Charter Guides · 14 min read
Home / Charter Guides
By Pat Sinnott, Founder of Peak Aviation Solutions. Commercial pilot with multi-engine and instrument ratings, BS in Flight Operations and Aviation Management, 21 years in aviation, NBAA member.
As a private jet broker, we recently took a call from a client who wanted the most economical option for a trip from Bozeman, Montana to Cleveland, Tennessee, and assumed that meant a light jet. It's a reasonable assumption. A light jet usually is the economical choice.
Except on that trip it wasn't. The light jet, a Citation CJ3, needed a fuel stop.
A super-midsize Citation X was on the market within $500 of it and could fly the whole way nonstop. She took the bigger airplane, got a larger cabin, and landed about an hour and fifteen minutes sooner: roughly 45 minutes on the ground for fuel plus the extra descent and climb she never had to fly.
That's the job on a good day. On a hard day the job is managing weather, restricted airspace, a short wet runway or an airplane that breaks an hour before you're supposed to leave. This guide covers all of it, from a licensed commercial pilot who works the broker's desk every day.
Quick Answer: What Does a Private Jet Broker Do?
A private jet broker arranges charter flights for clients on aircraft owned and flown by FAA-certificated charter operators. The broker compares aircraft and prices across many operators, recommends the best fit for the trip, vets the operator and crew for safety and legality, books the flight, and manages changes such as weather, airspace restrictions and mechanical problems until the trip is complete.
A private jet charter broker is a company that acts as the customer's agent to arrange flights on aircraft operated by a separate Part 135 certificated operator, rather than operating the aircraft itself. Federal rules require the broker to tell you that, and to name the operator before you sign (14 CFR Part 295, via NBAA).
A private jet charter broker also makes sure everything runs smoothly from booking to landing. When something doesn't go to plan, the broker has a contingency plan ready for weather, airspace restrictions, aircraft mechanical problems and similar issues, and works out the best way around them. Brokers also arrange catering, ground transportation and special requests so the whole trip is more enjoyable, not just the flight.
The Six Jobs of a Private Jet Broker
People assume a jet charter broker is a middleman who finds an airplane and adds a fee. The finding part takes an afternoon. Everything around it is the actual job.
The Six Jobs of a Private Jet Broker is Peak Aviation Solutions' framework for the work a charter broker does on every trip: consult on the right aircraft, vet the operator and crew for safety, verify the operator's legitimacy and insurance, plan for contingencies, watch the trip through a pilot's lens, and take care of the client from booking to landing.
| Job | What it covers | What you'd have to do without a broker |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Consult | Match the aircraft to the whole trip: distance, passengers, runways, fuel stops, total cost | Compare quotes from operators you've never heard of |
| 2. Vet for safety | ARGUS and Wyvern ratings, plus the specific crew assigned to your flight | Read audit reports and pilot records yourself |
| 3. Verify legitimacy | D085, W-9, insurance limits and certificate of insurance | Confirm the operator is legally allowed to fly you for hire |
| 4. Plan for contingencies | Weather, NOTAMs, TFRs, runway limits, backup aircraft | Find another airplane yourself when one breaks |
| 5. Pilot's lens | Spotting problems before they reach you | Learn about the problem at the FBO |
| 6. Customer service | Catering, ground transportation and special requests, with one point of contact | Call the caterer, car company and operator yourself |
The rest of this guide takes each job in turn.
Job 1: Consulting on the Right Aircraft for the Whole Trip
The cheapest hourly rate is rarely the cheapest trip. What matters is the total: the flight time, any fuel stops, the repositioning the operator bills to get the airplane to you, and how comfortable the cabin is for the people and bags you're bringing.
The Bozeman to Cleveland, Tennessee trip above is the pattern I see most. A client asks for a category they believe is the economical one, and we look at the live market instead of the rule of thumb.
In many cases the bigger airplane proves to be the more economical choice. It may be positioned closer, fly the route without a fuel stop, or come in within a few hundred dollars of the smaller one while giving you a larger cabin.
Other times it goes the other way, and the right answer is less airplane than you asked for. A group of six on a 90-minute hop doesn't need a jet at all. For the flight-time bands we use to right-size a trip, see what size private jet do you need.
