Strange Aircraft Charter Terms- Air Charter Glossary Help for
first time Jet Travelers
Have you ever wondered about all the strange air charter terms
and words? This air charter glossary will help you understand
the jargon next time you call to book a private charter aircraft.
Airway Distance:
The actual (as opposed to straight line) distance flown by the
aircraft between two points, after deviations required by air
traffic control and navigation along republished routes. The
difference between this and straight line distance will vary
throughout the country. Average figures would be between 5-9%.
ARO:
Airport Reservation Office. Staffed by the FAA, this entity
allocates landing and takeoff reservations for unscheduled
aircraft in and out of the following airports: JFK, LGA, EWR,
DCA, ORD (see airport identifier listings for codes). Since
these allocations are scarce and granted 48 hours in advance on
a "first-come first served" basis, travel to these five airports
may be difficult by charter.
Block Rates:
A lower "contract rate" for scheduling significant amounts of
charter time in advance on a prearranged agreement.
Block Speed:
The average speed over a specific distance "block-to block", or
door-to-door with respect to the airport gate.
Certificate:
FAA-issued license (in this context sometimes referred to as
ticket, Part 135 license, etc.) to carry passengers for hire.
Commuter Operator:
A regional, scheduled airline. In this book limited to that
operator with adequate fleet capacity as to be available of
charter. Not all commuter airlines charter, because of the
limitations of aircraft and crew availability.
Corporate Operator:
A company flight department which has earned a "Part 135"
certificate to carry passengers for compensation.
Cruise Speed:
Cruise speed is the normal speed attained at altitude once the
aircraft is no longer climbing and is en route.
Deadhead:
Originally a noun, now a verb meaning to fly the return leg of a
trip without cargo or passengers. Originally coined during the
infancy of the major airlines, the term was pejoratively applied
to company employees or spouses, who were strapped into
otherwise empty seats to give the appearance of high business
volume.
Duty Time:
That portion 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, as there are FAA-imposed limits on the amount of time
allowed on duty. Many charter operators have stricter rules, so
it pays to inquire before planning a trip too tight to the limit.
FBO:
Fixed base operator, which represents a large majority of the
air charter industry. By definition at a permanent location,
this is a vendor of services, maintenance, fuel, flight
instruction, and aircraft sales, in addition to charter.
Fleet Manager:
A commercial aviation entity developed to subcontract the
maintenance and operation of corporate aircraft, which are often
chartered out to the general public.
Flight Time:
That portion of the trip actually spent in the air. For billing
purposes this definition is generally strict and only applies
from moment of liftoff to moment of touchdown.
GADO:
General Aviation District Office of the FAA is the most local
branch of the FAA, also the entity most likely to know the
specific history of a charter operator.
General Aviation:
That portion of aviation other than military or commercial
scheduled operations. Commercial unscheduled operations,
corporate flight operations, and private aviation are the most
conspicuous members of this group. Most major metropolitan
airports ten to have a separate "general aviation" terminal,
where a chartered flight is likely to depart or arrive.
Great Circle Distance:
The shortest distance between two points on a globe. All
distances shown in distance tables in the Air Charter Guide are
"great circle distance".
IFR:
"Instrument Flight Rules" (flight in clouds).
ILS:
Instrument Landing System-low level approach equipment at
certain airports. Airports with ILS systems are indicated in
bold face type in the airport listings. Though instrument
approaches and departures can be made in airports without an
ILS, its presence is a material benefit to the travel planner
because an instrument landing system improves trip reliability
as closely as possible to the level of scheduled airlines, which
generally fly from airports with these facilities.
Independent Operator:
A charter operator that does not meet the definition of FBO or
commuter, but may not be involved in contract management of
aircraft. The larger independent operators, however, are very
close to the fleet manager in business approach.
Layover:
A night spent in the middle of the trip in a city other than
home base for the aircraft and crew.
Medevac:
Medical evacuation (usually emergency) seen in this book as a
service of many helicopter companies.
Positioning:
Ferrying aircraft for departure from other than originating
airport. (Also for return.)
Propjet:
A propeller driven airplane, in which the engine is a jet
turbine rather than piston driven.
Ramp:
The apron or open "tarmac" in front of an FBO or terminal
facility. This space is busy, used for deplanement, parking of
aircraft, etc. Some facilities will permit automobiles to drive
to the aircraft on the ramp, a feature of real benefit to the
traveler with heavy or bulky luggage.
Stage Length:
Distance of itinerary non-stop leg.
Taxi Time:
That portion of the trip spent rolling between the gate,
terminal, or ramp and runway.
VFR:
"Visual Flight Rules" (flight out of clouds).
Waiting Time:
That time that the chartered aircraft and crew must wait on the
ground during any portion of the trip.
ICAO-code International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a
4-letter airport location indicator. The field above is left
blank if no ICAO location indicator is available for the
selected airport.
IATA-code International Air Transport Association (IATA), a
3-letter identifier for the relevant airport. The field above is
left blank if no IATA code is available for the selected airport.
Air Charter Glossary Provided by Sport Jet Charter Travel- Group
Air Charter and Sports Team Charter Travel
http://www.sportjetcharter.com and Air Broker Net Jet Charter-
Private Air Charter http://www.airbrokernet.com