Private jet safety is not a matter of trust. It is a matter of verifiable credentials: the operator's FAA certificate, its third party audit rating, and the specific crew flying your trip. All three can be checked before you board, and any legitimate charter provider will produce them on request.

Here is what those credentials actually mean and what to ask for.

What Is FAA Part 135 and Why Does It Matter?

FAA Part 135 is the regulation governing on demand commercial charter in the United States. Part 135 operators face stricter requirements than private Part 91 flights, including crew duty and rest limits, recurrent training, drug and alcohol testing programs, and maintenance oversight.

This distinction is the most important safety concept in charter. If someone offers you a flight operated under Part 91 for compensation, that is a regulatory problem, not a bargain. Every legitimate charter flight in the US is operated under a Part 135 certificate held by the operator.

Under Part 135 unscheduled operations, crews are limited to a 14 hour duty day with a minimum 10 hour rest period. Those limits exist because fatigue is one of the most studied risk factors in aviation.

What Do ARGUS, Wyvern, and IS-BAO Ratings Mean?

These are the three recognized third party safety audits in business aviation. They go beyond the regulatory minimum by auditing the operator's actual practices, pilot experience, and safety management system.

• ARGUS rates operators Gold, Gold Plus, or Platinum. Platinum requires an on site audit and a functioning safety management system.

• Wyvern issues the Wingman standard, which includes an on site audit and specific pilot experience minimums per aircraft type.

• IS-BAO is the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations, registered in three progressive stages by the International Business Aviation Council.

A rating is a snapshot with an expiration date. Ask for the current certificate, not a claim that the operator was rated at some point.

Which Rating Is the Strongest?

No single rating is definitively best. ARGUS Platinum and Wyvern Wingman both require on site audits and are widely treated as the top tier. IS-BAO Stage 3 signals a mature safety culture. Many strong operators hold more than one.

What Should You Ask Before Booking a Charter?

Ask for the operator's name and certificate number, their current third party audit rating, the aircraft tail number and year, the pilots' total time and time in type, and whether the flight is crewed by two pilots.

The pilot question deserves attention. Some light aircraft are legally single pilot certified. Many charter buyers prefer a two pilot crew regardless, and most quality operators staff that way as standard policy. Ask rather than assume.

Also ask who is actually operating the flight. Brokers arrange charters, operators fly them. Knowing which operator holds the certificate for your specific trip is the foundation of every other safety question.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is private aviation safer than commercial airlines?

Scheduled airlines have the strongest safety record in aviation. Well audited Part 135 charter with an experienced operator is a very high safety standard, but the honest comparison depends heavily on the specific operator and crew rather than on private versus commercial as a category.

Can I check an operator's safety record myself?

Yes. FAA certificate status is public, and ARGUS, Wyvern, and IS-BAO registrations can be verified with the issuing organization. Any provider that resists giving you the operator name is telling you something.

Does the aircraft's age affect safety?

Maintenance program and operator quality matter more than build year. A well maintained older airframe on a rigorous program is not inherently less safe than a newer aircraft with weaker oversight. Ask about the maintenance program, not just the year.

Fly VelAir was built by pilots, not salespeople, and every operator in our network is held to strict safety and performance standards on every flight. If you want the certificate, audit rating, and crew details for a trip before you commit, ask us. We will send them.