Flying private charter: what travelers should know before taking off.

The world of private air charter is an unfamiliar one for many travelers. A few pieces of insightful information can be very helpful when planning a private charter trip for the first time.

Be Sure It's the Best Choice

Private charter is not always the best choice for every person and every situation. The first thing travelers should do is to make sure that it will best fulfill their particular travel needs.

Both commercial airlines and private charter aircraft are safe and efficient modes of travel. However, depending on a specific trip's itinerary and the value placed on passenger time and productivity, private charter can offer several benefits that might make it a more viable option. For instance:

1) Private charter is more flexible and time-efficient. Private aircraft can fly directly between any two locations served by nearly 5,000 airports in the United States-over 10 times the number of locations served by scheduled airlines. Because travelers can plan their own itinerary, chartering enables them to visit multiple destinations within the same day. A trip that otherwise might take several days could be reduced to several hours.

Moreover, charter aircraft utilize private facilities that are separate from the main airport. The private terminal facilities are much less congested and are fully equipped to handle travelers' needs, from arranging rental cars or limousine service, to making hotel reservations.

2) Chartering can maximize productivity en route. Many charter aircraft serve as "flying offices," outfitted with facsimiles, copiers, flight phones, power boxes for laptop computers and other equipment. Also, private aircraft can provide a secure office environment, virtually eliminating eavesdropping and unnecessary conversations, distractions and interruptions.

3) Private charter offers optimum safety and security. Charter pilots must undergo the same training and certification process as commercial airline pilots, and chartered flights have a safety record comparable to or better than the airlines. Also, chartering allows travelers to choose who their traveling companions are, versus flying with 150 strangers.

4) When all costs are considered, private charter has been found to be less expensive in many cases. Efficient, shorter itineraries can greatly minimize "on-the-road" costs such as hotels, meals, airport parking, rental cars, and taxis.

Selecting a Charter Company

Selecting a safe, suitable Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certificated private charter company is neither difficult, nor does it require a vast knowledge of the private air travel industry or FAA regulations. Any air charter company that offers services to the public must, by law, be certified by the FAA and meet stringent operational, maintenance, and safety rules, and charter pilots must be specifically qualified. There are approximately 3,000 private aircraft carriers in the United States that have met the comprehensive criteria required to qualify for an Air Carrier Operating Certificate.

FAA regulations for charter carriers address flight operations, maintenance requirements, and crew member training and testing. They mandate crew rest, physical examinations, and a stringent anti-drug program for operators. The FAA closely monitors charter carriers to make sure that they conform to the established standards of performance.

Asking a few basic questions of the charter company can ensure that it is an FAA Certificated Air Carrier and that the operator is authorized to provide the type and kind of service that passengers require. Does the charter company hold a current FAA Air Carrier Operating Certificate? What is the name of the company as it appears on the certificate, and what is the certificate number? What is the name and telephone number of the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), and who is the FAA Principle Operations Inspector overseeing the operation? Does the company have a list of references?

Travelers have the right to contact the FSDO for verification. If the charter company is unwilling or reluctant to provide references or answers to these questions, travelers would be wise to consider another charter company to fill their travel requirements.

Selecting The Right Aircraft

The charter company itself is the best source of information

for choosing an aircraft. When making inquiries with a charter company, the operator probably will want to know the following: number of passengers, amount of baggage (baggage-carrying capability is aircraft specific), time constraints, and the desired itinerary.

The operator also can explain the different types of aircraft and amenities. While most charter companies offer a selection of turboprop and jet aircraft, choices are contingent upon availability, distance and geographic location of destination, weather capabilities, seating capacity and requested amenities. Aircraft typically seat five to nine passengers and can include such amenities as full galleys, private restrooms, video and audio entertainment, and office equipment. Unless travelers have a specific preference, it's best to let the operator recommend the aircraft that will best suit passenger needs.

Itinerary & Transportation

Planning an itinerary is relatively simple. Passengers just need to know where they want to go, what time they need to be there, and what kind of transportation, if any, is needed at their destination.

Some charter companies gladly will arrange transportation for the passengers. The pilots simply call ahead to the destination to verify arrangements before the flight arrives. It is recommended that first-time charter travelers let the charter company arrange the transportation until they are more familiar with how the private terminal facilities operate.

Security Measures to Expect

The private facilities utilized by charter aircraft have stepped up security considerably since the events of September 11. Some facilities will not allow the pilots to walk out to the aircraft without an official escort. While some private terminals still allow rental cars or limousines to pull up next to the aircraft, others (particularly at airports located in the Eastern U.S.) require that passengers first be privately escorted to the front of the building.

Because private charter involves a substantially reduced passenger count and a more controlled environment, security breaches are not as threatening as they might be with commercial flights. Thorough security checks are conducted on all passengers and baggage prior to boarding. Travelers occasionally are allowed some latitude in what items they may bring on board. Any questions regarding carry-on items or security measures should be discussed with the operator beforehand.

Weather

Weather can affect flight plans. FAA regulations concerning weather, types of aircraft, and pilot capabilities apply to private aircraft just as they do to commercial aircraft. Pilots will not fly an aircraft if the weather conditions do not meet the standards of their certification. Travelers should never second guess a pilot's decision-making authority when it comes to weather and flight safety. The operator can explain in detail the limitations of the aircraft and the company's authorizations.

Costs

The costs for chartering a private flight are dependent upon the company selected and the specific travel situation. Turbo-prop aircraft such as King Airs often are priced on a per-flight-hour basis. Prices usually fall within the range of $950 to $1200 per flight hour and require less daily minimum flight time charges.

Jet aircraft-Citations, Lears, Hawkers, and Challengers-are more expensive, typically ranging from $1,295 to $5,000 per flight hour. Jet aircraft require a minimum charge equivalent to two flight hours per day. A fuel surcharge is typically added to the hourly cost, this surcharge fluctuates and reflects current fuel costs. This protects the charter operator against sharp rises in fuel costs without having to raise hourly rates. The surcharge is typically a small percentage of the hourly rate.

Additionally, there is a stand-by charge of about $50 per hour. If travelers are spending a few days in a city, they will be charged around $600 per night to pay for the pilots' time and lodging. If over night charges are incurred the hourly stand by time is waved. In some instances, it is less expensive to do two round trips on an airplane versus leaving the plane at the destination and incurring daily minimum charges and over nights the entire time. A good charter operator will look at both options and present the customer with the most economical option. Additional costs may include landing and/or ramp fees, in-flight catering, use of flightphone, and use of de-icing equipment.

Planning a charter trip for the first time can seem overwhelming, when in reality it's fairly simple. Knowing what to expect can help travelers be prepared for take off.

Henry Schubach is founder and president of Schubach Aviation, an on-demand air charter service. For more information, please visit www.schubachaviation.com.