To Avoid Illegal or “Grey” Charters, Know these Details Before You Fly!
Have a friend or an acquaintance who has promised you a discounted / flat fee over fuel cost for a “charter” flight? You could be breaking the law by accepting. When money exchanges hands for air travel, there are some very specific rules that need to be followed as the flight will be classified as “commercial” and must comply with rules set by the IRS, FAA and DOT. Some helpful things to look out for are:
- Make sure the aircraft is available for charter according to FAA regulations.
- The cost of compliance for FAR Part 135 must be included in the trip cost. If the price is “too good to be true” it will most likely be at the risk of your safety.
- Avoid faceless, nameless brokers. Know who your broker is and their reputation in the industry.
- The pilot must be up-to-date in his/her training, and trained for the specific aircraft they are working.
- Is the pilot regularly drug tested? Background checks complete? Know if the crew is properly managed.
QuikCharter holds an Air Carrier certificate from the FAA and operates charter flights properly under Part 135 flight rules. Be sure you’re comparing apples to apples when shopping prices. Again, if a quote sounds too good to be true (vs. other charter quotes), that operator probably is not complying with FAA, DOT, and IRS rules for charter flights. Ask them. Then call us to book your trip.
Have Questions? Call Customer Service at 888.908.7845 or e-mail us.