Liftbrief / Scorecard
Which issues should stop approval before scoring begins?
Use mandatory gates before the weighted comparison. These are proposed buyer controls; where they exceed a legal minimum, treat them as purchasing requirements rather than statements of law.
| Gate | Evidence needed to pass | Hold or reject trigger |
|---|---|---|
| G1. Lawful operating arrangement | Identified operating framework; for a specific charter, operator and aircraft authorisation verified through the appropriate records and follow-up | Unresolved mismatch; refusal to provide authority evidence; unexplained attempt to make the passenger responsible for operational control |
| G2. Essential mission fit | Operator’s written assessment of the proposed passenger, baggage, airport and timing requirements, subject to final operational conditions | Documented inability to meet a non-negotiable requirement; essential feasibility question unanswered |
| G3. Contracting and payment chain | Seller, contracting entity, operating carrier or selection process, invoice issuer and payment recipient reconciled | Unexplained entity differences; material incorporated terms unavailable; payment instructions not independently authenticated |
| G4. Insurance acceptability | Buyer’s insurance adviser accepts the applicable coverage evidence and any required endorsements | Required protection absent, expired, excluded or unverified |
| G5. Approved financial exposure | Known expenditure, conditional charges, cancellation liability and prepaid exposure within authorised limits | Material uncapped exposure without explicit approval; amount payable cannot be established |
| G6. Deadline and fallback acceptability | For an immovable deadline, an approved recovery or alternative-travel plan, including who funds it | Plan depends on replacement capacity or timing that nobody has committed to assess or provide |
The FAA advises buyers to verify the operator before booking and to look elsewhere if required authorisation is withheld. It also identifies attempts to transfer operational control to a consumer while supplying the aircraft and crew as a warning sign. (faa.gov)
Hold means unresolved—not unsafe. Reject means a documented failure against this buyer’s requirements. A supplier can be unsuitable for one mission without being unsuitable for every buyer.