Aircraft Maintenance & Safety Certifications 

Regular maintenance is critical, and safety precautions must be adhered to in order for an aircraft to be certified to fly. Your operator is required to both do this work and maintain documents to prove it. 

Safety is an important part of what you need to know about private jet charters. As part of your safety checks, asking for certifications makes sense. Here’s what to know. 

Understanding FAA Maintenance Requirements for Private Jets 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) includes an Aircraft Maintenance Division. 

This group is responsible for developing and standardizing things like the following:

• Regulations 
• Directives
• Procedures
• Advisory materials

The two most relevant FAA rules regarding maintenance are 91 (for aircraft that’s used privately) and 135 (for chartered or commercial aircraft). This table summarizes their similarities and differences: 

category	part 91 (private use)	Part 135 (charter/commercial)
Maintenance Program	Follow manufacturer’s recommended schedule (not FAA-approved)	FAA-approved maintenance program required; includes continuous airworthiness maintenance program (CAMP) or equivalent
Inspection Program	Can use manufacturer’s inspection intervals or develop own program	Must use FAA-approved inspection program (AAIP, CAMP, or equivalent)
Required Inspections	Annual inspection (piston) or progressive inspection program (jets)	100-hour inspection required if aircraft is operated for hire (even under Part 91); Part 135 requires continuous inspections (e.g., phase, letter checks)
Airworthiness Directives (ADs)	Must comply with all ADs; formal tracking and documentation are strictly enforced by the operator	Must comply with all ADs; formal tracking and documentation is strictly enforced by the operator
Maintenance Personnel	Use A&P-certified mechanics; IA required for annuals	Must use A&P-certified mechanics; repair stations or appropriately certificated personnel required; IA often needed depending on scope
Maintenance Records	Maintain logbooks and records of maintenance and repairs	Maintain detailed logs of inspections, ADs, repairs, and time-limited items
Minimum Equipment List (MEL)	Optional; must be FAA-approved and aircraft-specific if used	Required if deferring inoperative equipment; MEL must be FAA-approved
Deferred Maintenance	Allowed at operator’s discretion if not affecting airworthiness	Must follow MEL/CDL deferral procedures and track discrepancies
Time-Limited Components	Tracking recommended; less formal oversight	Mandatory tracking of time/cycle-limited parts (e.g., engines, gear)
Weight & Balance Updates	Should be updated after modifications or changes	Must be updated after any change affecting aircraft weight and balance
Maintenance Control System	Not required	Required to manage and track inspections, ADs, parts, and discrepancies
Flight Data Monitoring	Not required	Often used by larger operators for reliability and safety monitoring

Section 91 (Private Use)

The FAA’s Section 91 contains rules for operators of private jets. The guidelines concern the general operation of an aircraft as well as flight rules. Maintenance falls into this category, as these steps ensure your jet is always ready for flight.

The operator is responsible for meeting these rules and paying the expenses associated with them. 

Section 91 maintenance covers items like the following:

• Developing an inspection program
• Performing preventive maintenance
• Keeping records of the work done 
• Ensuring access to maintenance manuals

Section 135 (Charter/Commercial Use) 

The FAA’s Section 135 is designed for those who hire out their aircraft as charters, as well as companies that own a fleet of aircraft for commercial use. 

The rules ensure that aircraft are both inspected and repaired and that good records are available. Per these rules, the owner/operator is responsible.

Section 135 maintenance includes items like the following:

• Developing an inspection program
• Performing routine and emergency maintenance
• Keeping good records

Typical Private Jet Maintenance Schedule 

Performing routine checks and making repairs are important parts of keeping an aircraft safe and operational. An owner/operator schedules many types of maintenance, and they’re all accompanied by detailed records. 

These are the several types of maintenance your operator should schedule:

Daily Maintenance

This type of inspection is typically performed before a flight takes off. The team can inspect things like fluid levels, tire pressure, and visible wear to the hull. If you use your aircraft daily, this inspection happens daily too.

Hourly Maintenance

This type of inspection is performed when a specific set of flight hours have passed. Typically, the inspections happen in 100-hour intervals. 

A typical schedule looks like this:

• 100 hours: This covers engine checks, oil and filter changes, inspection of landing gear, flight controls, and basic airframe components.
• 200 hours: This involves a deeper inspection of the electrical system, hydraulic lines, and air conditioning.
• 400 hours: A more comprehensive airframe inspection occurs, along with testing of avionics systems, corrosion checks, component lubrication, and parts replacement.
• 600 hours: A thorough inspection of the aircraft structure and systems takes place, including checking fuel and pressurization systems and potentially overhauling some components. 
• 800 hours: This detailed check often includes partial disassembly for deep system inspections, engine performance evaluation, and compliance with major service bulletins.

