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Business aviation is fast-paced, luxurious, and more popular than ever, and has boomed since the pandemic. It is known for its convenience and flexibility, as well as tailored service, and one of the most important things, saving time. With all this, it's easy to disregard the safety aspects behind it and assume that all is well and good. Travel by private jet is generally considered to be very safe and is highly regulated, and often exceeds the safety standards required. However, there are times when illegal charter occurs, and there have been fatalities. What can a passenger do to make sure that their flight is a legal charter and as safe as it can possibly be, and what measures can be taken once onboard? Firstly, prior to flying, check the operator's credentials, eg, FAA Part 135 or Part 91 in the US or under EASA regulations within Europe. You can also check with the Air Charter Association that it is a legal charter operator. For the highest in safety standards, look for the voluntary, independent third-party safety audits from organizations such as Wyvern (eg, Wingman), ARGUS (platinum or gold), or IS-BAO (stage 3). These tend to exceed the government safety standards as a rule. Ask about the aircraft's maintenance: a reputable operator will have a rigorous schedule recommended by the manufacturer. You can check the pilot's experience, type rating, and flight hours, as well as their training record. Most operations will still carry two pilots, even if one is only required. You can also check if the flight attendant has been fully trained, as often in many countries, a cabin server is used instead of a trained flight attendant. So, one may assume that the flight attendant is safety trained on the aircraft and fully proficient in first aid, but they may have no training at all! Before the flight, check with the operator if you are carrying any unusual items such as firearms or items that might be classified as dangerous goods. Large amounts of baggage should be reported, and any excessive or bulky sports equipment, to ensure that there is enough space to store it safely. It is important to check what the operator's policy is on smoking onboard the aircraft or serving alcohol onboard. Some operators allow smoking, for example, but a private owner aircraft that is chartered will probably not. Many private jets in the Middle East are 'dry' aircraft, so they will not have any form of alcohol onboard. If either of these are a concern, it is well worth checking. Onboard the aircraft, it is a good idea to be very aware of your surroundings and know where the exits are and how to operate them. A safety briefing may or may not be given by the flight attendant or a pilot, depending on company procedure, but you can ask for a briefing, and they can answer any questions that you may have. If in doubt about anything that is a safety concern, do ask the crew as they are responsible for your safety on the aircraft. It sounds obvious, but use the seatbelt. Many VIP passengers decide not to use it as it's their private jet and they can do what they want, but in reality, turbulence is becoming more of an issue, so it's best practice to keep the seatbelt on and loosely fastened during the cruise, for your own safety. Always follow the instructions of the pilots or flight attendants, for safety reasons, in an emergency, and during turbulence. On take-off and landing, passengers should stow any personal loose items in a safe place, as unstowed items can become a projectile and cause injury. Many private jets have Wi-Fi onboard, but it is advisable to still have cellphones in 'airplane mode' to prevent any interference with navigation and communication systems. Although the cockpit is often a place of intrigue for passengers and the cockpit door is sometimes left open on private jets, it is not always a safe time to visit it. Passengers can ask the flight attendant if its ok to visit, and they can check with the flight crew. Please observe the sterile cockpit rule as the crew do and do not disturb the flight crew during the critical phases of flight: take-off, climb, approach, and landing. All in all, flying as a passenger in a private jet is a safe and often enjoyable experience. Although the experience is quite relaxed compared to commercial aviation, it is still important to be safety aware, as private jets are not immune to incidents or accidents. It is better to check out the operator information before booking or flying on a charter, and be aware of the environment around you whilst onboard. Have a safe, efficient, and pleasant trip!