Before boarding a private flight, Helium Report urges flyers to perform some minor pre-flight due diligence. Private jet travel is extremely safe, and checking a few details can bring extra peace-of-mind.

Charter trips can be the most complex as several parties are involved: the charter broker, the plane owner, the charter operator, the maintenance company, and the flight crew. Sometimes they’re all from the same company, but typically they’re drawn from a collection of entities. You’ll want to know who’s who, and what their experience and credentials are. If you sense any evasiveness or vague answers, find another provider.

The list of questions below is assembled for charter flights, so some questions might not apply to other arrangements. It doesn’t hurt to ask, though. Even fractional-based programs like NetJets and Marquis Jet may occasionally tap charter fleets, especially during peak periods. It’s helpful to keep this list handy regardless of how your flight was sourced.

Some providers hire third-party auditors (e.g., ARGUS, Wyvern) to prepare reports on aircraft, operator and flight crew. These audits are expensive and time-consuming for operators, but provide you an extra layer of assurance. Regardless of what you’re told, it’s best to check the facts yourself. Trust, but verify.

• Who is the owner of the aircraft? Is there a third-party inspection report I can review?
• Who performs maintenance (operator, manufacturer, owner or third-party)? What is the maintenance protocol? May I see a copy of the most recent report?
• Who is the operator? How long have they been in business? Have any of their operated flights resulted in accidents or safety incidents? Have any of the owners or managers been involved in an accident or incident while at a different company?
• What is the history between operator, broker and flight crew?
• What is the operator’s process for selecting aircraft and flight crews?
• Has any party to this flight ever been the subject of an FAA enforcement action?
• What is the pilot’s and crew’s experience – how long have they been charter-certified, and how long have they flown this model aircraft? When was their last simulator training?
• What flight assignments immediately precede my charter flight? What rest will the crew have?
• Have any crew members had any accidents or safety incidents? Do you have records to confirm this is true with all previous employers?
• Is there a third-party report available on the pilot?
• What are weather conditions? Are other flights being delayed or canceled?
• Are there any special flight considerations, e.g., oceanic, mountain, steep approach, hot temperatures, icy conditions, foreign airports? If so, is this the best aircraft for those conditions? What is the pilot’s experience in these conditions?
• What are the insurance limits? May I see a certificate of insurance as proof of coverage? [Hope Aviation Insurance sets $50 million as typical for all liabilities, though it may need to be adjusted for smaller or larger flight profiles]

Aside from these questions, take the time to chat with the pilot pre-flight. Pilots are often candid about weather conditions and other issues that can help you make your own go/no-go decision. If the pilot’s at all concerned, cancel the flight. It’s unlikely that it will ever get to that point, as most reputable providers have management protocols that dictate multiple sign-offs for flight release. Above all, never pressure a flight crew to undertake actions for which even their subtlest body language suggests discomfort. Although air travel includes multiple redundant systems and substantial margin for error, you don’t want to count on either for your safety. Best to let the experts do their job.

For more detail on private jet programs, download Helium Report’s free Decision Guide to Private Jet Travel. It includes tables and charts comparing private jet plans, and concludes with a list of key due diligence questions.