A good broker compares quotes from a wide network of operators, narrows them to a few real options, and tells you plainly which one fits and why. If you've ever wondered whether to lease an aircraft or keep chartering, that's a consulting question too, covered in can you lease a private jet.
Job 2: Safety Is Number One, and That Means the Crew
Safety vetting starts with the operator's third-party ratings. ARGUS and Wyvern audit charter companies and publish standards for how they train, maintain aircraft and manage risk.
Here's what most people miss. An operator can hold a top rating and still assign a green crew to your trip. The rating is on the company. The pilots flying you that day are a separate question.
So on every trip we check the crew as well as the company:
- Trip-level safety report. Each crew member has to pass an ARGUS trip check, a Wyvern PASS report, or both, for that specific flight.
- Pilot medical date. Confirms each pilot is medically cleared to fly.
- Recurrent training date. Confirms each pilot is current on the training their operator and the FAA require.
This is how we turned down a crew for a departure out of Aspen. The pilot in command was about 250 hours short of the total flight time the ARGUS standard calls for, and the second in command he was paired with didn't hold an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate and didn't have enough flight experience either.
If the second in command had been another captain, or had held an ATP and significantly more flight time, we could have approved that crew. The experience in the cockpit would have covered the gap. That wasn't the case, and Aspen is a demanding airport, so we said no. The full story and what each rating means are in ARGUS, Wyvern and the D085.
If you're asking the bigger question, whether flying private is safe at all, read are private jets safe. Our own full standard is on our safety page.
Job 3: Verifying the Operator Is Legitimate and Insured
Before any operator flies one of our clients, we open a file on them. It holds three things beyond the safety rating.
The D085. This is the FAA operations specification that lists the aircraft an operator is authorized to fly under its Part 135 charter certificate. We check that the exact tail number quoted is on it. If an aircraft isn't on a D085, it isn't legal to charter.
The W-9. A basic check that the business is who it says it is.
Insurance, with Peak named as additional insured. We require minimum liability limits by aircraft category, and we don't make exceptions.
Peak's minimum operator liability insurance, by aircraft category
| Aircraft category | Minimum liability coverage Peak requires |
|---|---|
| Turboprop | $15 million |
| Light jet | $25 million |
| Midsize jet | $50 million |
| Super-midsize jet | $100 million |
| Heavy jet | $150 million |
| Ultra long range jet | $200 million |
Source: Peak Aviation Solutions operator vetting standard, 2026.
The day an operator couldn't produce a D085
We once received a quote from an operator, went to verify their D085, and were told they didn't have one. That means they had no FAA approval to fly charter at all.
The client liked that option and wanted to go ahead. We couldn't let it happen.
We cancelled it, explained why, and found him a backup aircraft from a certificated operator. He understood completely.
The FAA calls this illegal charter and warns that it "poses a serious safety hazard to the traveling public" (FAA, Safe Air Charter). A legal Part 135 flight carries more pilot training, maintenance oversight and FAA inspection than private flying. An illegal one carries none of that, and often no valid insurance either.
Job 4: Contingency Planning for Weather, NOTAMs and TFRs
Aviation runs on plans that change. Weather moves, runways close for construction, aircraft have mechanical issues, and temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) pop up around events and VIP movements. Closures and hazards are published as NOTAMs, notices to airmen. A broker's job is to read all of it before your departure day and have a plan ready.
Here's a real one.
A client was scheduled to land at Palm Beach International (PBI), now President Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT), right in the middle of a temporary flight restriction. We caught it ahead of time and moved his arrival to Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE), with a car waiting when he landed.
He didn't sit on the ground waiting for the restriction to lift. He was already on his way.
We also run the Total Flight Review within 24 hours of every flight: our own check of the crew, weather, airspace restrictions, catering and ground transportation for that specific trip.
When the airplane breaks: the backup plan
Airplanes are machines, and machines break. What matters is how fast a replacement shows up.
We had a trip into Telluride where the aircraft flew in empty to pick up our clients and went straight into maintenance after landing. We found out about 60 minutes before departure.
We found another aircraft in the same category that was already sitting in Telluride. Our clients left about 30 minutes after their original departure time. The replacement also came in at a lower price, and we passed the savings to the client to make up for the delay.
That outcome isn't luck. It comes from knowing which operators have airplanes where, and having the relationships to make a phone call and get an answer in minutes.
