Restoring Private Aviation Charter Customers Confidence After An Incident
Anyone who operates a Part 135 aircraft for charter clearly knows the stricter regulations as opposed to operating a Part 91 aircraft. Therefore, statistically there are many more incidents with Part 91 aircraft. However, incidents with Part 135 aircraft do occur. Restoring private aviation charter customers confidence after an incident is vital.
Just two days ago a 2004 Hawker 800XP (N6NR) Part 91 aircraft suffered a nose landing gear failure. The aircraft was flying from Fort Lauderdale-Executive Airport, FL (FXE) to Minneapolis-Flying Cloud Airport (FCM). It was diverted to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, MN (MSP), better suited for such an emergency. The flight crew reported the malfunction about thirty minutes prior.
A standard NTSB Class 4 investigation (shortest duration) is underway. There were two crew and four passengers. No injuries were reported.
The most recent serious Part 135 incident was the crash of a 2004 Bombardier Challenger 604 (N823KD) in February 2024. The aircraft traveling from Ohio State University Airport, OH (OSU) to Naples Municipal Airport, FL (APF), crashed on approach, killing both pilots on board. All other crew and passengers survived.
The pilots reported engine failure and attempted a landing on a highway but crashed into a concrete sound barrier wall. Flight data indicated oil pressure loss on both engines. This aircraft was operated by Ace Aviation Services, DBA Hop-A-Jet.
Following this fatal crash Hop-A-Jet remains under close watch by the FAA, NTSB, and public scrutiny. This obviously was a severe blow to their reputation and public confidence in the company. Their ultimate longevity may depend on the final findings of the ongoing investigation.
Hop-A-Jet has not posted to their social media accounts since the accident.
One of the last Instagram posts was showing their booth at the NBAA Miami-Opa Locka Reginal Forum Jan 31, 2024. A show that Chris and I attended.
As mentioned above there are definitely more Part 91 crashes. Maintenance and pilot experience are factors.
A Part 91 aircraft only requires annual inspections with owners keeping records. The Part 135 aircraft require more pilot training (including classes every 6 months) and 100-hour inspection/maintenance schedules. Additionally, Part 135 requires detailed recordkeeping, including maintenance records, flight data, and passenger information retention.
So, if your charter has an incident, here are some ways to restore your reputation:
Consider a rebranding, a new logo, and/or renewed focus on safety and quality. How many people remember the ValuJet Flight 592 crash ?
ValuJet became AirTran Airlines, which ultimately was acquired by Southwest in 2011. When we board a Southwest jet, we don’t think of ValuJet.
Restoring customer confidence after an incident requires a multifaceted approach:
- Option #1: Address the incident transparently, then implement corrective measures and engage with customers via social media.
- Option #2: Re-position your brand to rebuild trust and ensure long-term customer loyalty.
- Option #3: Create a new brand as ValuJet did. It may be the best route especially if the incident involved loss of life or significant property losses.
Regardless of which option you choose, do it with the help of an expert. As you know we are big fans of the Aviation Marketing Experts out of Orlando. These guys have been doing this for 45 years, so you can trust them.
Any thoughts, comments or story suggestions, reach out to us at: AircraftGuys@gmail.com.
On to the next adventure.
Restoring Private Aviation Charter Customers Confidence After An Incident
Our Visit to a Boca Raton Private Jet Charter that gives Free Flights and a Cash Bonus
When Chris and I travel around we’re always amazed at all the unique ways people approach the aviation business. We recently heard of an innovative company that seems to do things a little differently. Some of it sounded too good to be true, so we went to see them. Our visit to a Boca Raton private jet charter that gives free flights and a cash bonus.
Like many, even the larger charters, they use shared office space. But this was a little different as they are literally in one of the most prestigious addresses in all East Boca Raton.
We met Christine ‘Chrissy’ Silver who manages all the in-flight luxury hospitality. She is an event planner for many ‘A’ list celebrities.
Part of what makes “The Boca Jet” different is the crazy attention to detail that goes into their member only charter flights. The elite want only the best, so these folks certainly deliver that.
Their flights are operated by InstaJet Charters, who is also unique as they are both a broker and indirect carrier in the process of obtaining a Part 135 Certificate. Not many of those around but seems to be what customers like as it gives more choices and costs less for a flight.
So back to the free flights and cash bonus. As mentioned, this is a member only private jet charter. If you’re a resident of the Boca Raton area you know about “The Boca Raton”, member only resort. So, it makes sense that a private jet charter operator just down the street would be members only.
They offer a monthly private jet card membership program which is rare but with the cash back, it’s definitely a one of a kind.
How it works. There are 3 membership levels:
Saver (pays 2% cash toward a flight)
Premium (pays 3% toward a flight)
Elite Luxury (pays 6% toward a flight)
Members pay a monthly fee; the highest level is under $3,000 per month. This is like a savings account toward a flight. When a member is ready to book a flight, all the accumulated paid membership fees are applied to that flight with the cash bonus added on top.
