Private Jet Glossary

Since you will be hearing more and more about charter jets in the near future, we felt it would be beneficial to provide readers with a glossary. Today, you have commercial airlines, which have become congested and expensive. Because of this, charter jets are now being used far more. In addition to the typical corporate or executive jet, you will also see another alternative known as the Very Light Jets, which are being introduced this year. These smaller chartered jets provide enough room for four to six people while actually offering far more destinations.

Airway Distance: Actual distance flown by the aircraft between two points, rather than going in a straight line

Amphibious Floats: Also known as pontoons, these floats are designed with retractable wheels, allowing the aircraft to operate from paved airports

ARO: Airport Reservation Office

Block Rates: Low contract rate for scheduling a large quantity of charter time in advance but on a pre-arranged agreement

Block Speed: Average speed maintained over a specific distance

Broker Margin: Calculation difference between flight changes assessed by the charter operator and charter broker

Certificate: License provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) so passengers can be carried for hire

Charter Broker: Individual or company that buys charter flights at wholesale, thus reselling them at retail price

Charter Operator: Individual or company holding aircraft charter certificates, which also provides the charter services to both retail and wholesale customers

Commuter Operator: Regional, scheduled airline

Corporate Operator: Company flight department with part 135 certificate, allowing to carry passengers for hire

Cruise Speed: Normal speed attained at altitude after plane is no longer climbing

Deadhead: Flying the return leg of a trip without passengers or cargo

Duty Time: Duration of the day when a crewmember is on duty in any capacity

Empty Leg: Known also as "one-way availability," this provides the opportunity for passenger bargains

Exporter: Any program designed to export availability date from an operator's scheduling software to the availability calendar, which is hosted on the Industry Exchange

FBO: Fixed-Base Operator

Flight Time: Duration of a trip that is actually in the air

Floats: Same as "Amphibious Floats"

GADO: General Aviation District Office for the Federal Aviation Administration

General Aviation: Portion of aviation other than scheduled operations for commercial or military flights

Great Circle Distance: Shortest distance between two points

IFR: Instrument Flight Rules

ILS: Instrument Landing System, which improves trip reliability as closely as possible to scheduled time

Layover: Night spent during the middle of a trip in a city other than the base home for both aircraft and crewmembers

Leg: One direction of travel between two points

Lift: Any aircraft engaged for transport

Medevac: Medication evacuation, which is usually associated with some type of emergency

Part 91: Set of federal regulations governing private aircraft use

Part 135: Set of federal regulations governing commercial hire of jets

Positioning: Ferrying or preparing the aircraft for departure from other than the originating airport

Positioning Time: Estimated time for the aircraft to travel to the trip departure position

Ramp: Open tarmac or apron used at a terminal facility

Repositioning Time: Estimated time for the aircraft to return to the base position after completing a passenger segment

Retail Quote: Price provided to a retail customer, which includes assessed fees and taxes

Segment: Unit of flight between takeoff and landing

Stage Length: Distance of the itinerary nonstop leg

Taxi Time: Duration of the trip spent rolling between the terminal's gate, terminal, ramp, and runway

VFR: Visual Flight Rules

Waiting Time: Time a chartered aircraft and crewmembers can wait on the ground during any portion of the trip

Wholesale Buyer: Charter operator or broker allowed to represent your aircraft to potential customers