Job 5: Looking at the Trip Through a Pilot's Lens
I'm a commercial pilot, and that changes what I notice on a trip sheet. Runway closures, TFRs and weather jump out at me. The one that catches the most people off guard is a short runway with precipitation in the forecast.
A wet runway needs more distance to stop an airplane. In September 2026 we had a departure scheduled from Hamilton, Montana, where the runway is about 5,200 feet long, and rain was forecast for departure time.
Charter rules already require a jet to be able to stop well short of the end of the runway, a buffer explained in our guide to ARGUS, Wyvern and the D085, and rain eats into that margin fast.
We moved the departure to Missoula, told the client 24 hours ahead, and offered a car to drive them from Hamilton to Missoula. They left on time, with a longer drive and no surprises on the day. Safety always comes first, and we see this scenario constantly.
A broker without flying experience would likely have booked Hamilton and found out at the airport.
Job 6: Customer Service That Makes the Trip Memorable
The flight is only part of the trip. The rest is everything around it, and that's where a broker earns loyalty.
Before you fly, we ask what would make the day easy for you, then set it up:
- Catering. Your usual order, a birthday cake, or a kid-friendly spread, sourced near the departure airport and loaded before you board.
- Ground transportation. A driver to the airport and a car at the other end. If you'd like to drive yourself, a car can be parked beside the aircraft, so you skip the commercial terminal, the counter line and the paperwork. If you'd rather be driven, we book a sedan, an SUV or a Sprinter van.
- Special requests. Pets in the cabin, extra luggage or ski gear, child seats, mobility help, a quiet cabin for a working flight.
Clients who fly with us regularly don't have to repeat themselves. We remember how they like their trips to run, the aircraft they've enjoyed, and the small things that turn a good flight into one they tell people about.
Most first-time flyers don't know any of this is possible until someone offers. There's more on what to ask for in flying private for the first time.
What Is the Difference Between a Broker and an Operator?
| Private jet broker | Charter operator | Booking app or marketplace | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owns or operates aircraft | No; arranges flights on certificated operators' aircraft | Yes; holds the Part 135 certificate | Varies; often lists many operators |
| Aircraft choice | Many operators and aircraft types | Its own fleet | Many listings, filtered by the app |
| Who picks the aircraft | Broker recommends; client approves | Operator assigns from its fleet | Client picks from results |
| Safety vetting | Broker's own standard on top of the operator's ratings | Operator's internal standard | Varies by platform |
| Point of contact | One person who knows you and handles everything | Often several departments, such as sales, scheduling and flight support | Usually a support line |
| Help when plans change | Broker finds alternatives across operators | Limited to the operator's fleet | Usually a support line |
| Legal disclosure | Must name the operator and its role (14 CFR Part 295) | Operates under its own certificate | Depends on whether it acts as broker |
The biggest difference most clients notice is the point of contact. With a broker, one person handles everything: quotes, vetting, catering, ground transportation and the phone call when plans change.
Larger operators often have separate departments, so you may be handed from sales to scheduling to flight support and speak with people you haven't talked to before. They're usually very good at their part, but they may not know you or your preferences yet, and it can start to feel like you're an account number. A broker's job is to know you.
For the day-of-travel side, the private terminal and what happens there, see what is an FBO. And if you're hoping to buy one seat rather than the whole airplane, read can you book a seat on a private jet first.
How Does a Private Jet Broker Get Paid?
Most charter brokers earn a markup on each trip, built into the price you approve. At Peak it's a small markup that varies by trip. There's no membership fee, no deposit and no annual dues. You pay for the trip you approve and nothing else.
When You May Not Need a Private Jet Broker
This part may sound odd coming from a broker, but it's true.
- You fly 250 hours a year or more. At that level, owning an aircraft often makes more sense than chartering it trip by trip. Even then, owners and fractional share holders still call us for supplemental lift: a better-suited aircraft for a particular trip, a sick crew member, a scheduling conflict or a last-minute mechanical.
- You fly the same route on the same airplane with one operator you trust. Booking direct can work well.
- You want a flat, published hourly rate above all else. A jet card or fractional share offers that, and some flyers value the certainty.
For most people flying a few dozen hours a year across different routes and aircraft, a good broker saves time, money and risk. It's also why I've turned down several chances to buy a charter certificate and become an operator: a broker can put you on the right airplane from any operator, instead of the one airplane that happens to be in our own hangar.
