one they know nothing about. If outsourcing occurs, how does the provider ensure the operator meets high safety standards, if any at all? A Jets.com Compliance Officer verifies who maintains operational control and ensures every aircraft operator we work with meets our safety standards.
Jets.com's safety program is extensive and unique. Out of the roughly 3,000 aircraft operators in the country, less than 10% meet our high standards. Additionally, we inform our clients of the aircraft operator name, third-party safety ratings and pilot experience prior to the flight.
Nathan McKelvey
President/CEO/Founder
Jets.com
www.jets.com
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