3 More FAQs Top Jet Setters Have When Booking a Private Charter Flight

A private charter flight offers many conveniences over commercial airline travel, such as accelerated onboarding and flexible scheduling. However, jet setters and first-time flyers alike still have plenty of questions about booking a private flight. 

As a private jet charter broker ourselves, we wanted to take some time to answer a few of the most frequent ones. Our first installment tackled costs, aircraft types, and destinations. Today we’ll dive into safety, weather, and airports.

Are Private Jets as Safe as Commercial Flights?

In short, YES. It’s a mystery how this concern became so widespread, but even frequent flyers ask us whether private jet safety measures up to commercial standards. The truth is that the same government agency regulates all passenger flights; and every jet broker and all aircraft must meet the same FAA standards and guidelines. 

In fact, based on the statistics, a private charter flight is safer than a commercial flight and less likely to result in a fatal accident. Some contributing factors to this statistical difference are:

• Private aircraft tend to be newer and better maintained than workhorse commercial aircraft.
• Charter and private flights are often more stringent in their safety and security protocols than the rote screenings typical of commercial airlines.
• Many aircraft on the charter market are used by the owner and chartered whenever they’re not in use. Owners of such large investments are heavily incentivized to hold pilots and maintenance to exceptionally high standards.   

What Happens to a Private Charter Flight in Bad Weather? 

It’s true that small jets and prop planes cannot fly through stormy conditions as easily as larger aircraft. However, a bout of bad weather that temporarily grounds or cancels a commercial flight might not have any effect on your private charter flight. Why is that? Well:

• Private charter flights often operate from FBOs and private or executive airports that only have a limited quantity of flights to manage. This makes it simpler and safer to keep operations running during unfavorable weather.
• Private aircraft tend to fly at altitudes well above commercial airlines (and the clouds).  They rarely experience the same sort of turbulence that affects lower flight paths.
• A charter flight will respect all FAA safety regulations but isn’t subject to the same labor stipulations faced by commercial airlines.
• Private flights simply have more options—they can take off and land from a wider variety of airports, quickly change flight paths, and make in-flight arrangements to land at a nearby alternative airport.

Why Should I Consider Using a Smaller Airport?

It’s certainly possible to fly in and out of virtually any major airport, the same as larger commercial jets. However, a private charter flight will also have access to Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) at those airports—essentially smaller and more exclusive terminals with faster boarding, rapid security, no large crowds, and other conveniences. 

An FBO gives you access to services and destinations that would not otherwise be available and can often get you to your final destination much faster. This is because private aircraft have access to small executive and private airports, aerodromes, and other landing strips that could never accommodate large commercial jets. There may be a private airport in a location nowhere near a major commercial airport—and much closer to the ultimate destination of your private charter flight.

Arrange Your Private Charter Flight With Hangar 7 Aviation

Our friendly agents are always ready with nuanced tips for frequent flyers and helpful advice for beginners. You can count on us to get you where you need to go and quickly handle any adjustments along the way. Contact Hangar 7 to discuss the details of your trip and book a private charter flight today!