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.

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About the Author

Air Charter Professional and ATP Pilot with over 24 years and 10,000 flight hours in the Air Charter Business.