Saturday, October 19, 2013

What to look for when chartering a private plane: Presented by Schubach Aviation

When a person goes to the internet to charter a private plane in the San Diego area, an overwhelming number of options usually appear. In actuality, there are only a few true charter companies in the area. Many of the options that appear are actually brokers, rather than direct charter operators. How does one determine the difference between a broker and an operator?

“When looking at the websites, it is important to look for certain words,” advised Kimberly Herrell, Director of Sales at Schubach Aviation. “Brokers will note that they ‘have access to’ rather than ‘operate’ charter flights. Brokers don’t actually operate aircraft. They are the middlemen in the transaction putting private fliers with operators like us and can be very helpful if a person travels around in a lot of different areas.”

“Keep in mind that there are no regulations in the broker industry so it’s important to find someone with a good reference and a good reputation who will find you the best value,” continued Herrell. “If you are planning on several flights out of the area, I would recommend bypassing the broker and working directly with an operator as they provide quicker service and response, and typically a lower price.”

A charter operator is an aviation company that holds a Part 135 operating certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. The company staffs the plane, conducts the maintenance and adheres to stringent FAA guidelines. 

“If you determine that an operator is the best choice to go with,” said Herrell, “check out the operator’s history. Have they had any accidents or incidents? What steps were implemented to keep you safe in the future? What is the company’s reputation? Where and how are the pilots trained? Do they know their stuff? Do they keep you informed of delays? You are putting your life and your loved ones’ lives in their hands. It’s important to feel comfortable with the choice you make. We often give tours here at Schubach Aviation so that our clients know what to expect. It makes them feel more at ease, knowing who they are flying with.”

Once a person feels they have made the best choice based on the solid operation of the company, the next consideration is service.

“We cater to our customers,” said Herrell. “Some clients enjoy having a certain wine, or maybe a particularly comfortable blanket or a favorite magazine. We try our hardest to make people feel that they are at home…that this is the closest thing to having your own private plane without the hefty price tag of ownership.”

Pricing and payment is the next consideration: Is it competitive? Is prepayment required? Are there high cancellation fees? 

“We only charge cancellation fees when absolutely necessary,” explained Herrell, “because we focus on the long-term relationship we want to form with our clients. Mr. Schubach is very customer focused, and we haven’t forgotten the reason why we get to do what we do.”

More information

 

Schubach Aviation
Phone: (760) 929-0307
Address: 2026 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad

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