Private Aviation Glossary: 47 Terms to Know Before You Fly

Empty leg, FBO, cabotage, AOC, handling… Private aviation speaks its own language, and understanding it is the difference between comparing quotes with confidence and signing blind. This glossary covers the 47 terms you will see most often when quoting, booking and flying a private charter in Mexico — explained in plain language, with the local context that matters: AFAC, Mexican registrations and operations from Toluca International Airport (MMTO).

Keep it as a reference. And if any term in a quote raises questions — ours or any other broker's — ask. A serious professional can always explain what they are selling.

How a private flight is booked

Charter (charter flight). Renting an entire aircraft, with crew, for a specific trip. You pay for the aircraft, not per seat: the price is the same whether two passengers fly or eight.

On-demand. Charter with no memberships, annual fees or prepaid hours. Each flight is quoted and paid independently. This is Numen Aviation's model.

Broker. An intermediary that does not operate aircraft: it compares certified operators, negotiates rates and coordinates the flight on the client's behalf. A serious broker always discloses who will operate the flight.

Operator. The company holding the certificate to operate the aircraft. It employs the crew and is responsible for maintenance and insurance. Flight safety rests with the operator, not the broker; we explain how to verify it in our guide to choosing a safe operator.

AOC (Air Operator Certificate). The permit an aviation authority grants an operator to sell air transport. In Mexico it is issued by AFAC; without a valid AOC, a charter flight is illegal.

Empty leg. A repositioning flight the aircraft must fly without passengers — for example, returning to base after dropping off a client — offered at discounts of up to 75%. See how empty legs work and the current empty legs from Toluca.

Positioning flight (ferry). A passenger-less segment flown to place the aircraft at your departure airport. When the jet is not based in your city, positioning is part of the quoted cost.

Jet card / membership. A prepaid block of flight hours with a specific provider. It offers fixed rates in exchange for a significant upfront commitment; it suits those who fly many predictable hours per year.

Fractional ownership. Buying a share of an aircraft (for example, 1/8) that entitles you to a set number of annual hours. A middle ground between on-demand charter and full ownership.

Flight hour / block time. The unit charters are priced in. Block time runs from the moment the aircraft first moves under its own power until it stops at destination; it is usually 10–15 minutes longer than airborne time.

Leg. Each segment of an itinerary. A Toluca–Cancún–Toluca round trip is two legs; a multi-city itinerary may have several.

COI (Certificate of Insurance). The document evidencing the aircraft's policy: coverage, limits and validity. Every passenger has the right to request it before paying.

At the airport

FBO (Fixed Base Operator). A private terminal for general aviation: VIP lounge, on-site immigration and customs, parking next to the aircraft. At an FBO you board in minutes, with no lines or baggage belts. Toluca has the most complete FBOs in central Mexico; we compare them in the best airports for private aviation in Mexico.

Handling. Ground services for the aircraft and its passengers: ramp, baggage, fuel coordination, permits and paperwork. Provided by the FBO or a specialized agent.

Ramp / apron. The airport area where aircraft park, refuel and board passengers. In private aviation, the passenger's car usually drives right up to the apron.

Hangar. A covered facility where the aircraft is stored and maintained. Hangarage protects the jet and speeds up departures during the rain and hail season, common in the Toluca valley.

Slot. An assigned time window to land or take off at congested airports. Mexico City's AICM runs on saturated slots; Toluca (MMTO) has no such restriction — one of its biggest operational advantages.

PPR (Prior Permission Required). A requirement at some airports to authorize each operation in advance. Your broker handles it as part of flight coordination.

ICAO and IATA codes. Airport identifiers. ICAO codes have four letters and are used in flight plans (Toluca = MMTO); IATA codes have three and are used commercially (Toluca = TLC). In international charter you will see both.

GenDec (General Declaration). The international arrival/departure document listing crew, passengers and flight details. Prepared by the operator or handling agent as part of clearance.

Customs clearance / CIQ. Customs, immigration and quarantine formalities on international flights. At an FBO they are completed in the same private lounge, in minutes; the step-by-step is in our guide to private jet customs in Mexico.

e-APIS. The US Advance Passenger Information System, which requires transmitting passenger and crew data before crossing the US border. Mandatory on every private flight between Mexico and the United States.

Regulation and safety

AFAC (Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil). Mexico's civil aviation authority. It certifies operators (AOC), aircraft and crews, and oversees air taxi operations.

