Aircraft Charter
Reasons to Charter an Aircraft
Whatever your reasons for chartering an aircraft, there are a few pointers to keep in mind when reserving.
Before beginning the process, and as obvious as it sounds, you should know how many people will be travelling, where they're travelling to and from where.
This simple set of information will have a marked effect on the type of aircraft you use.
You should also bear in mind whether your passengers will only have hand baggage - as in going to an urgent meeting - or might they be carrying presentation equipment for a major product launch or even a set of golf bags.
You'll need to tell your broker because if they have a lot of equipment, as in a rock band or a corporate presentation, then you'll need an aircraft with a baggage hold.
The next thing to have in mind are the dates of travel - the outbound and inbound journeys.
Few casual users of private air charter have the luxury of having a fuelled jet sitting on a runway waiting for it's passengers. Not to mention that the same aircraft may be booked into another service a continent away.
The final consideration, though in some cases no less important, is what type of onboard facilities are required.
Generally speaking, small planes do not have a toilet on board or a galley for preparing food.
In fact, most small aircraft have no onboard services at all. This is important to note if you're planning a stag or hen party or have a passenger who may need mid air assistance during flight.
In the case of the stag party, on board toilet facilities are recommended except for the shortest journeys and for passengers requiring assistance, an onboard host or hostess is essential. Indeed, the captain may refuse to fly without them.
Ski and Golf bags can cause similar problems. Most skis will not fit in the hold of a small aircraft and you're not allowed to keep them in the aisle. The same is true of Golf bags and even childrens buggies. So you should know before planning if awkward items need to be carried on board.
The Noise
When you've decided on the above, you may wish to consider how much noise level your passengers can tolerate.
Jets have pressurized passenger cabins and fly at high altitudes where the noise of the engines drops off. This makes conversation and meetings possible using a near normal tone of voice.
Propeller planes tend to fly at lower altitudes. If you are using a Turboprop with a pressurised cabin then sound levels can be fine even at lower altitudes.
In an unpressurised cabin, you probably could not manage a business negotiation or romantic chat with your sweetheart or golf partner without having to shout!
And as for helicopters, the noise level is such that they are generally used for their convenience, not their intimacy.
All we're saying is be sensible, learn a little bit and then talk to a broker.
Understanding the basic differences between one type of aircraft and another will help.
Be ready to talk to your broker about your requirements and they'll help find the right aircraft for you.
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