AOPA JOINS INDUSTRY PARTNERS TO ISSUE GUIDANCE ON LEGAL CHARTER BEST PRACTICES
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association worked closely with other industry experts to create the comprehensive publication, which breaks down key regulatory information as it related to charters. The General Aviation Dry Leasing Guide addresses concerns about illegal activity, including “sham dry lease” agreements when chartering an aircraft without a crew.
The FAA’s increased scrutiny over charter flights using such dry leases— which has taken shape largely under the agency’s — has led aircraft owners and lessors to seek greater clarity on the arrangements, so they can fully ensure proper compliance.
In simplest terms, a dry lease is one in which the lessor simply provides an aircraft, leaving it to the lessee to employ or contract crewmembers, and also to assume operational control of a flight.
“The vast majority of general aviation flights— including those conducted under dry leasing arrangements— are done in complete compliance with FAA regulations,” said Justine Harrison, AOPA General Counsel. “We helped develop this guide to provide clarity in the wake of federal concerns over some running afoul of the law.”
The free guide was developed by AOPA, Experimental Aircraft Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the Helicopter Association International, the National Air Transportation Association, and the National Business Aviation Association.
Written by veteran industry experts, it offers a detailed breakdown of the best practices for proper use of dry leases, clarifying how aircraft owners can derive benefits from the arrangement, while enhancing the industry’s vigilance against practitioners of illegal charter operators.
Among the information presented in the guide is an overview of the different types of dry leases; the difference between a dry lease (which provide only an aircraft) and a wet leases (which provide an aircraft with crewmembers) and how “operational control” is determined; and how to maintain compliance when considering maintenance, authorization, and insurance requirements. It also includes 22 frequently asked questions that clearly and address common causes of confusion for both operators and consumers.
Download the General Aviation Dry Leasing Guide here.
Read AOPA's story.
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