After being a top-level Elite Luxury member for a year, you’ve earned a free flight. The only restriction is they must have flown at least once in the past 12 months.
Hospitality Expert and Celebrity Executive Chef prepared meals.
The bottom line is this is very innovative from no huge upfront cash outlay, monthly payments, cash back and a free flight. We’ve seen pieces of this offered but never all in one like this. Added to that the personalized luxury hospitality and even new aircraft, you can’t beat this one.
And again, we want to thank Chrissy Silver for her time. We were so impressed with the tour; we posted part of the video on YouTube. https://youtu.be/tXMJT65RQaQ
Check out https://thebocajet.com or call them at (561)-918-2124
Contact Us and maybe we’ll come see you..
On to the next adventure…
Our Visit to a Boca Raton Private Jet Charter that gives Free Flights and a Cash Bonus
Part 134 1/2 Aircraft Charters
There’s lots of buzz in the aviation world about “illegal” charters, and rightfully so. In some cases, the difference between a legal Part 135 charter and everyone else is clear. But the FAA does allow pilots operating outside of a Part 135 charter operation to carry passengers and cargo, just not for hire. So that has been called Part 134 1/2 aircraft charters or gray charters. We’ll get back to that.
Simple breakdown of the types 14 CFR 135 operations:
FAA Definition:
- Air Carrier Certificate. An Air Carrier certificate is issued to an applicant that will conduct interstate, foreign, or overseas transportation, or will carry mail.
- Operating Certificate. An Operating certificate is issued to an applicant that will conduct intrastate transportation, which is transportation that is conducted wholly within the same state of the United States.
Within these classifications are additional classifications of Commuter or On Demand. Without peeling back the entire onion, and again in FAA-Speak: On-demand operations can be conducted in airplanes that have a passenger seating configuration of 30 seats or less, a maximum payload capacity of 7500 pounds, or in any rotorcraft, while Commuter operations may be conducted in airplanes which have a maximum passenger-seating configuration of 9 seats and a maximum payload capacity of 7500 pounds, or in any rotorcraft. Commuter operations cannot be conducted in any turbo-jet aircraft.
There are other key breakdowns of the Part 135 rule, each with their own requirements, including Single Pilot, Single Pilot in Command, Basic, and Standard. Standard being the highest level with the least restrictions. What we’re presenting here is a summary. For a more complete picture, the full scope of the regulation can be found at: https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airline_certification/135_certification/general_info
The message here is that you should know your mission and your charter needs before you start shopping. An operator sporting a Single Pilot Operating Certificate will be a smaller one. Generally, a pilot operation with a helicopter or a smaller, less-expensive piston or turboprop aircraft. That might serve your need perfectly. But if you’re headed a few states away, and need more speed, capability, and capacity, you’ll be dealing with an operation that carries an Air Carrier Certificate.
So, now that you have an idea of what a legitimate charter company looks like, what’s the other side of the coin?
Any certified and legally current pilot holding a Private, Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, can fly passengers in any aircraft that meets FAA standards. And in an airplane that the pilot is currently rated in (there are some additional restrictions for aircraft and pilots certified under the Sport Rule and holding a Basic Med medical certificate, but we’re skipping that in this discussion). They just can’t do it for compensation, of any kind.
What a personal flight can charge for is an equal share of the direct costs in those situations where the pilot has a legitimate reason to go to the same destination, and not just ferry his passengers. And of course, if there’s no compensation, no rules are broken.
But to be clear, buying the ferry pilot lunch would be considered compensation. Here’s the FAA’s definition: “Compensation is the receipt of anything of value that is contingent on the pilot operating the aircraft; i.e., but for the receipt of the compensation, the pilot would not have taken that flight”
And if you really want to dig deep, here’s a link to FAA Advisory Circular 61-142. https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_61-142.pdf
So, if you trust your next door neighbor Bob and his 30 year-old Bonanza, the two of you could hop down to the Bahamas (or wherever) and equally share in the cost of gas and oil, the aircraft rental charges and ramp fees. Don’t spin your wheels looking for the loopholes, because there are many ways to hide that compensation and skirt the regulations, but at best, the pilot is risking his certificate if the “charter” is busted by the FAA. Folks who do this from time-to-time are considered Part 134 1/2 aircraft charters.
Part 135 Certified Operators are highly regulated by the FAA and have met stringent safety standards with their aircraft, their crews, and their business management.
Meeting these standards does not come easy, and it does not come cheap. And stretch your imagination to consider what the insurance must cost for a $30M private jet and the liability of 8 seats filled with high worth individuals.
So, when you consider an aircraft charter, start at the top of the food chain, which is an FAA licensed and regulated Standard Part 135 operator proudly displaying an Air Carrier Certificate. Then work your way down the list until you find the charter operator that meets your specific needs. A aircraft charter broker is a good way to narrow your search and costs you nothing.
Just don’t ask Bob to dust off the Bonanza and for God’s sake don’t buy him a hamburger !
Brad Fuller is a pilot and President of Florida Film and Tape. They specialize in aviation photography and video production.
