Charter glossary
Charter terminology in plain English — the words operators and brokers use, and what they mean for your trip and your invoice.
Air Operator Certificate (AOC)
The national license that lets a company sell flights to the public — the non-US equivalent of an FAA Part 135 certificate.
APU (Auxiliary Power Unit)
The small turbine in the tail that powers and cools the cabin before the engines start — why the jet is comfortable when you board.
ARGUS and Wyvern ratings
Independent safety audits that rate charter operators beyond the legal minimum their certificate requires.
Block time
Total time from the moment the aircraft first moves until it parks — the time charter hourly rates are billed against.
Cabin altitude
The effective altitude your body experiences inside the pressurized cabin — lower is fresher, and newer jets go much lower.
Catering
Food and drink aboard a charter — what comes standard, what you order, and what it actually costs per person.
Crew duty and rest limits
The regulatory caps on how long charter crews can work and fly — the hidden clock behind delays, cancellations, and overnight costs.
De-icing
Removing frozen contamination before takeoff — legally required, weather-dependent, and a $1,500–15,000 pass-through on winter invoices.
Deadhead
A flight leg with no passengers aboard — the aircraft or crew repositioning to where the paying work is.
Empty leg
A repositioning flight sold at a discount — often 25–75% below the normal one-way charter price.
FBO (Fixed-Base Operator)
The private terminal where your charter actually departs — lounge, ramp, fueling, and handling, with no lines or gates.
Federal Excise Tax (FET)
The 7.5% US tax on domestic charter transportation, plus small per-passenger segment fees.
Ferry fee
An explicit charge on a charter quote for flying the aircraft empty to or from your trip — positioning cost made visible.
Floating fleet
Aircraft operated without a fixed home base — they stay wherever the last trip ended, which changes one-way pricing entirely.
Fuel stop (tech stop)
A short landing to refuel when the leg exceeds the aircraft's practical range — typically 45–60 minutes on the ground.
Gray charter
Illegal charter — private (Part 91) flights sold to the public as if the operator held a commercial certificate.
Jet card
A prepaid charter program with fixed hourly rates — convenience traded for a large deposit and commitment to one provider.
Known icing conditions
Forecast or reported airframe icing aloft — conditions some smaller aircraft aren't certified or well-suited to fly through in winter.
Minimum daily hours
The floor most operators bill per day an aircraft is committed to you — typically 2 hours, even if it flies less or sits parked.
Owner approval
The owner's sign-off required before a managed aircraft can fly your charter — why some confirmations take hours instead of minutes.
Part 135
The FAA rules for on-demand commercial flying — the certificate that makes selling charter flights legal in the US.
Part 91
The FAA rules for private, non-commercial flying — legal for owners flying themselves, illegal to sell to the public.
Peak days
High-demand dates when charter prices carry premiums, minimums tighten, and availability collapses.
Positioning (ferry) flight
Flying the aircraft empty to where the paying trip starts — the invisible cost inside most charter quotes.
Ramp and handling fees
What FBOs charge for parking and servicing the aircraft — routinely $100–1,500 per stop, and often waived with a fuel purchase.
Runway requirements
The runway length each aircraft legally needs to depart and land — why some airports exclude some jets, especially when hot and high.
Slots and PPR
Advance permissions constrained airports require for every arrival and departure — and a hidden constraint on charter timing.
Tail number
The aircraft's unique registration — the key to verifying exactly which aircraft, and which operator, you're flying with.
Turnaround time
The minimum ground time an aircraft needs between legs — typically 45–60 minutes for a quick turn, longer than passengers expect.
VIP airliner
An airliner airframe with a bespoke private interior — bedrooms and lounges rather than rows — distinct from shuttle-configured bizliners.
Wheels-up time
The moment the aircraft leaves the runway — the anchor every charter schedule is built backwards from.
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