Before accepting a private jet charter proposal, identify the direct air carrier that will operate the flight and verify its FAA certificate, the aircraft's charter authority, any trip-relevant operating limitations, substitution terms and written insurance evidence. A proposal may show a route, aircraft and price, but those details alone do not establish who legally operates the flight.
The featured image is an original AI-generated editorial illustration. Its blank documents are symbolic props, not valid certificates or safety approvals.
This guide covers what a traveler can ask for and read. It is not an audit and it does not rate any operator. For how Jet Partners reviews proposals, see our safety and operator vetting page. For the booking process, see the charter page.
Start with who operates the flight
The 2016 NBAA aircraft charter consumer guide explains that charter operators must hold an air carrier or commercial operating certificate issued by the FAA, with operations specifications that set out authorizations and limitations. That certificate allows on-demand operations under Part 135 for most business aircraft.
The same guide notes that companies arranging air charter are not FAA-certificated charter operators, and that they must be clear they are not the entity operating the flight. So ask one plain question about every proposal: which company holds the certificate and will operate this flight?
The FAA advises charter buyers to ask to see the operator's Air Carrier or Operating Certificate and verify that the aircraft is authorized for charter use. Ask to see the certificate for that operator. The guide says it shows the operator's name and certificate number. Check that the name on the certificate matches the name in your written proposal. The FAA Part 135 operator and aircraft list is searchable by operator or aircraft registration. If an operator or aircraft is absent, the FAA says to contact a local Flight Standards District Office to verify status, rather than treating absence as a verdict.
Ask what the operations specifications allow
The certificate comes with operations specifications that can include limits. NBAA's sample questions ask what limitations the FAA has placed on the operator, with examples such as no international flights or no flights under instrument flight rules. If your trip is international, or you need a particular type of operation, ask whether the operator's authority covers it.
Read independent safety audits as audits
The NBAA guide names third-party auditors including IS-BAO, the Air Charter Safety Foundation, ARG/US and Wyvern. Ask whether a current report is available and which report applies to the proposed operator, aircraft and crew. Treat any such report as information about the named operator at a point in time, not a guarantee about your flight. Ask which entity the report covers, what it covers and when it was issued.
If there is no independent audit, the guide says you can ask those organizations or an experienced aviation professional for help. For a first-time buyer, consider asking a flight department manager or chief pilot if you have access to one.
Ask about the aircraft and crew assigned
The NBAA charter request form asks which aircraft will be used, including make, model and tail number if available, and who the crew will be. It also asks when substitute crew would be used and when you will be told. Ask the same questions and ask for the answers in writing.
Settle substitution before you accept
The guide explains that an operator sometimes cannot fly a booked trip, and that another charter company may fly it instead. It advises asking how substitutes are chosen, whether the substitute meets the same standards, and insisting on being told the substitute's name. It also advises asking for the right to cancel with a full refund if the substitute is not acceptable to you. Put your position on substitution in the proposal, not in a call.
Be careful with dry-lease offers
The guide warns that some operators offer to dry-lease an aircraft instead of providing a Part 135 charter flight. A dry lease can place operational-control responsibilities on the lessee; it is not the same arrangement as buying a Part 135 charter. The FAA advises customers to understand and accept their regulatory responsibilities before entering an aircraft lease. If an offer changes shape this way, especially on short notice, stop and ask what the arrangement is and who holds operational control.
Ask about insurance in writing
NBAA's guide advises asking about the operator's insurance coverage and whether the limits are adequate for your needs. Ask for evidence of coverage and who is covered. Do not rely on a statement about a coverage figure that you cannot see in writing.
Charter operator check sheet
| Question | What to record |
|---|---|
| Who operates the flight? | Operator name as shown in the written proposal |
| Certificate | FAA air carrier certificate name and number, and whether the name matches |
| Authority limits | Operations specification limits that affect your trip, such as international flights |
| Aircraft | Make, model and tail number, if available |
| Crew | Names or experience information, and the substitute crew policy |
| Independent audit | Which report, which entity it covers, issue date |
| Substitution | Who decides, when you are told, your cancellation and refund rights |
| Insurance | Evidence of coverage and what it covers |
| Dry-lease terms | Whether any lease or other structure replaces a charter flight |
Keep unanswered rows marked as pending until the operator or your charter contact answers in writing.
Before you accept
Check that the written proposal identifies the direct air carrier that will operate the flight and records the aircraft, itinerary and total supplied for your trip. For companies arranging air charter, 14 CFR 295.24 requires disclosure of the direct carrier in operational control before contracting, with additional rules when required information changes. This is separate from independently checking operating authority. Jet Partners coordinates customer requests; the identified direct air carrier operates the flight and keeps operational control. To start with your route and dates, request a trip-specific proposal. To compare proposals side by side, use our quote comparison checklist.
