Private Jet Charter Safety
Know who flies you. Know what to ask.
Six checks before you book.
Request information for the actual operator and aircraft proposed.
Understand what a rating tells you.
Aviation Research Group. The standard accreditation for serious charter — historical safety audit and operator profile.
What it certifiesHighest ARG/US tier. On-site audit plus emergency-response, ground-handling and security review.
What it certifiesPilot-specific qualifications, trip-level safety review, real-time risk assessment for every leg.
What it certifiesInternational Standard for Business Aircraft Operations. Safety management system implemented, audited, and demonstrated in operation.
What it certifiesHow JetNine vets operators
From 5,000 operators to 380 in network.
There are roughly five thousand licensed charter operators in the United States. Most are excellent. Some are not. Our job is to know which is which — and we are aggressive about saying no.
All US licensed charter operators
Every certificated charter operator in the country. The starting universe before any filter.
~5,000certificatesAfter certification & insurance filter
Drop operators with certificate amendments, insurance below threshold, or fewer than five years continuous operation.
~2,100remainingAfter audit-standing filter
Drop operators below ARG/US Gold or with lapsed audits. Drop any operator with an NTSB-reportable event in the last 24 months.
~880remainingAfter on-site visit & chief-pilot review
In-person hangar & ops walk-through. Roughly half the operators that look good on paper don't survive a site visit.
~410remainingJetNine approved operators
Operators currently flying for our clients. Re-audited every 12 months, spot-checked continuously, with a one-strike policy on safety events.
380in network today
The non-negotiables. Every operator. Every flight.
Below this line, an operator does not enter the network. There is no exception process, no client request that overrides it, no rate that justifies a waiver.
No suspensions, no enforcement actions, no certificate amendments under review in the last 24 months. Foreign equivalents must be verified by recognized aviation authority.
Preferred: ICAO Annex 6 Part II compliance for cross-border missions.
Audit cannot have lapsed. Wyvern Wingman or IS-BAO Stage 2 required for international, transoceanic, and ultra-long-range missions.
Preferred: ARG/US Platinum + Wyvern Wingman dual rating.
Captain minimum 3,500 total hours, 1,500 hours in-type. Co-pilot minimum 2,500 total hours. Both current on aircraft within 90 days. No exceptions for daylight, short-leg, or clear-weather conditions.
Preferred: Captain 5,000+ hours, extra crew on legs over 8 hours.
$500M minimum for super-mid through ultra. Policy must be primary, not contingent on a fractional or fleet umbrella. Certificate provided to JetNine in advance of every booking.
Preferred: $500M+ across the board, AM Best A or higher carrier.
All inspections current within manufacturer-recommended intervals (not regulatory minimums). Aircraft must have completed a full phase inspection within the last 12 months.
Preferred: Factory-authorized service center, single-fleet operator.
No fatal accidents in the last 60 months. No NTSB-reportable incidents under review. FAA enforcement history reviewed back five years; any enforcement action is grounds for rejection unless cleared by our chief pilot.
Preferred: Zero NTSB-reportable events lifetime, fleet-wide.
Verified financial standing — no bankruptcy, receivership, or aircraft repossession events in the last 36 months. Single-fleet operators preferred over fragmented brokers re-selling under their certificate.
Preferred: Founder-owned, over 15 years in operation.
A standard isn’t a standard unless it’s enforced.
Every 12 months
Document review
Insurance certificate, ARG/US or Wyvern audit, current rosters, training records, type-rating proofs, airworthiness-directive compliance.
Every 12 months
On-site visit
Our chief pilot or a qualified third party — JetNine standards must be observed in operation. Maintenance hangar, training facility, dispatch operations.
Every flight
Trip-level review
Before every booking — current pilot duty time, aircraft maintenance status, weather, route alternates. Wyvern Wingman runs this automatically.
Continuous
Spot-check & debrief
Random flight-by-flight crew checks, post-flight client surveys, anonymous tip line for crew & terminal staff. One strike on safety — out.
Hull-and-liability insurance, at these levels.
Operator-level coverage — primary, not contingent. JetNine carries an additional $50M umbrella as broker. Certificates verified before every booking; clients can request a copy on confirmation.
Light & midsize jets
Per-occurrence hull-and-liability minimum. Most operators in this category carry $500M; we publish the floor, not the average.
Super-mid through ultra long range
Per-occurrence hull-and-liability minimum. Higher floor reflects passenger count, transoceanic exposure, and aircraft replacement cost.
Who is responsible for your flight?
Arranges and coordinates the charter as a Part 295 indirect air carrier. Ask which capacity the broker is acting in and who will operate the flight.
The FAA Part 135 certificated carrier has operational control of the aircraft. Ask about crew, maintenance and operational decisions.
If the aircraft or operator changes, ask again.
Confirm the replacement details and applicable terms before accepting a change.
Independent sources. Practical answers.
Compare aircraft, operator details and written terms.
Open the proposal checklistU.S. guidance shown. International flights may involve other authorities. Independent references; no endorsement implied.
