New Look, Features Now Offered by Air Charter Marketplace

Throughout its existence JetCharters.com has positioned itself as the one-stop solution for you, the private jet traveler. Our team, along with our partners, has always been there to service any trip request. 

While that has not changed, how we deliver that solution has. 

For nearly a year now, our mission has been to introduce you directly to the charter operator you will be flying with and the aircraft you’ll be flying in. In essence, we've cut out the middle man.

From the Cirrus SR22 air taxi to the Global 5000, the marketplace offers the perfect solution for any trip request imaginable. This would not be possible without the nearly 200 quality operators with their more than 700 aircrafts.

While JetCharters.com has introduced a few industry firsts, such as video promotion and intelligent search technology, it isn’t calling it quits on improving the service. We are always behind the scenes building next-generation technology for this industry.

In fact, we are excited to introduce an entirely new look along with a number of features. The new look you will find when visiting JetCharters.com is one that brings us in line with the best in any industry. We hope you like it, and will offer us feedback along the way.   

Several new features have been added to aide you in searching for the right charter solution.  

The most noticeable is the new “Fleet Sheet” and “Aircraft Sheet” PDF download that you can download from any operator or aircraft page, allowing customers to take details with them offline with the click of a mouse. Just look for the red Adobe buttons on relevant pages.

On the same pages you might also notice operator social network icons. Consider visiting operator social pages while getting to know your future charter operator. 

For the first time, the marketplace also displays aircraft listings on the JetCharters.com homepage. You will automatically see aircraft available near your current location thanks to geo-targeting capabilities built into the new site. 

You now have an account within the marketplace where you can save featured aircrafts, trip requests, email preferences and more. We are the only private aviation website that offers planning tools directly to you.

Safety is Top Priority

We recognize safety is the top priority when selecting flight options, which is why we want to spend this blog post reviewing government standards for charter operators, along with safety programs many participate in.

For starters, every aircraft listed in the marketplace is required by the FAA to comply with Part 135 rules and regulations. FAA Part 135 is the operating standard at which aircraft safety, regulations, maintenance, and pilot licensure are ensured when operators are offering their services for hire.

Additionally, many of our charter providers take the priority of your safety to the next level by having independent auditors perform safety audits.

While searching the JetCharters.com air charter marketplace, consider looking for the ARGUS seal. 

The ARGUS CHEQ (Charter Evaluation and Qualification) program was developed over a decade ago as the most accurate and detailed third-party due diligence system for charter operators, buyers and passengers around the world.

ARGUS extracts, filters, and vetts data on charter operators around the world through the CHEQ Program. This scoring system is the backbone of CHEQ and provides charter buyers with an independent, third-party, factually-based rating on an operator's actual safety history.

You’ll notice ARGUS safety ratings at every step of performing trip requests on JetCharters.com. The ARGUS seals can be found in search results, on operator profile pages and individual aircraft pages. JetCharters.com search technology also allows you to customize safety rating results via a drop down menu on the left side of each search result page.

Now that you know what to look for, here is what each individual rating means…

Gold Rating - To achieve the Gold Rating, ARGUS conducts in-depth research into numerous databases and other reputable sources. Historical information on the commercial certificate, pilots, aircraft serial numbers, ownership, management is compiled, processed and scored in an effort to determine the applicability of a Gold Rating.

An operator's composite score is compared against an aggregate group of operators with like exposures, and if found to meet or exceed the median score of those operators, the operator will be granted an ARGUS Gold Rating. 

Gold Plus Rating - The Gold Plus Rating is awarded to operators who meet all Gold Rating requirements and have completed an ARGUS on-site safety audit or maintains IS-BAO (International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations) Stage 1 registry. 

The operation is audited against the ARGUS Platinum Standard, a standard developed by ARGUS in conjunction with the industry, which contains recognized best practices, policies and procedures.
   
Platinum Rating - The Platinum Rating is the highest level of the ARGUS Ratings. It is awarded to those experienced operators who meet the criteria for Gold and completed the ARGUS Platinum on-site safety audit.

A Platinum Rating requires a well-developed Safety Management System, a clear and workable Emergency Response Plan, effective policies and procedures, and documented records for all major aspects of Operations and Maintenance within a flight department or charter company.
  
It is important to understand operators and aircraft without safety ratings are not necessarily less safe. Safety rating companies may not cover certain aircraft types, such as prop powered aircraft, or certain operator locations.