Annual Inspections

Once yearly, the owner/operator must schedule a thorough inspection of the aircraft that includes all major systems, the structural integrity of the plane, the logbook, and more. 

A qualified mechanic must complete this inspection, and this person must be certified by the FAA and hold an inspection authorization certificate. 

At the end of this inspection, the mechanic typically signs an Airworthiness Release or Return to Service Statement. 

Phase Checks 

Phase checks are scheduled inspections that are spread out over time. Instead of performing a costly (and potentially time-consuming) check of the entire aircraft, the operator focuses on just one system at a time. Complete maintenance is performed at the end of the cycle. 

Phase checks are appropriate for any kind of aircraft, but they’re typically used by owners who can’t afford to keep a plane grounded for long maintenance appointments. With this approach, they can keep using the aircraft while remaining compliant.

What Maintenance Are You Required to Arrange When Chartering a Jet?

As a consumer, you’re not required to perform maintenance or inspections on the jets you charter. Just as you’re not required to prove the roadworthiness of a taxi, you’re not responsible for the safety of an aircraft. 

However, as part of the booking process, it pays to ensure that you’re working with a partner that takes maintenance seriously. 

Safety Certifications You Should Ask for When Chartering a Jet

When you’re chartering a jet, asking questions about the aircraft maintenance and repairs is crucial. Since the operator is required to document each step, you can also ask for copies of the certificates. 

Here’s what to ask for: 

Operator Documents 

Several certificates are available that provide the organization’s operators with a focus on safety. 

The documents you might request include the following:

• Air operator certificate (AOC): This is proof that the company has legal authorization to provide commercial air transport services. 
• Operating specifications: This document lists the aircraft, routes, and types of operations that are approved for this company. 
• FAA Part 135 or 121 compliance: Operators should have certificates that prove they comply with these critical rules. 
• Insurance proof of coverage: Your operator should hold sufficient insurance to keep you safe.

Aircraft Documents 

It’s less common for passengers to ask for documents about a specific type of aircraft, but your operator should have them available. 

Documents you might request include the following:

• Airworthiness certificate: This is issued by the FAA and certifies the craft as ready for flight. 
• Registration: This document proves that the company you’re working with is the legal owner/operator. 
• Logbooks: These detailed documents report everything from maintenance to repairs to alterations. 
• Operating handbooks: The aircraft manufacturer prepares this document and includes details about the plane. It might include weight and balance data. 
• Noise certificates (for international flights): This document certifies that the aircraft meets international noise emission standards.

Crew Documents 

Your crew plays an important role in your safety, and they have certificates and documents that prove they understand the job. You can ask to inspect these documents before you book your flight.

You might request the following paperwork:

• Pilot licenses: Your pilot should hold a license from the FAA. While license types can vary, most pilots hold an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate, which enables them to handle complex aircraft. 
• Medical certificates: These documents come from doctors and demonstrate that the recipient is healthy enough to fly an aircraft.
• Background checks: If you’re hiring a pilot as a permanent part of your crew, you may ask for a thorough background check to ensure this person won’t commit a crime during the flight.

Other Safety Documents 

The paperwork we’ve outlined above is comprehensive, and it typically provides all of the information you need to understand your aircraft and crew. However, if you’d like to take an extra step, you can request a few other key documents. 

Those additional documents include the following:

• Training documents: If you’re working with a large company, you can ask for documents detailing how the staff is trained and proof that your crew has completed these required steps. 
• Policies and procedures: Larger companies often have detailed manuals that explain what staff should do to maintain safety and hygienic conditions. These documents can also include emergency response plans for incident handling.

Tips for Accessing Your Chartered Jet’s Maintenance Record

Some of the documents we’ve discussed are available via databases. For example, the FAA maintains a searchable list of legal Part 135 certificate holders. You can use this database to ensure your operator is authorized to fly within the United States. 

However, many of the documents we’ve discussed are proprietary and confidential. You can’t find them in a database, even if you try.

The best way to get all of the information you need is to work directly with your operator. Be specific about the documents you’d like to see, and be ready to sign nondisclosure agreements if the company agrees to send sensitive documents. 

Looking for a Partner for Private Jet Charters?

At Element Aviation, we put passenger safety at the center of everything we do. That means we keep detailed records about both our aircraft and crew, and we’re happy to share those key documents whenever we’re asked to do so. 

If you’re looking for a partner you can trust, look no further than Element Aviation. We’re ready to cater your flights to exactly what you need. 
Contact us to book a jet charter flight.