The private aviation industry is growing on a steep trajectory, with no signs of slowing down any time soon: By 2032, the global air charter services market is expected to reach $53.65 billion, driven largely by the North American market, according to a May report published by Market Research Future.
In the US, the regional charter market is steadily growing, driven by market leaders like Tradewind Aviation, who has operated in this industry for more than 20 years. In a crowded marketplace, doing your due diligence and research into charter operators before booking an on-demand trip or signing a contract for a jet card becomes even more important.
Below are the 10 most important factors to consider as you search for a preferred private aviation company.
1. Safety
No factor is more important than safety—and Tradewind soars above competitors.
Tradewind has operated continuously and without incident since our founding in 2001, and exceeds the FAA, ICAO, and industry standards for aircraft equipment, pilot training, and maintenance. We have chosen to participate in the ARGUS Charter Evaluation and Qualification (CHEQ) program, which is the industry’s most respected third-party charter operator analysis. The CHEQ system is comprised of historical safety analysis, aircraft validation, and pilot background checks.
Additionally, Tradewind Aviation has been awarded an ARGUS Gold rating, which is held by less than 20% of all US-certificated charter operators.
Our fleet of Pilatus PC-12 and Citation CJ3 aircraft ensures that guests have the safest possible experience while onboard with us. The Swiss-engineered Pilatus PC-12 is the best-selling turboprop in the world, and has met the most rigorous safety standards in the industry. Tradewind Aviation takes safety one step further within our fleet as well. Although the Pilatus PC-12 is single-pilot certified, every Tradewind flight is always operated by two pilots to minimize any risks.
Comfort is never sacrificed for safety when flying with Tradewind. The Pilatus PC-12’s spacious cabin, designed in partnership with BMW Designworks, accommodates up to eight guests comfortably, while the Citation CJ3 jet features luxurious executive club seating.
2. Cost-Efficiency
When looking to charter a plane, it is important to hire the right aircraft for the job. A turboprop is far more cost-efficient than a business jet for short-to-mid-range distances. The Pilatus PC-12’s impressive 1,700-plus nautical mile range ensures that guests can reach regional destinations efficiently, both with time and money. Among its turboprop competitors, including the Beechcraft King Air 350, the Pilatus PC-12 has one of the lowest operating costs and is more fuel-efficient leading to an overall more cost-effective choice.
3. Ability to Reach Many Destinations
Some of the world’s greatest vacation destinations are, understandably, hard to reach by commercial plane. The varying terrain of these unique destinations means planes need to land on shorter-than-usual runways. In fact, some of the world’s most desirable destinations are even unreachable by private jets, instead requiring an aircraft purposefully designed to land on short runways.
Having the ability to land on even more runways than the King Air 350, the Pilatus PC-12 can land on runways as short as 2,000 feet, including grass strips, making it possible to land at destinations such as St Barths, Virgin Gorda, Newport, Chatham, and many others. This short runway capability also ensures that guests can arrive closer to their final destination by utilizing regional airports and avoiding major commercial airports.
4. Flexibility
One of the most valuable benefits a private aviation company can offer its guests is flexibility, both in the amount of control over your trip, and what type of trip might be best for your travel needs. Tradewind charters are on-demand with no peak pricing, no sliding departure window, and have a 24-hour cancellation policy.
Our Connecticut-based reservations department is also happy to explain what flight option might be the best for your specific needs. Though there are times when a private charter is the fastest and most efficient option, at other times, a scheduled flight might also be a suitable choice for a particular destination. Frequent travelers in our Northeast, Caribbean, and Southeast regions can benefit from significant block time discounts on Pilatus PC-12 charter with our Goodspeed Card.
5. Reliability
It’s hard to place a tangible value on how important reliability is in the private charter industry. With over 20 years in business, Tradewind has unparalleled knowledge and experience, both of the inner workings of the industry, and our unique destinations like St Barths.
At Tradewind, we strive to minimize unexpected delays. When uncontrollable factors such as weather may impact operations, what sets us apart from other companies is our extensive fleet and wealth of experience, enabling us to handle disruptions more efficiently. We place great emphasis on regular communication with our guests, ensuring they are well-informed throughout their journey.
6. Sustainability
Today’s consumer keeps sustainability front-of-mind for every purchase decision they make, including air travel.
Sustainability is a core business value for Pilatus, which operates one of the largest solar plants in central Switzerland—and nearly half of its factory’s electricity comes from hydropower. The Pilatus PC-12 is more fuel efficient and emits up to 74% less carbon emissions than its business jet and turboprop competitors. Tradewind furthers this mission towards sustainable air travel through our carbon offset program, which ensures all flights meet a 4AIR Level 1 Carbon Neutral Rating, at no additional cost to our guests.
7. Pricing Model
The private aviation model offers a bevy of options for guests interested in purchasing flights or time—memberships, timecards, etc. Our transparent terms and pricing are among the most straightforward in the industry. We don’t charge initiation or membership fees, and you can experience Tradewind by either flying on-demand or joining the Goodspeed Program for block time discounts. We don’t charge peak pricing and there’s no lead time requirement, which makes booking last-minute flights, pending availability, as easy as planning a trip several months in advance.
8. Barrier to Entry
As previously mentioned, Tradewind is among the most cost-efficient and transparent private aviation companies. We go one step further with our low barrier to entry for those who might be relatively new to the air charter space. Tradewind guests can pay as they fly with no membership fees or commitment, or opt to purchase a Goodspeed Charter Card, which starts at just 10 hours of flight time with pricing that’s 20-30% less than comparable programs.
9. Company Success
Beyond researching flight options and programs private aviation companies offer, it is imperative to do your due diligence on researching the aviation company itself. Booking a private charter or purchasing a jet card is a large financial commitment, and it is important to have peace of mind that the company you choose can be relied upon to provide the services you’ve paid for. The aviation industry, like any other, is cyclical, and companies can come and go. For more than 20 years, Tradewind has taken a long-term approach to success, ensuring that while we are growing, we make sure to only grow sustainably and responsibly. Tradewind has been consistently profitable, meaning we never have to worry about drastic cost-cutting measures that might otherwise compromise safety or the guest experience.
10. Company Ownership
The aviation industry has seen many companies chase new customer bases in order to expand rapidly, but that hypergrowth often comes at the expense of profitability. And when a company has to answer to shareholders or investors, it won’t always make the most long-term sustainable business decisions. For over 20 years, Tradewind has been family-owned and privately held. What started as two brothers and one aircraft has steadily grown to over a fleet of 25 with over 250 team members. Rather than having to bow to outside pressure, Tradewind focuses on our own growth and metrics—not those of shareholders.
Private charter should allow guests to have control over their travel experience and fly on their own time. With Tradewind, our fleet allows guests to land at airports closer to their final destination, allowing them to maximize time doing what they love. Our client service team is happy to assist with every step of the journey, including custom catering, ground transportation, and more. We would welcome the opportunity to provide our personal level of service for your next journey.
To learn more about booking private or scheduled service flights with Tradewind, please visit our website. To receive a private charter quote, please submit an inquiry here or contact our specialists at charter@flytradewind.com or 1-800-376-7922 option 2. To book a scheduled flight, please visit our website or contact our specialists at scheduledservice@flytradewind.com or 1-203-267-3305 option 1.
Featured photo: Guirec Pouliquen and Saint Bart Tourism Association