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Glossary

Private Aviation Glossary

Definitions of common private aviation and charter terms.

Key terms

Terms with full explanations

ARGUS
ARGUS is an independent company that audits and rates charter operators on safety, reviewing their history, training, maintenance, and procedures.
Crew Duty Time
Crew duty time refers to the limits on how long a flight crew can be on duty and flying, set to manage fatigue and keep operations safe.
De-icing
De-icing is the process of removing ice and snow from an aircraft before departure in cold conditions, charged as a variable fee when it is needed.
Empty Leg
An empty leg is a repositioning flight an aircraft must fly without paying passengers, often sold at a discount to recover some of the cost.
FBO
An FBO, or fixed base operator, is the private terminal at an airport that handles arrivals and departures, fueling, ground services, and passenger facilities for private flights.
Fuel Surcharge
A fuel surcharge is an additional charge some operators apply when fuel prices rise, on top of the fuel already built into the base price.
Landing Fee
A landing fee is a charge by an airport for using its runway, typically scaled to the aircraft's weight and the airport's pricing.
Minimum Flight Time
Minimum flight time, also called a daily minimum, is the least number of flight hours an operator will charge per day regardless of how short the actual flight is.
Occupied Hourly Rate
The occupied hourly rate is the price charged per hour the aircraft is flying with you on board, as opposed to empty positioning time.
Overnight Fee
An overnight fee is a charge that applies when an aircraft stays at an airport overnight, often combining parking with related crew or handling costs.
Part 135
Part 135 refers to the set of United States regulations that govern on-demand commercial charter operations, setting standards for crew, maintenance, and oversight.
Ramp Fee
A ramp fee, sometimes called a parking fee, is a charge for an aircraft to park on the ramp at an airport, often for the time between arrival and departure.
Repositioning
Repositioning is the empty flying needed to bring an aircraft to your departure point or move it afterward, billed to you when there is no paying passenger.
Wyvern
Wyvern is an independent safety auditing organization that evaluates charter operators against detailed standards and provides safety ratings and reports.

More terms

Other words worth knowing

Block time
The total time from when the aircraft starts moving for departure to when it stops at the destination, including taxi. Charters are often billed on this basis.
Broker
A company that arranges a charter on your behalf by sourcing aircraft from operators. A broker does not hold the operating certificate for the flight.
Broker margin
The fee a broker earns for sourcing the aircraft, vetting the operator, and managing the booking. It is part of the price of the service, not a hidden markup.
Charter
Renting a whole aircraft and crew for a specific trip, priced per trip rather than per seat.
Federal excise tax
A tax applied to many domestic charter flights in the United States, charged as a percentage of the trip cost.
Ferry flight
A flight with no passengers, usually to move an aircraft into position or return it to base. Also called repositioning.
Fractional ownership
Buying a share of a specific aircraft with a multi year management agreement, paying an upfront share cost plus monthly management and occupied hourly rates.
Heavy jet
A large cabin jet category suited to long trips, including many transatlantic routes, with higher hourly cost.
Hourly rate
The price charged per hour of flight for a given aircraft, before taxes and fees. It varies by category, operator, and market conditions.
Jet card
A program where you prepay for a block of hours at a fixed or capped hourly rate, trading flexibility for predictable pricing and availability.
Knot
One nautical mile per hour, the standard unit for aircraft speed. Cruise speeds in this site are given in knots.
Light jet
A common category for regional trips with room for a small group and luggage, balancing cost and capability.
Midsize jet
A category with stand-up cabins and longer range than light jets, suited to coast to region trips.
Nautical mile
A unit of distance used in aviation, slightly longer than a statute mile. Route distances here are in nautical miles.
Occupied hour
An hour flown with passengers on board. Many programs bill on occupied hours rather than total aircraft hours.
Operator
The company that holds the certificate to operate the aircraft and is responsible for the flight, crew, and maintenance.
Peak day
A high demand date, such as a holiday, when programs may apply surcharges or restrict availability.
Positioning
Moving an aircraft to your departure airport or back afterward. Positioning hours may be billed to the trip.
Super midsize jet
A category with faster cruise and transcontinental range, often used for non-stop coast to coast trips.
Tail number
The unique registration of a specific aircraft, similar to a license plate, used to identify the exact airframe.
Turboprop
A propeller aircraft driven by a turbine engine, efficient for short trips and able to use shorter runways.
Ultra long range jet
The category designed for non-stop intercontinental flights with the largest private cabins and the highest hourly cost.
Very light jet
An entry level jet category for short trips, with jet speed and a compact cabin.
Wheels up time
The moment the aircraft lifts off the runway, often used as the agreed departure reference for a charter.

Common questions

Why does the difference between operator and broker matter?

The operator holds the certificate and is responsible for the flight, crew, and maintenance. A broker arranges the trip but does not operate it. Knowing who operates your flight helps you confirm safety and accountability.

Are these terms standard across the industry?

Most are widely used, though some programs define details differently. Always confirm how a specific operator or program applies a term in their agreement.

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