How the Safety Assessment System works

What certifications are required to operate private charter flights?

To operate private charter flights, an aircraft must obtain an FAA Part 135 certificate. Part 135 is the FAA classification for commuter and on-demand air carrier operations. The initial requirements to obtain a Part 135 certificate are comprehensiv

What is OPI?

OPI is a multi-factor scale system of Part 135 air carriers (Operators) developed and maintained by Charter Jets, Inc. Leveraging historical performance data from thousands of Charter Jets, Inc. flights, OPI creates an extensive and detailed overview of anticipated Operator performance, as viewed and experienced by Charter Jets, Inc..

Rather than rely solely on third-party rating organizations to evaluate Operators, or on a single data point like Aircraft Model Year, OPI creates a composite of relevant performance indicators.

OPI rates aircraft Operators, not individual aircraft.  Although an OPI score may be provided alongside a specific aircraft, the score relates to the Operator and its fleet as a whole – not the specific aircraft.

Why was the OPI created?

The on-demand industry is ever-changing and highly fragmented. New aircraft and companies are certified for charter operations on a regular basis, and current inventory vanishes almost as quickly.

Direct air carriers are privately held businesses with specific booking criteria, stringent contract conditions, and each have certain competencies that others do not. Several factors within these businesses (new processes, personnel turnover, fleet usage, etc.) may result in fluctuations in regards to quality service.

As a result, Charter Jets, Inc. began collecting critical performance metrics for all Operators in our network and continuously updating these ratings.

OPI established a comparative scale for evaluating operators of all types and sizes and offers an indicator of expected performance as assessed by Charter Jets, Inc..

OPI Scoring & Utilization

OPI rates Operators on a scale of 0 to 100.  Charter Jets, Inc. will not utilize Operators with a score below 80 by default.

For last-minute flights, peak travel dates, remote locations and similar circumstances, aircraft options may be limited.  In such instances Charter Jets, Inc. may present Operators with a sub-80 score.  While we prefer to use Operators with a score of 80 or higher, there are many reliable options in the 70-80 range.

The minimum OPI score required by Charter Jets, Inc. is 70 – we will not utilize an Operator with an OPI below 70 at the time of booking.

OPI Statistics

(Last updated May 11th, 2022)

• The average OPI score is 79.5.
• The highest concentration of scores is in the 80-89pt bracket – 51% of all Operators rated

Communication

Communication is critical to the charter operation’s success. In aviation, attention to detail, every minor detail, counts as the stakes are high as there are several moving pieces to consider. Each trip’s success is contingent upon the commitment and work of several individuals from different organizations.

Here are some examples of how an OPI Operator’s Communication rating is calculated:

• Response Times – How soon do they react to inquiries, particularly in the hours preceding and during a trip?
• Proactive Updates – Do they communicate significant changes to trip arrangements promptly? (examples include crew changes, tail number changes, FBO switches, weather updates, and passenger input).
• Internal Communication- Is their sales staff in touch with their operations team? Does Ops communicate with the crew? It is critical to have open lines of communication.

Service Record

For extended periods of time, an operator can provide best-in-class service, but that quality might soon deteriorate due to a variety of reasons. Aircraft degrade with time, interiors get worn out, operations employees make mistakes, and a variety of other factors can contribute to a subpar flying experience for passengers. The following are some examples of elements that might have an impact on an Operator’s Service Record:

• Negative passenger criticism on the crew, the aircraft’s condition, or the in-flight experience
• Delay caused by the pilot or operator, technical failure, or other trip-altering circumstance
• Operational shocks at the last minute, such as aircraft swaps, cargo limits, and catering problems.
• Lack of communication and compassion

Average Condition of Aircraft

This category refers to the operator’s whole fleet’s perceived condition, not to any particular aircraft, as determined by a number of evaluation methods:

• Passenger experience and feedback
• Average fleet YOM and dates of refurbishment
• In-person inspection
• Photos and videos provided by the Operator
• Industry Reputation

Aircraft Fleet

The size of an Operator’s fleet is a major indicator of its capacity to successfully accomplish missions over time. While small fleets are capable of delivering consistent outcomes, larger fleets often have the infrastructure and backup aircraft necessary to perform over time.

Aircraft Year of Manufacture (YOM)

The age of aircraft is a controversial topic for some in private aviation. Companies selling brand new jets assert that ‘newer planes are safer, prettier, and more luxurious,’ while those selling older planes assert that ‘newer planes are more expensive but no more safe or competent.’

Both assertions are accurate in our opinion, and each client and routing configuration is unique. To some pilots, a 1992 aircraft with a brand-new interior may be just as marketable as a 2012 aircraft with high hours with the original interior.

Having said that, newer planes often operate at a cheaper hourly rate and have more advanced pilot and passenger technologies. Usually that results in a better overall experience as the cabins are more comfortable thanks to improved sound proofing as well as newer aircrafts maintain a lower cabin altitude. To some, these differences are inconsequential. And to other Charter Jets, Inc. clients, it means everything.

Years with Current Part 135 Certificate

Aircraft operators arrive and depart the on-demand market on a weekly basis. Owners will place an aircraft on a Part 135 air carriers certificate when it makes sense for them and reserve the right to withdraw it at any moment.

The longer an Operator has an active Part 135 certificate, the more dedicated they are to charter operations in general, and the more experience their staff has.

At Charter Jets, Inc., we only present aircraft from people we have worked with frequently in the past. We never will present an aircraft that we have not seen in person and thoroughly vetted prior.

Please Note:

OPI (Operator Performance Index) is based on Charter Jets, Inc.s’ experience working with direct air carriers and represents the opinion of Charter Jets, Inc. regarding the performance and capabilities of these direct air carriers. Charter Jets, Inc. makes no representations about the safety record or certification of any direct air carrier, any pilot or any aircraft.

Similarly, OPI is not intended to, and does not, make any representations about the safety record or certification of the direct air carrier, the pilots or the aircraft. Charter Jets, Inc. does not audit direct air carriers, and OPI is not based on and does not reflect any standards used by any auditing organization. Further, OPI is based on an assessment of the direct air carrier’s overall history of performance with Charter Jets, Inc. and is not a guarantee of future performance on any flight.