For companies that operate their own aircraft, the corporate jet is more than executive transportation. It is a business tool that can get executives and teams directly to customers, facilities, meetings, and markets that may be difficult or time-consuming to reach commercially.
Many corporate flight departments operate under Part 91, a section of Federal Aviation Administration regulations that establishes general operating and flight rules for private aircraft operations, including corporate aircraft. Unlike commercial airlines or charter companies that transport passengers for hire, companies operating under Part 91 typically use their aircraft for their own business purposes.
A company using its own jet to fly its executives between offices, visit a manufacturing facility, meet with clients, or reach customers in multiple cities, for example, would typically operate those flights under Part 91.
But owning an aircraft capable of making a trip does not necessarily mean the flight department has everything it needs to conduct every type of flight operation, even if a company has been using it for previous flights.
For certain operations, the FAA requires a Letter of Authorization (LOA). A LOA is an FAA approval allowing an operator to conduct specific types of operations or use certain capabilities. Depending on the aircraft, equipment, destination, and type of flight, an operator may need one or more of these authorizations.
For corporate flight departments, figuring out which LOAs they need and what documents the FAA requires of them can add another layer of complexity to keeping an aircraft ready for the company’s business needs.
And those details matter beyond the flight department.
If a company needs its executives in another part of the country or across an international border, the expectation is that the corporate aircraft can get them there. Making sure the operation has the necessary authorizations is part of what happens behind the scenes to make that possible.
A new resource from one of business aviation’s most popular manuals and safety management systems platforms, Nimbl, is designed to make that process easier.
Nimbl recently released an updated Part 91 LOA Guide that helps operators identify which FAA authorizations may apply to their operations and what they should prepare before beginning the application process.
The free guide walks operators through the types of LOAs they may need, associated requirements and documentation, key elements of an application, expected turnaround times, and additional resources that may be needed during the process.
The idea is to help flight departments identify potential authorization requirements before they become an obstacle to a planned operation.
“Our team loves to stay on top of regulations so our clients don’t have to,” said Mark Baier, CEO of Nimbl. “Our aviation experts spend their time understanding complex FAA requirements and turning them into information operators can actually use. This guide is another way we’re making it easier for operators to know what they need to stay prepared and keep operating to the highest standards.”
Behind Corporate Aviation
The aircraft may be the most visible part of corporate aviation, but much of what makes that aircraft useful to the business happens behind the scenes.
Flight departments manage safety systems, procedures, training, maintenance, regulatory requirements, documentation, and FAA approvals before an executive ever steps onboard.
That preparation is particularly important because business needs can change.
A company may acquire a different aircraft, expand into new markets, add international destinations, or begin flying missions that require capabilities or authorizations it did not previously need.
From the executive suite, the question may be simple. Can the jet get us there?
For the flight department, answering yes can involve considerably more.
The aircraft has to be capable of the mission, the crew has to be qualified, and the operation has to meet applicable FAA requirements. If an LOA is required, obtaining it becomes another part of making sure the company can use its aircraft the way it intends.
That makes regulatory preparedness part of the value proposition of corporate aviation.
Companies use private aircraft in part because they provide flexibility. Executives can reach locations with limited commercial service, visit multiple markets in a shorter period, move teams more efficiently, and build schedules around business priorities rather than airline timetables.
That flexibility is most valuable when the flight department is prepared for the missions the company needs it to fly.
The Company Making Regulatory Complexity Easier to Navigate
Nimbl has spent 30 years helping business aviation operators manage many of those behind-the-scenes requirements. The company supports more than 4,700 operators worldwide through its safety management systems, procedures manuals, and compliance support.
Its Part 91 LOA Guide takes one piece of that regulatory workload and attempts to make it easier for operators to understand before they begin the FAA application process.
The guide gives flight departments an easier way to determine what may be required, what they need to prepare, and what to expect.
And while an executive may never need to know what an LOA is or why it matters, they care very much about the result. When business requires them to be somewhere, they need to know the aircraft and flight team are ready to take them there.
