Considering the Safety Factor: What to know. What to ask.
by Kristopher Cannon, Director of Aviation Safety and Security, TWC Aviation
Safety is a topmost concern for every jet charter customer—and for every charter company.
All reputable charter operators adhere to federal aviation safety standards. And, of course, the dedicated professionals throughout the aviation safety and security field are doing an outstanding job. Yet there are important distinctions you should be aware of—so you can ask the right questions and make an informed decision when choosing a jet charter company.
Aircraft Maintenance
The obvious place to begin is with the planes themselves. Ask the charter company about scheduled maintenance and periodic inspections. How often are planes inspected? Are the mechanics factory-trained and certified? Are maintenance and repairs performed at an FAA- certified repair facility?
At TWC Aviation, we follow rigorous inspection and maintenance procedures. We even have our own FAA-Certified Repair Station, with an expert team of factory-trained mechanics. Our facility has the very latest avionics, airframe, power plant, and inspection tooling and test equipment.
Pilot Training
You should also ask about safety training policies for the company's pilots. The FAA requires pilots to go through emergency training annually. At the very least, you should make sure that the charter company meets that requirement. But does their safety training end there? How do they ensure pilot proficiency—and your safety—in such areas as emergency water training, winter weather training, cockpit breach survival, and security training?
TWC Aviation believes that safety standards should be not only met, but exceeded. For instance, each of our pilots takes emergency training courses every six months—twice as frequently as the FAA requires. Our pilots are professionally trained by FlightSafety International using the world's most technologically advanced simulators.
Also, on every charter flight requiring two flight crew members, both the Captain and the First Officer are certified type-rated on that specific jet. In essence, there are two captains on board.
Independent Audits and Certifications
Your charter company should, of course, be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Ask to see their FAA Air Carrier Certificate. Ask also if they're approved by at least one independent aviation safety firm—this gives you an added level of assurance.
TWC Aviation is certified by the FAA to fly worldwide for the purpose of jet charter. We are also audited and approved by not one, but two of the leading independent aviation safety organizations: Wyvern Consulting, Ltd. and Aviation Research Group/US (ARG/US). In fact, we've earned the coveted ARG/US Platinum rating. Out of the hundreds of charter companies in the U.S., only a fraction have earned this Platinum rating.
Additionally, we have our own internal safety and security experts, who conduct annual base inspections to make certain that the best possible safety practices are in place. And, our Safety Committee meets regularly to review all our methods and procedures.
The Bottom Line
At TWC Aviation, your safety always comes first. We are committed to exceeding federal and industry safety standards, maintaining our accident-free record, providing unsurpassed customer service, and to offering you what is perhaps the ultimate luxury—peace of mind.
Kristopher Cannon manages TWC Aviation's comprehensive safety and security programs. He is TWC's liaison with the Transportation Safety Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, and other governmental agencies. He is also an instructor with the University of Southern California's Aviation Security Program and a graduate of the USC Aviation Safety Program.