While flying is always a risk, know that JetCharters.com carefully selects who to let in to the Worldwide Air Charter Marketplace. 

Questions or comments? Feel free to comment on this blog, email us at support@jetcharters.com or call 1-866-999-JETS for more information.

The 2012 Summer Olympics

With so much happening during the 2012 Olympics in London, it's hard to know where to begin, so we've broken it down for you. Find out what you need to know about flying to the games and what to expect right here at JetCharters.com

Getting to London

Legacy 600 from EcelAire

If you plan on going to the games, then now is the time to start thinking about all of your travel needs.

The trip to London takes approximately seven hours when departing from New York City's Teterboro Executive Airport in a heavy jet.

Heavy jets that can get the job done in seven hours include the Gulfstream G550 and the Falcon 900 (among others). View heavy jets on our aircraft by type page or simply run a trip request on jetcharters.com view available aircraft from your location.

Because of the distance, long-range aircraft are necessary to make the transatlantic trip, but consumers have the option of choosing which kind of jet they want to take. With seven hours being the average flight time for virtually any airport off the east coast, that leave passengers with plenty of time on their hands and consumers should consider the amenities they would like onboard.

While all jets are equipped with basic dry snacks, soft drinks and bottled water, having the trip to London catered will also be something you'll be glad you did when hunger strikes somewhere over Newfoundland.

Like flying domestically, flying into London provides passengers with many options. Most private jets land at Heathrow (EGLL), Standsted (EGSS) or Luton (EGGW). From there, passengers can take a private car or public transportation to their hotels. Staff at the FBOs in London will also assist anyone looking for a little bit of an insider's guide to the area.

Getting Tickets for the Games

Tickets to the games need to be purchased through the local National Olympic Committee or its appointed Authorized Ticket Reseller. Residents of the USA can get tickets by creating a free account at www.cosport.com, which offers a wealth of information about the Games and London itself. Individual tickets and package deals are available.

Getting to the Games

Once in London, you'll definitely be anxious to take in the sights and the games.

The games take place from July 27 to August 12 at a variety of different venues, some of which will be held in historic locations like London's Hyde Park, Horse Guards Parade, Regent's Park, Lord's, Wembley, Earls Court, Wimbledon and Greenwich Park. That said, the majority of the games will take place Greater London in areas dubbed the Olympic Zone, River Zone and Central Zone.

Sailing events will take place at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on the Isle of Portland.

The Official London 2012 Games website offers a "spectator journey planner" that will help anyone get to an event from anywhere in Great Britain using public transport, cycling or walking. Once in the city, this guide will be beneficial to anyone unfamiliar with London.

If you plan on using public transportation while in the city – which is a convenient and fast way to get around – then think about getting an Oyster Card. The Oyster Card is a pre-paid travel card that can be used on all forms of public transportation in London so that the hassle of continuously buying paper tickets is erased. Order an Oyster Card here http://visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/oystercard/product/oyster-card.html

The Opening Ceremony and Games

Even people who aren't typically sports fans appreciate the Olympics. There's nothing quite like watching the best of the best compete against one another. Plus, the Olympics provide those in attendance and everyone else watching a home with a chance to witness history in the making.

The Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics will feature an artistic performance by artistic director Danny Boyle and his team. In addition, there will be a parade of athletes, speeches, the declaration of the opening of the Games, oaths, and then the entrance of the Olympic Flame into the stadium.

This year, the following games will be a part of the Olympics: archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, canoe slalom, canoe sprint, cycling (BMX, Mountain Bike, Road and Track), diving, equestrian, fencing, football, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, modern pentathlon, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, synchronized swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, trampoline, triathlon, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting and wrestling.

The schedule for all of these games can be found at http://www.london2012.com/schedule-and-results/.

The Veterans Airlift Command

It's been more than 10 years since the United States entered into war in the Middle East. During that time, thousands of lives have been lost. Thousands more have been changed due to injuries suffered while on the battle grounds – injuries that serve as constant reminders of war.

The men and women who suffered these injuries are our modern-day heroes, yet many times their needs go relatively unnoticed. Especially when it comes to their travel needs.

That's where Veterans Airlift Command comes in.

The VAC provides free air transportation for wounded military personnel and their families who are in need of medical services or compassionate purposes, according to the organization's corporate website.

