Wet Lease vs. Dry Lease- Understanding the Differences

A wet lease is formally known as an ACMI arrangement: Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance. The lessor provides all four elements. The key legal characteristic of a wet lease is that operational control remains with the lessor. The lessor's Air Operator Certificate, or FAA Part 135 certificate in the US context, governs the flight. The lessor is responsible for the airworthiness of the aircraft, the qualification and scheduling of the crew, and the insurance covering the operation.

Wet leases are typically short-term arrangements. In the private charter context, when a broker sources a flight from a Part 135 operator and that operator provides the aircraft and crew, the arrangement is wet lease in character. The operator holds Part 135 certification, maintains operational control, and is accountable for the safety of the flight.

A wet lease in aviation is an ACMI arrangement in which the lessor provides the Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance. Operational control remains with the lessor, whose FAA Part 135 certificate governs the flight. A dry lease transfers only the aircraft to the lessee, who assumes responsibility for crew, maintenance, insurance, and operational control. In the private charter context, a standard Part 135 charter flight operates under a wet lease structure: the operator provides the aircraft and crew under their own certificate and retains full regulatory accountability for the safety of the operation.

A dry lease transfers only the aircraft from lessor to lessee. The lessee is responsible for obtaining crew, arranging maintenance, and securing insurance. Operational control passes to the lessee.

In the US regulatory framework, a dry lease under which the lessee operates the aircraft for non-commercial purposes is governed by FAR Part 91. If the dry-leased aircraft is used to carry passengers for compensation or hire, the operator must hold a Part 135 certificate, and the regulatory requirements that attach to commercial operations apply in full.

Dry leases are longer-term arrangements, typically spanning years. They are common when corporations or individuals want extended access to a specific aircraft without purchasing it outright.

From the perspective of a client booking a private charter flight, the wet lease versus dry lease distinction is not an abstract regulatory question. It determines who holds legal accountability for the safety of your flight.

When you book a charter through a broker or directly with a Part 135 operator, the operator providing the aircraft and crew is the entity holding operational control under a wet lease arrangement. That operator is accountable to the FAA for crew training, aircraft maintenance, drug and alcohol testing programs, and the full suite of Part 135 operational requirements.

The concern arises when clients encounter arrangements that are ambiguous about this accountability. A dry-leased aircraft operated outside of a Part 135 certificate for commercial transport purposes is operating outside the regulatory framework that protects the client. 

The question to ask is: who holds the Part 135 certificate for this flight, and is the specific tail number on their D085 list? That is the clearest way to verify that the flight has clear regulatory accountability.

For private aviation clients, the wet lease versus dry lease distinction determines who holds legal accountability for the flight. When a client books a Part 135 charter through a broker or directly with an operator, the Part 135 operator providing the aircraft and crew holds operational control under a wet lease arrangement and is accountable to the FAA for crew training, aircraft maintenance, and the full suite of Part 135 operational requirements. Verifying the operator's Part 135 certificate and confirming the specific tail number appears on their D085 aircraft list are the standard verification steps for any charter booking.

A damp lease sits between a wet lease and a dry lease. In a damp lease, the lessor provides the aircraft and the flight crew (pilots), but not the cabin crew, maintenance, or insurance. The lessee supplies those elements. 

Damp leases are most common in commercial airline operations and are less frequently encountered in the private charter context, but clients dealing with larger cabin aircraft should be aware the structure exists.

Hogani Jets is a charter broker. When we arrange a flight on your behalf, we source the aircraft from a vetted Part 135 operator. That operator provides the aircraft and crew under their own certificate, meaning the arrangement is a wet lease in character. 

Operational control rests with the operator, who is fully accountable under Part 135 for the safety of the operation.

We work exclusively with ARGUS and Wyvern rated operators. Before any aircraft is confirmed for your trip, we verify the operator's Part 135 certificate status, confirm the specific aircraft tail number appears on the operator's D085 list, and review the operator's safety rating.

Hogani Jets coordinates each charter through licensed Part 135 operators.

Contact Hogani Jets at charter@hoganijets.com or +1-855-660-0573.

What is the difference between a wet lease and a dry lease?

A wet lease provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance, with the lessor retaining operational control. A dry lease provides only the aircraft; the lessee supplies crew, maintenance, and insurance. The key distinction is who holds operational control and legal accountability for the flight.

What does ACMI stand for in aviation?

ACMI stands for Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance. It is the formal term for a wet lease in which the lessor provides all four elements and retains operational control. A standard Part 135 charter flight operates under an ACMI structure.

Is a private jet charter a wet lease or a dry lease?

A standard Part 135 charter is a wet lease. The operator provides the aircraft and crew under their own certificate, retains operational control, and bears legal accountability for the flight. You are contracting a complete, crewed, insured operation, not leasing an aircraft to operate yourself.

Who is legally responsible for a private jet charter flight?

The Part 135 operator who provides the aircraft and crew bears legal accountability for the flight, regardless of whether the booking was made through a broker or directly. The operator's certificate governs crew training, maintenance, dispatch, and all operational decisions.

Why does the wet lease vs. dry lease distinction matter when booking a charter?

It determines who is legally accountable for your flight. In a properly structured Part 135 charter, the operator holds that accountability under a wet lease. A dry-leased aircraft used for commercial transport without a valid Part 135 certificate operates outside the regulatory framework that protects clients.

What is a damp lease in aviation?

A damp lease provides the aircraft and cockpit crew but not cabin crew, maintenance, or insurance. The lessee supplies those remaining elements. It sits between a wet and dry lease in scope. Damp leases are uncommon in private charter; the standard structure is a full ACMI wet lease.

Can a dry-leased aircraft be used for private jet charter?

Only if the lessee holds a valid Part 135 certificate and operates the aircraft under that certificate for commercial flights. Without Part 135 certification, carrying passengers for compensation on a dry-leased aircraft is illegal. The regulatory burden shifts entirely to the lessee once they take operational control.

What is operational control in aviation?

Operational control is the legal authority and responsibility over the initiation, conduct, and termination of a flight. In a wet lease, operational control stays with the lessor. In a dry lease, it transfers to the lessee. Operational control determines who is accountable to the FAA for the safety of every flight.

How do I verify that my charter flight is operating under a valid Part 135 certificate?

Ask the broker or operator for the operating company name and their Part 135 certificate number. Confirm the specific aircraft tail number appears on that operator's FAA D085 list, which identifies aircraft approved to operate under a given certificate. A legitimate operator provides both without hesitation.

What is the FAA D085 list and why does it matter?

The D085 is the FAA's aircraft listing under a specific Part 135 certificate. Every aircraft an operator is authorised to fly commercially must appear on it. Confirming your charter aircraft's tail number is on the operating company's D085 verifies it falls within the regulatory framework that protects charter clients.