50% Of Jet Charters In The World Are Not Approved By FAA. JetCharters.com Introduces Additional Safety Ratings.

Illegal charters not approved by FAA put unsuspecting consumers at high safety risk

JetCharters.com, the worldwide air charter marketplace, has introduced new standards to increase safety and satisfaction for private aviation travelers in an attempt to combat the darker side of the private aviation industry: illegal charters. Illegal or grey aircraft charters make up approximately half of all private jet charters around the world.

"Illegal charters put the customer at a high risk," said Robert Hart, president of JetCharters.com, the worldwide air charter marketplace. "In the case of an incident or accident, owner violations invalidate insurance policies, leaving passengers vulnerable and unprotected."

Illegal charters are deemed such because they lack an FAA-approved Aircraft Operating Certificate (AOC). The main cause of illegal charters is aircraft owners seeking to cover high costs associated with aircraft ownership.

General aviation pilots with valid AOCs are subject to regular flight reviews, performance audits, and various flight time requirements. Private aircraft owners are not required to maintain the same standards as those with valid AOCs, thus these flights do not adhere to operational safety standards set forth by governing authorities

To minimize the risk of booking illegal charters, private aviation passengers should follow these simple tips:

• Have common sense – Extremely low prices are a warning sign of a possible illegal charter situation. Legitimate charter operators with proper AOCs carry high operating costs. 
• Don't be afraid to ask questions – Legitimate operators or brokers should be happy to provide certificate numbers and tail number verification, unlike illegal operators or brokers who have something to hide.
• Book flights through a trusted site such as JetCharters.com – JetCharters.com works with an elite group of air charter operators who have been vetted and selected based on their safety and quality standards. Travelers can book with confidence that they are dealing with the best in the industry.

According to Hart, transparency is paramount to putting an end to illegal charters. One way JetCharters.com offers such transparency is by promoting safety ratings through a partnership with ARGUS International, which provides the aviation marketplace with information needed to manage risk.

Another way that JetCharters.com has demonstrated commitment to aboveboard practices is its recent alignment with The Air Charter Safety Foundation or ACSF. Through risk management programs, the adoption of a common industry audit standard and other methods, ACSF seeks to enable on-demand charter providers to achieve the highest levels of safety in the aviation industry.

For more information about booking your next flight or to learn more about safety standards in private aviation, visit www.jetcharters.com.