These flights are carried out through a network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots. The pilots come from a variety of backgrounds, including military, but all of them have a similar desire: To serve the wounded veterans.

The organization was started in 2006 by retired Vietnam veteran Walt Fricke who was injured in the line of duty. A banker by trade and weekend pilot, once retired Fricke began flying soldiers in need throughout the Minneapolis area where he lives as a way to give back to the community.

Fricke's mission expanded once he got a call from someone with the Department of Defense asking if he would be willing to transport wounded combat soldiers.

Soon after, Fricke managed to pull together 2,000 pilots and aircraft owners willing to donate their time and money to helping the country's wounded warriors with their transportation needs.

According to Jen Salvati, Fricke's daughter and one of the three fulltime employees with Veterans Airlift Command, the organization quickly went from being a charitable operation carried out by her father on a local level to a national effort.

Helping Wounded Warriors and Veterans

Currently, the needs of wounded veterans and warriors of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom are being met by the volunteers with VAC. The services offered to these veterans include transport related to service-connected medical needs, transport for family and close friends visiting the wounded at medical facilities and transport of wounded warriors to specific events such as homecoming reunions, which aid in the healing process.

All veterans and warriors need to do is have a medical release assuring that they are able to travel signed by their doctors. From there, volunteers at VAC will schedule a plane and pilots to meet the needs of the veterans and warriors.

Visit www.veteransairlift.org or call 952-582-2911 to plan a trip or find out more information.

While the website states that the only requirements passengers must meet to be eligible to fly include being ambulatory, able to enter and exit the aircraft without assistance, sit upright for three hours at a time and able to travel in an unpressurized aircraft, Fricke said there are exceptions to these rules.

For instance, many times passengers have lost limbs and do need assistance getting on a plane. Fricke said that just recently the VAC flew four passengers who were quadruple amputees who needed assistance getting on the plane. Fricke said to get these passengers on the plane, men from the Fixed Based Operator at their location didn't even hesitate to assist their needs.

Fricke said that the biggest challenges to flying wounded passengers is that currently any passenger needing to fly on a stretcher is unable to be served by the VAC because they do not have aircraft that can safely secure a passenger on a stretcher.

That said, if anyone surfaces with an air ambulance then the VAC will be able to meet the needs of virtually any wounded warrior or veteran, according to Fricke.

Once on board, should medical care be required on the flight, passengers are responsible for securing a medical attendant to fly along with them. This can be a friend or family member and that person will also fly for free.

Beyond Medical Care

Fricke said that medical appointments are not the only places the wounded are flown to.

Because the founder of the organization understands that healing from war goes beyond what's offered at a medical facility, passengers can also be taken to special events or family functions, Fricke said.

Recently, a group of wounded veterans were flown out to Challenge America in Aspen where wounded military personnel can go to experience therapeutic recreation programs and get together with fellow veterans.

Challenge America was started by a man who lost his son in Iraq and was determined to not let the tragedy negatively affect his life. Instead, he wanted to use his experience and honor the memory of his son by creating a place for other military personnel to go heal, Fricke said.

Attending family events is another activity that is important to not only military personnel, but their families as well.

Fricke said she has a trip coming up that is for a man who was injured eight years ago in the war and lost an eye and suffered a traumatic brain injury, but wants to be able to go to his son's graduation from basic training at Fort Benning so he can be the one who places his son's rifle pin on his uniform at graduation.

Flights are also schedule to take the wounded to meet service or therapy dogs that have been trained specifically for them to meet their needs, Fricke said. Other times, service or therapy dogs fly right along with their owners in the seats next to them or on the floor of the jets.

Ways to Help

Like all nonprofit organizations, donations are always needed and can be sent online or to Veterans Airlift Command at 5775 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 700, St. Louise Park, MN 55416.

Pilots willing to make pro-bono flights are always needed and can find information about necessary requirements on the VAC website.

Fricke said that air ambulance services would benefit the organization and anyone who can offer this service can contact the VAC.

For more information about the organization, visit www.veteransairlift.org

Corporate Angel Network

Parents everywhere worry about their children coming down with everything from the common cold to chicken pox, but seldom do those parents ever even allow themselves to imagine their child battling cancer.

