Security: a priority

OpenFly has built its concept by integrating this safety issue from the start, with the ambition of being a "trusted third party" platform allowing its members to fly with a perfect knowledge of the service they are using. In an operational way, this can be broken down into four areas:

  1. Admission criteria for registered professional pilots

  2. Admission criteria for private aircraft referenced

  3. Clear procedures for booking, monitoring and measuring satisfaction

  4. A Safety Commission of aeronautical experts

Admission criteria for registered professional pilots

OpenFly has put in place strict criteria, beyond the regulatory obligations in force, for registering professional pilots on the platform in order to guarantee a minimum level of experience (meeting the most recent obligations in force) for the captain.

Therefore, only registered pilots with the following qualifications (currently valid) can request an authorisation on one of the platform’s aircraft:

• CPL or ATPL professional licence issued by EASA or the FAA
• Instrument Rating (IR)
• A class 1 medical certificate issued by an aviation medical examiner
• ICAO English level four minimum
• A minimum of 500 hours of flight experience as a pilot-in-command, including 100 hours of instrument flight time
• A minimum of 25 hours flight experience on a relevant type of aircraft, or flight confirmation by an instructor or examiner

The same applies to pilots recommended by companies registered on the platform.

Each pilot updates all his qualifications as he goes along, by scanning the relevant documents, which are accessible to aircraft owners and club members.

Admission criteria for private aircraft

Following the example of pilots, OpenFly has put in place strict criteria, beyond the regulatory obligations in force, for registering private aircraft on the platform.

This means that only private aircraft meeting the following criteria can register and be visible to club members:

• Instrument flight rating in force
• Up-to-date Certificate of Airworthiness and Airworthiness Review Certificate (CoA and ARC)
• Current insurance certificate covering pilots and passengers
• Up-to-date maintenance carried out according to the manufacturer's programme in an approved workshop

Each owner updates all these elements by scanning the relevant documents, which are made available to pilots and club members.

This safety record is the result of considerable work by the aviation industry to ensure the implementation of procedures, regulations and training for all the personnel involved, including instructors and examiners, pilots, aircraft manufacturers, airports, air traffic controllers and not forgetting the respective regulatory bodies: the DGAC in France, the FOCA in Switzerland, the EASA in the EU, and the FAA in the US.

OpenFly wished to contribute to ensuring safe air travel in full confidence.

Clear procedures for booking, follow-up and satisfaction measurement

The mobile application and the OpenFly website allow members of the platform to organise their own business trips by being put in touch with professional pilots or listed companies

All of the above-mentioned documents, as well as customer reviews, enable members to select the aircraft and pilot best suited to their needs when making their booking.

At the end of the trip, the member will be able to give feedback on their experience and the pilot will be able to share all the information he deems useful with the other pilots and aircraft owners on the platform.

A Safety Commission made up of aviation experts

OpenFly has set up a committee of independent aviation experts whose mission is to issue recommendations to continuously improve the safety policy deployed by the platform. This committee meets at least quarterly basis.