Public Charters - 14 CFR PART 380

The Office of International Aviation, within the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, seeks to extend a previously approved collection of information required to administer the Department’s public charter regulations. 14 CFR Part 380 establishes regulations embodying the Department’s terms and conditions for Public Charter operators to conduct air transportation using direct air carriers. Public Charter operators arrange transportation for groups of people on chartered aircraft. This arrangement is often less expensive for the travelers than individually buying a ticket. A primary goal of Part 380 is to seek protection for the consumer. Accordingly, the rule stipulates that the charter operator must file evidence (a prospectus—consisting of OST Forms 4532, 4533, 4534, 4535, and supporting financial documents) with the Department for each charter program certifying that it has entered into a binding contract with a direct air carrier to provide air transportation and that it has also entered into agreements with Department-approved financial institutions for the protection of charter participants’ funds. The prospectus must be accepted by the Department prior to the operator’s advertising, selling or operating the charter. If the prospectus information were not collected it would be extremely difficult to assure compliance with agency rules and to assure that public security and other consumer protection requirements were in place for the traveling public. General information on public charters in air transportation originating in the U.S. includes a flight schedule and certification that the charter operator contracted with a direct air carrier and has made financial security arrangements to protect the passenger's payment. This collection supports DOT’s Strategic Goal of Accountability: Serve the Nation with Reduced Regulatory Burden and Greater Efficiency, Effectiveness and Accountability where DOT will raise accountability standards that improve the efficient use of taxpayer funds by streamlining business processes.

The latest form for Public Charters - 14 CFR PART 380 expires 2026-11-30 and can be found here.