It's a sad reality that far too many families have to face. What's even worse is that many times, the best treatment available for the children is hundreds to thousands of miles away from their homes. This leaves families with the burden of trying to get to treatment centers. Many times they are financially unable to get there. After all, even with insurance, cancer treatment is exorbitantly expensive.

To add insult to injury, the option of flying isn’t always viable. While cost is a problem, germs can sometimes be even more of an issue.

Germs are everywhere on private jets and those with compromised immune systems run the risk of contracting any variety of illnesses simply by boarding the jet.

For instance, MRSA, H1N1, influenza, and E Coli are all found on surfaces on commercial jets. In addition, merely sitting on a jet with other passengers gives each person a 20 percent higher chance of catching a cold or the flu than if they had not gotten on the flight.

Knowing this, cancer patients, especially pediatric cancer patients, could potentially jeopardize their health and their lives by taking a flight to receive treatment.

To circumvent this obstacle, cancer patients of any age can take a private jet – at no cost.

The Corporate Angel Network offers empty seats on corporate jets to cancer patients so they can access treatment facilities crucial to their fight against disease.

The life-saving company is based out of White Plains, NY. The Westchester County Airport offers the organization free office space for its 50 part-time volunteers and paid staff of six.

More than 3,000 flights go out each year with cancer patients onboard. While many people are able to take advantage of these flights, there are still several thousands of people suffering from cancer that do not get matched up with a flight.

This is because the organization works with corporate flights only and sometimes those flights just don't match up with the needs of patients. However, the Corporate Angel Network puts in a flight request for each person who contacts them three weeks before his or her scheduled appointment.

Cancer patients aren’t the only ones who get to take advantage of the flights.

Bone marrow donors and bone marrow recipients may also take part in the flights. Unlike many charity programs, the Corporate Angel Network does not require patients to show any sort of financial need and they are allowed to travel as often as necessary.

The company is supported by 500 corporations throughout the country. Since its inception in 1981, more than 35,000 flights have been coordinated.

Like all charity organizations, more help is always needed. Anyone interested in helping out with the Corporate Angel Network can send a cash donation via check to Corporate Angel Network, Westchester County Airport, One Loop Road, White Plains, NY 10604.

The organization also accepts bequests so that supporters of the program can continue to support it even beyond his or her lifetime. Stock shares, bonds, and mutual funds can also be donated to the program.

Frequent flyer miles can also be donated. Although this means they will fly commercially, for those with financial constraints who cannot find free travel on a corporate jet this method provides an answer to their prayers.

Airline tickets can also be donated. Volunteers are also needed and anyone looking to support the group can call 914-328-1313. Patients can call the toll-free line at 866-328-1313.

JetCharters.com Featured Video

Booking private charter should never start with a stock picture of a plane you’ll never fly on or be followed by a contact form going to someone who won’t actively participate in the trip.

That’s how we feel about it anyway, which is why JetCharters.com set out to introduce the charter consumer to the exact aircraft and operator they will be flying with. Trip requests return aircrafts that best fit any trip and include specifics like pictures, safety ratings, operator contact information and more.

There is always room for improvement, which is why we have taken another step to improve the introduction process. Charter operators now have the ability to share video, featuring their companies and the planes they manage.

Two industry leaders in private aviation, Desert Jet and Solairus Aviation, were the first to add videos to the marketplace. This opened up a whole new world to the industry because it allows customers to get to know operators and aircraft before booking travel.

Now, more and more operators are producing videos to share with potential clients. To find the right aircraft and operator available for your next flight, run a trip request here.

Honor Flight

It's never too late to make peace with the hardest parts of life. 

The Honor Flight Network is a program that started in 2005 by retired Air Force Captain and physician's assistant Earl Morse in Springfield, OH. The program flies veterans to Washington, DC so they can visit the memorials dedicated to their service in the country's past wars.

Morse came up with the idea for Honor Flight because he cared for several World War II veterans every day at the Department of Veterans Affairs clinic where he works. He spoke to many of them about the World War II Memorial, which was completed in 2004, and discovered while many of the veterans from that war wanted to see the memorial dedicated to them, they had no way to get there. 

The thought that these veterans who risked their lives when they were young men and women might never get the chance to see the memorial dedicated to their service bothered Morse. It became his goal to see to it that anyone who wanted to go could go. 