FAA Part 135. The US regulation for non-scheduled commercial operators (charter). A "Part 135" operator is FAA-certified to sell charter flights; it is the functional equivalent of Mexico's air taxi AOC.

Cabotage. Carrying passengers or cargo between two points in the same country on a foreign-registered aircraft. In Mexico it is restricted: an N-registered jet cannot fly domestic point-to-point legs. Details in can US aircraft operate domestic flights in Mexico?.

Registration. The aircraft's national registry, visible on the fuselage. Mexican registrations start with XA (commercial), XB (private) or XC (government); US registrations start with N. For domestic charter in Mexico, the correct registration is XA.

Certificate of Airworthiness. The document certifying the aircraft is in safe flying condition and current on its maintenance program. It must be valid for every operation.

SMS (Safety Management System). A formal system of processes to identify risks and prevent incidents. It is a requirement of every serious international standard.

IS-BAO. A voluntary international standard for business aviation operations, audited by third parties across three progressive stages. An IS-BAO operator has let an independent auditor review its processes and SMS.

ARGUS / Wyvern. Private auditors that rate charter operators (ARGUS Gold/Platinum, Wyvern Wingman). Their ratings verify history, crew records and safety processes; they are the standard reference in the US market.

Type rating. The specific qualification a pilot needs to fly a given aircraft type (for example, Learjet 35 or Hawker 800). It is added to the license and requires recurrent training.

NOTAM. An official notice about conditions affecting an operation: closed runways, navigation aids out of service, temporary restrictions. Crews review them before every flight.

Aircraft

Turboprop. A propeller aircraft powered by a turbine engine (Piper M500, King Air 200/350). Ideal for short legs and small runways; more economical than a jet on routes under 1.5 hours.

Very Light Jet (VLJ). The most compact jets (Phenom 100, Citation Mustang): 4–5 passengers and 1–2 hour legs, with contained hourly cost.

Light jet. Jets for 6–8 passengers on 2–3 hour flights (Learjet 35, Citation CJ2/CJ3, Phenom 300). The workhorse of Mexican domestic charter.

Midsize jet. A roomier cabin, 8–9 passengers and 3–5 hours of range (Hawker 800, Citation Excel/XLS, Learjet 60). The typical balance for Mexico–US routes; we compare them in the best jets for Mexico–USA flights.

Super-midsize. A step above midsize in cabin and range (Citation Latitude, Challenger 300, Gulfstream G200): 9–10 passengers and 5–7 hours of flight.

Heavy jet. Large-cabin, long-range jets (Gulfstream G450/G550, Challenger 601/650, Legacy 600): 10–16 passengers, transcontinental flights and cabin crew.

Range. The maximum distance the aircraft can fly with a given load without refueling. It determines whether a route is flown nonstop or needs a tech stop.

Tech stop. An intermediate landing solely to refuel, with passengers remaining on board. Common when the route exceeds the range of the contracted aircraft.

MEDEVAC / air ambulance. An aircraft configured for medical transport: stretcher, ICU equipment and medical personnel on board. Numen coordinates air ambulance service 24/7 within Mexico and to the US.

AOG / hot shot. Urgent cargo by private aviation: AOG (Aircraft on Ground) for critical aircraft parts and hot shot for any shipment that cannot wait. See our urgent cargo flights.

Flight operations

ETD / ETA. Estimated Time of Departure and Estimated Time of Arrival. In private charter, the ETD adjusts to the passenger — not the other way around.

Flight plan. The document filed with the authority covering route, altitudes, alternates and endurance. Prepared by the operator or its dispatcher before every leg.

Alternate airport. The airport designated in the flight plan for landing if the destination closes due to weather or another cause. Its existence is normal planning, not a sign of risk.

Catering. Onboard food and beverage service, customized per flight: from coffee and snacks to restaurant menus. Coordinated with the FBO before departure.

Crew duty and rest. Pilots have legal limits on duty hours and rest. On long itineraries, a quote may include crew hotel costs or a second set of pilots; that is the sign of an operator that respects the rules.

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Speak the language — but don't travel alone

Knowing these terms lets you read a quote with confidence. Even so, a good broker's job is to make sure you never have to master them: at Numen Aviation we audit operators, manage permits, slots and customs, and explain every line of your quote in plain language.

Ready to put the vocabulary to use? Quote your next flight from Toluca (MMTO) in under 30 minutes.