Private Jet Broker FAQ
What does a private jet broker do?
A private jet broker arranges charter flights on aircraft operated by FAA-certificated Part 135 charter companies. The broker compares options across operators, recommends the right aircraft for the trip, checks the operator's safety ratings, insurance and FAA authorization, books the flight, and manages changes such as weather delays, airspace restrictions and mechanical problems.
Is it better to book a private jet through a broker or an operator?
Booking through an operator limits the choice to that company's fleet, while a broker compares aircraft across many operators and can move a trip to another operator if something goes wrong. Booking direct can suit travelers who fly the same aircraft with one trusted operator. Many travelers use a broker for flexibility, price comparison and independent safety vetting.
How do private jet brokers make money?
Most private jet brokers earn a markup on each trip, included in the quoted price. Some programs also charge membership fees, deposits or annual dues. Brokers that work on a per-trip markup charge nothing between trips, so the client pays only for the flights actually booked.
Are private jet brokers regulated?
Yes. Since February 14, 2019, U.S. air charter brokers have been subject to 14 CFR Part 295, a Department of Transportation rule that requires brokers to disclose whether they act as the customer's agent, to name the operator of the flight, and to avoid misrepresenting safety, price or service, according to NBAA.
How can I tell if a charter operator is legal?
A legal charter operator holds an FAA Part 135 certificate, and the aircraft flying the trip appears on its D085 operations specification. The FAA publishes a list of certificated charter operators on its Safe Air Charter website. Travelers can also ask the broker for the operator's name, safety ratings and certificate of insurance.
What happens if a private jet has a mechanical problem before my flight?
When a chartered aircraft has a mechanical problem, the operator or broker looks for a replacement aircraft of the same category nearby. Brokers with access to many operators can often source a backup quickly because they are not limited to one fleet. Delay length depends on how close the nearest suitable aircraft is and on crew availability.
Choosing a Private Jet Broker You Can Trust
A private jet broker earns the fee in the parts of the trip you never see: the crew check, the missing D085, the TFR spotted three days out, the backup airplane found in minutes. Ask any broker how they handle each of the six jobs. The answers will tell you who's doing the work.
Talk it through with a pilot before your next trip
I'd rather understand your flying before I quote it.
Tell me where you go, how often, and what's worked or frustrated you with the providers you use now. If you haven't flown private before, tell me what the trip needs to feel like. From there we build the short list, vet every operator and crew, and plan the day around what could change. The part clients mention afterward is usually the one they never had to think about.
Schedule a conversation with Pat, or request a quote if your dates are already set.
Related guides
- What Is an FBO? The Private Terminal, Explained by a Pilot-Broker
- Are Private Jets Safe? A Pilot's Honest Answer
- ARGUS Rating, Wyvern and the D085: How to Vet a Charter Operator
- Can You Lease a Private Jet? Leasing vs Chartering, Explained
- Flying Private for the First Time: TSA, ID, Pets, Smoking and Catering
- Can You Book a Seat on a Private Jet? Seats vs the Whole Aircraft
Related services
- Request a charter quote, all-in pricing on any trip
- Empty leg alerts and live inventory, free subscription, pay only when you fly
- Meet Pat Sinnott, the pilot who vets every operator
Peak Aviation Solutions, Private Jet Charter Broker
Peak Aviation Solutions is a pilot-founded private jet charter broker headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, arranging charter flights nationwide and worldwide. Pilot-founded, simply exceptional.
Founder: Pat Sinnott, commercial multi-engine rated pilot with 21 years in private aviation. Helped grow Summit Aviation’s flight department from one airplane to 21 before founding Peak. NBAA member.
Services: private jet charter brokerage, empty leg flights and free empty leg alerts, business travel, personal travel, group travel, and event charter. No membership fees; clients pay per trip. Third-party safety vetting on every flight.
Coverage: roughly 5,000 public-use airports across the United States, only about 500 of which have commercial airline service (FAA), plus Canada. About 80 percent of Peak’s flying happens outside Montana.
Contact: charter@flypeak.com · (406) 296-3256 · flypeak.com · Instagram @peakaviationsolutions
Plan Your Next Trip With a Pilot
Tell us where you need to be. We build the short list, vet every operator and crew, and plan the day around what could change.