As a private pilot and member of the aero club at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH, Morse began asking veterans if they would allow him to fly them on his private plane to the memorial. Many broke down in tears at the offer. 

From there, Morse asked more members of the aero club if they would be willing to pay the $600-$1200 cost for the aircraft rental to fly these veterans to their memorial and escort them throughout the trip. Eleven pilots agreed right off the bat without hesitation.

More than 130 veterans made it out to the memorial that first year thanks to the generosity of pilots willing to help out. 

Word spread quickly about the program.

Pilots and veterans outside of Ohio heard about Honor Flight and they wanted to take part in its mission.

Jeff Miller of Hendersonville, NC did the unimaginable when he secured the funding necessary so that several veterans could fly together in a commercial airliner to Washington, DC and visit their memorial.

The use of commercial airliners meant more veterans could visit their memorial at one time and both Morse and Miller decided to combine their efforts by starting the Honor Flight Network. 

This network streamlined the planning process so that veterans all over the country could be connected with flights out to Washington, DC. 

Now, there are 71 hubs in 30 states. In addition, Southwest Airlines donated thousands of free tickets to the Honor Flight Network and was named its official commercial carrier.

The Honor Flight Network also goes beyond its initial focus to get WWII veterans to their memorials. The push behind getting WWII veterans to the memorial lies in the fact that close to 1,000 veterans from that war die every day, so time is of the essence. 

However, veterans from other wars who are battling terminal illnesses also get to be a part of Honor Flight at this time.

By the end of the 2011 flying season in November, the Honor Flight Network transported more than 81,000 veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam to their memorials. 

Now back to how the Honor Flight Network helps bring peace to veterans. 

The late Harry E. Lillicrap, Jr., got the chance to close a chapter of his life when he took part in Honor Flight in the fall of 2006. 

Lillicrap was a Seaman First Class in the United States Navy during WWII from 1943-46, but he never spoke about what he did in the war. His daughter, Melody Vallieu, said it was taboo in her family to even mention the war. 

Vallieu said her father lost several friends in the war and his own brother was shot down in a plane over Europe and his body was never recovered. 

"It was bad for him," she said. "It was something that was just never discussed."

In spite of never talking about his participation in the war, Vallieu wanted her father to take part in Honor Flight so he could receive the recognition for his efforts in fighting for the country that he deserved. 

Vallieu contacted Honor Flight to get her father registered for a trip. When she first made contact with them, she was told she would have to wait until the following spring before space would be available. However, Vallieu said she wanted to be able to get her father their sooner. 

Thankfully, a spot opened up on Veteran's Day in 2006, and the father and daughter pair set off for what was to be their last adventure together. 

All of the trips to Washington, DC last for just a day. Veterans and their guardians aboard a flight, spend the day touring the sites in the nation's capital and, of course, visiting the memorials dedicated to veterans for each of the nation’s wars. 

Vallieu said from the moment they got to the airport her day with her dad was incredibly moving. 

It was Veteran's Day so many people thanked the veterans traveling for their service. When the veterans got off their plane in Baltimore they were greeted by strangers holding signs up welcoming the Honor Flight veterans and a thunderous applause.

Vallieu choked up remembering what it was like seeing her father smile at the strong reception.

Once at the memorial, Vallieu said she heard her father speak about the war for the first time. She said she was sitting near him, but he didn't see her, so he didn't know she was listening when he began speaking to some fellow veterans about his experience in the war. 

"It was amazing to hear about who he was and what he did," Vallieu said. "He unleashed all these memories that he never shared with the family."

Vallieu said that when they left that day, her father looked out the window as they flew over Chesapeake Bay with a soft smile on his face and looked peaceful. 

"He looked calm like he had made peace with it and it was a relief to just let it go," Vallieu said.

Once back home in Ohio, Vallieu said her father had the biggest smile on his face even though he was exhausted. She said he told everyone he knew about his experience with Honor Flight and how much he appreciated being able to go. 

Lillicrap passed away three months after his visit to the memorial. At his funeral, Vallieu, who works for a newspaper, wrote a special column about Honor Flight and included her father's experience and photos of the trip. She said that people came up to her time and time again during the funeral telling her what a special opportunity it was that she had with her father. 

"Honor Flight ended up being the last official thing me and my dad got to do together and nobody can ever take that back from me," Vallieu said.

For more information about Honor Flight or to register for a trip visit HonorFlight.org.