Air
Charter: Glossary
The air charter community has
its own industry specific technical terminology that may be
unfamiliar to newcomers. This Guide has a brief list of terms
that users of air charters are likely to encounter in conversation
with charter professionals.
airway-distance: The actual distance
flown (as opposed to straight line) by the aircraft between
two points, after deviations required by air traffic control
and navigation are taken into account along established routes.
The difference between this and straight line distance varies
throughout the country. Average figures are between 5 to 9%.
amphibious floats: FLOATS or "pontoons"
are equipped with retractable wheels that permit aircrafts
to operate from paved airports.
ARO: The Airport reservation office.
Since these allocations are scarce and granted 48 hours in
advance on a first-come-first-served basis, travel to these
airports may be difficult by charter.
block rates: A lower contract-rate
to schedule significant amounts of charter time in advance
on a previously arranged agreement.
block speed: The average speed over
a specific distance door-to-door with respect to the airport
gate.
broker margin: The difference calculated
between the flight charges assessed by the charter operator
and the flight charges assessed by the charter broker.
certificate: FAA-issued license (sometimes
referred to as ticket, part 135 license, etc.) to carry passengers
for hire.
charter broker: A company or individual
that buys charters at wholesale and resells it at retail.
The broker is responsible for payment to charter providers,
for assessing end-user taxes and fees, and for ensuring customer
safety and satisfaction. A charter operator may act as broker
to provide supplemental lift to their customer.
charter operator: A company or individual
that holds aircraft charter certificates and provides charter
services to wholesale and retail customers.
commuter operator: A regional, scheduled
airline. Not all commuter airlines charter, as there are limitations
in aircraft and crew availability.
corporate operator: A company flight
department that has a part 135 certificate to carry passengers
for compensation.
cruise speed: . This is the normal
speed attained at altitude once the aircraft is no longer
climbing and is enroute.
deadhead: To fly the return leg of
a trip without any cargo or passengers.
duty time: That duration of the day
when a crew member is on duty in any capacity (not just in
the air). This can be a constraint on long day trips due to
FAA imposed limits on the amount of time allowed on duty.
empty leg: Also called as "one-way
availability". Since charter trips usually charge for
the round trip travel of the aircraft, empty legs can often
represent relative bargains.
Exporter: Any program that is designed
to export availability data from an operator's scheduling
software to the availability calendar on the Industry Exchange.
FBO: Fixed-base operator -- represents
a large majority of the air charter industry.
flight time: That duration of the
trip actually spent in the air. For billing purposes this
definition is generally strict and only applies from moment
of take-off to moment of touch-down.
floats: Flotation devices or Pontoons
that enable airplanes/helicopters to land on water.
GADO: General Aviation District Office
of the FAA.
general aviation: That portion of
aviation other than military or commercial scheduled operations.
great circle distance: The shortest
distance between two points on a globe.
IFR: Instrument Flight Rules (flight
in clouds).
ILS: Instrument Landing System. Low-level
approach equipment at certain airports. Though instrument
departures & approaches can be made in airports without
ILS, its presence is a of benefit to the travel planner because
an ILS improves trip reliability as closely possible to the
level of scheduled airlines, which generally fly from airports
with such facilities.
layover: A night spent in the midst
of the trip in a city other than home base for the aircraft
and crew.
leg: Describes one direction of travel
between two points.
lift: Any aircraft engaged for transport.
medevac: Medical evacuation (usually
emergency)
.Part 91: The set of federal regulations
that govern private aircraft use.
Part 135: The set of federal regulations
that govern commercial hire of jets.
positioning: Ferrying aircraft for
departure from other than originating airport.
positioning time: Estimated time
for an aircraft to travel to trip departure position.
ramp: The apron or open "tarmac"
in form of an FBO or terminal facility.
repositioning time: Estimated time
for an aircraft to return to its based position after completion
of a passenger segment.
retail quote: Quote provided to retail
customers including taxes and end user assessed fees.
segment: Describes the unit of flight
between takeoff and landing.
stage length: Distance of itinerary
nonstop leg.
taxi time: That duration of the trip
spent rolling between the gate, terminal, or RAMP and runway.
VFR: Visual Flight Rules (flight
out of clouds).
waiting time: The time that the chartered
aircraft and crew have to wait on the ground during any portion
of the trip.
wholesale buyer: A charter operator
or charter broker that you allow to represent your aircraft
to their customers.
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