Look for These 5 Things in a Private Jet Charter Broker
Whether you’re chartering a private jet for business meetings across the country or boarding a transatlantic flight for a family vacation in Italy, safety should always be the top priority of your private jet charter broker.
But first, what does a private jet broker do? When you charter a private jet, the broker works on your behalf to find a suitable aircraft from a reputable operator. At Stratos, our focus goes beyond simply arranging transportation.
When you work with us, we analyze the market to identify all aircraft and provide you with a vetted list of suitable options. Beyond being a champion for your safety, we’ve made large investments in personnel and our technological infrastructure to help ensure a consistently reliable travel experience every time you fly with us.
Now that you understand how your broker operates, how do you trust that they have your best interests in mind? Here are the five things you should look for before deciding to work with a private jet charter broker.
1. Industry certifications and endorsements
While there is no private jet broker license required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or specific private jet broker training degree that teaches people how to become a private jet charter broker, the best brokers do hold credible industry certifications and endorsements.
For years, charter brokers operated without comprehensive government regulation. In 2019, the FAA introduced new regulations to block unethical brokers from misrepresenting the quality and type of aircraft, safety records and crew qualifications. However, these regulations, known as Part 295, are just the beginning.
Before working with a private jet charter broker, make sure they have been audited and accredited by reliable third-party organizations. Certified by both ARGUS and Wyvern, Stratos adheres to some of the most rigorous safety standards in the industry.
2. Strict safety policies and procedures
At Stratos, we audit every carrier, every plane and every crew before each flight to ensure they continue to meet our stringent requirements that far exceed the minimum standards set by the FAA. To further ensure your safety, we only charter flights on turboprop and jet aircraft. We do not arrange flights on any piston-powered planes.
3. Mandates for two pilots on every flight
Many private jets are rated for single-pilot operations. When you take to the skies with Stratos, you will always have two pilots on board regardless of the aircraft’s certifications.
Your pilot-in-command also must have at least 3,000 hours of flight experience, 1,500 hours as captain and a minimum of 250 hours in the type of aircraft you charter to meet our standards. To qualify as the second-in-command, the co-pilot must have at least 1,000 hours of experience and 500 as captain.
At Stratos, we ensure every flight has a highly experienced crew. When our high-quality operators assign a crew that doesn’t meet our standards, we advocate for you so those crew members get their training on other brokers’ flights.
4. A vetting process for air carriers and operators
We’ve spent nearly 20 years building strong relationships with the best air carriers in the industry. While some private jet charter brokers boast access to the number of planes they have access to, we pride ourselves on the quality and reliability of every carrier, aircraft and crew member in our network.
Through our Approved Vendor Program, we seek out carriers who take a proactive approach to safety through significant financial investments, regular training and technological advancements. We also regularly interact with and monitor our carriers’ sales and operations staff to ensure they match our dedication to safety.
5. Transparent liability insurance policies
We require our air carriers to maintain high minimum liability insurance in addition to having a long-established safety record. As a private jet charter broker, we also maintain our own $50 million non-owned liability policy to provide clients with added protection and peace of mind.
“The best insurance is through a proactive approach to safety, and we take every precaution possible to ensure a safe flight every time our clients fly. We don’t like to think about the value that our insurance policy provides, but we do know one thing about insurance—it’s better to have it and not need it than the other way around,” says Joel Thomas, president and CEO of Stratos Jet Charters.
Want to learn more about working with a private jet charter broker to plan your next trip? Reach out to our flight advisors at (888) 593-9066 or contact us online to get started.
