Charter terms, in plain English

A

Air carrier certificate (AOC)

The FAA certificate that lets a company fly passengers for hire. An operator's certificate lists the aircraft it may fly commercially.

ARGUS

An independent company that audits charter operators' safety and gives ratings by level, with Platinum at the top. Operators pay for and must pass the audit.

B

Broker

A company that arranges charter flights for clients using other companies' aircraft. A broker does not fly or operate aircraft itself.

C

Catering

Food and drinks ordered for your flight. Usually billed on top of the charter price.

Charter agreement

The contract between you (or your broker) and the operator. It sets the aircraft, schedule, price, payment and cancellation terms.

Confirmed

ACE's badge for a company whose contact details we checked and whose tail numbers match the certificate and insurance it uploaded. Not a safety rating.

D

De-icing

Spraying fluid on the aircraft to remove ice, frost or snow before takeoff. Billed separately and can cost thousands of dollars on a large jet.

E

Empty leg

A flight the aircraft has to make without passengers, usually to get to or from another trip. Sold at a discount, but it can move or cancel if the main trip changes.

F

FBO

Fixed base operator. The private terminal at an airport where you meet your aircraft. It also handles fuel, parking and ground services.

FET (federal excise tax)

A 7.5% US tax on the price of domestic charter flights flown under Part 135. Usually shown as its own line on a quote.

Floating fleet

Aircraft with no fixed home base. They start each trip from wherever the last one ended, so you often pay less for positioning.

H

Have

A Board post from an operator or broker saying "I have this aircraft available", such as an empty leg or open days.

Heavy jet

A large-cabin, long-range jet for about 10 to 16 passengers, able to fly coast to coast or across oceans. Examples: Gulfstream G650, Global 6000.

I

IS-BAO

International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations. A safety code of practice; operators are audited and registered at Stage 1, 2 or 3.

J

Jet card

A prepaid or deposit program with fixed hourly rates and promised availability. Check the peak-day rules and whether an operator or a broker runs it.

L

Landing fee

An airport charge each time the aircraft lands, usually based on its weight.

Light jet

A small jet for about 5 to 7 passengers and trips up to roughly 2 to 3 hours. Examples: Phenom 300, Citation CJ3.

M

Midsize jet

A jet for about 7 to 8 passengers with more cabin room, good for trips of 3 to 4 hours. Examples: Hawker 800XP, Citation XLS.

N

Need

A Board post from a broker or operator saying "I need an aircraft" for a trip, so others can offer one.

O

Operator

The company that holds the certificate, crews and maintains the aircraft, and is legally responsible for the flight.

Overnight fee

A charge when the aircraft and crew stay away from base overnight on your trip. Covers crew hotels, meals and the aircraft's day.

P

Part 135

The FAA rules for on-demand commercial flights. A Part 135 operator holds an air carrier certificate and meets stricter crew, maintenance and safety rules.

Part 295

The US DOT rule for air charter brokers. A broker must tell you it is a broker, not the operator, and name who will fly you.

Part 91

The FAA's general rules for private flying, like an owner flying their own aircraft. A Part 91 flight cannot be sold to you as charter.

Positioning

Flying the aircraft from its base to where your trip starts. Often part of your price, especially on one-way trips.

Q

Quick turn

A same-day round trip where the aircraft waits a few hours and brings you back. Often cheaper than two one-ways.

R

Ramp fee

An FBO fee for parking and handling the aircraft. Often reduced or waived if the aircraft buys enough fuel.

Repositioning

Flying the aircraft back to base, or on to its next trip, after yours. These flights are where empty legs come from.

S

Segment fee

A small federal tax per passenger for each domestic flight segment. The amount is set by the government and changes each year.

Super midsize jet

A jet for about 8 to 9 passengers with a stand-up cabin and range for most coast-to-coast trips. Examples: Challenger 350, Citation Longitude.

T

Tail number

The aircraft's registration, like N123AB in the US. It identifies the exact aircraft, so you can check who operates it.

Turboprop

A propeller aircraft with turbine engines. Great for short trips and short runways. Examples: King Air 350, Pilatus PC-12.

W

Wholesale

The price an operator charges brokers, before the broker adds its margin.

Wyvern

An independent safety auditor. Its Wingman certification is given to operators that pass an on-site audit of their safety program.