Charter Aircraft Lawsuit Attorneys Navigating Complex Charter Lawsuits, Protecting Your Reputation

Many airplanes in the sky are charter or private jet operations. Airplane owners or airplane operators charter their planes to make a profit or help pay for a single aircraft or fleet of airplanes to fly to different destinations.

Charter aviation ventures and private pilots are held to high regulatory standards through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Compared with commercial airlines, the standards aren’t as strict. Because of this, studies show that charter and private planes crash nearly five times more than commercial jets.

Our attorneys handle charter cases—including representation of the owner and individuals involved in charter-related accidents—that involve:

• Pilot errors
• Maintenance problems
• Repair issues
• Product design flaws, from the engine to the propeller to other parts and components
• Manufacturing oversight or errors
• Air traffic control errors
• Weather-related accidents

Contact Aero Law Center if you are a private charter pilot facing a lawsuit or an individual seeking restitution for a charter-related accident. Our aviation attorneys can help.

What is a Charter Flight?

A charter plane allows an airplane owner or pilot to set the schedule and choose a departure time and an arrival airport. This is a highly flexible option for savvy travelers. For comparison purposes, commercial or scheduled flights are a method of travel requiring people to pay for a seat until the plane is at capacity.

Many of us are familiar with the companies that offer these flights, such as Delta, United Airlines, and Southwest.

Charter flights are not subject to the same regulations as larger airlines. For example, pilots have more flexibility to fly when they want and the freedom to train personnel and conduct maintenance procedures.

Charter flights also offer privacy to travelers as you hire the entire aircraft when you choose a private getaway. Control over every detail, convenience, and scheduling availability are some benefits and reasons why people choose charter flights, especially if cost is no issue.

What Are the Common Causes of Charter Crashes?

Fewer restrictions around private charter planes are one primary reason for more charter crashes. Many pilots work extensive hours and suffer from exhaustion, leading to poor judgment calls and failure to conduct thorough safety procedures.

The FAA enforces best practices as they control all air operations and modes of air travel—including charter flights—though other regulations like routine maintenance aren’t as strict as commercial airlines. The lack of regulations is another source of contention for charter flight operators as far as lawsuits are concerned.

Lack of safety procedures, overlooked issues, bad weather, fuel shortages, and air traffic control errors are other common causes of charter flight crashes.

Many passengers fly charter or private at their own risk. Studies show that 88 percent of accidents in private jets result from pilot error. If your charter has been involved in an accident, consider consulting Aero Law Center to get the strong representation you need to protect your business.

Prevent charter crashes and ensure your operation is running smoothly and in compliance with the FAA. Contact Aero Law Center through consultation to see how we can offer our support and guidance in your charter business: 954-869-8950.

What is an Illegal Charter?

Illegal charters are a dangerous mode of travel for passengers and pose severe liability issues for charter operations that choose to fly illegally. An illegal charter is an unlicensed aircraft business in which a pilot does not have an Air Operator Certificate approved by the FAA. This means any flights operated on the aircraft cannot accept any payment in exchange for services.

While this is the rule, this does not mean illegal charters don’t happen and that passengers don’t pay for the services. Compared with an illegal charter, licensed carriers pour over every detail regarding safety, from inspections to maintenance.

Pilots in an illegal charter are left responsible for safety procedures, putting everyone at unnecessary risk if something goes wrong, as no additional technicians are double-checking the work.

Suppose an accident occurs in your illegal charter operation. In that case, this leaves you and your business open to incredible exposure as passengers and families of passengers can pursue charges if an accident or crash causes injury or death.

Passengers would be wise to avoid illegal charters, given the risk involved. Charter operations must comply with all FAA regulations and the certification process to avoid personal liability, among other things.

If a Charter Accident Occurs, Can Passengers Pursue a Lawsuit?

Charter planes might operate as air taxis, or independent pilots might work as charter operators for hire. Charter planes follow a slightly different set of regulations than commercial airlines that impact passengers and result in lawsuits.

For instance, charter airplane owners conduct fewer inspections. As a result, charter plans are subject to more accidents. Pilots typically work longer hours under tighter deadlines and don’t have a crew or maintenance team to fall back on when tough decisions must be made. These are examples of how regulations differ from commercial airplanes.

Too charter operations might also have to cut costs to afford overall operations, and flying to more remote destinations can lead to issues when emergencies occur. This adds up to more risk for passengers when choosing charter flights.

Individuals injured in a charter flight and family members that lost a loved one in an aircraft crash can pursue damages and restitution. Our attorneys at Aero Law Center can represent you, file a lawsuit, investigate and build a case in your defense. We know the aviation world and can help you recover for a better financial future.

We also help charter owners protect their image when accidents happen and lawsuits arise. Schedule a consultation with Aero Law Center today: 954-869-8950.