What Is an AOG? How IBC Aviation Handles These Situations

An AOG (Aircraft On Ground) refers to an aircraft immobilised on the ground, unable to operate the scheduled flight. In business aviation, this situation is rare but requires a fast response to redeploy passengers onto a replacement aircraft. At IBC Aviation, a dedicated advisor stays in touch with the client, communicates in real time about the nature of the issue and arranges an alternative solution as quickly as possible.

This article explains what an AOG is, the most frequent causes, the handling procedure applied by IBC Aviation and the prevention levers that limit these situations upstream.

Key takeaways about AOG

• AOG stands for Aircraft On Ground: an aircraft immobilised and unable to fly.
• The most common causes: technical issue, weather, crew unavailability, part awaited.
• In business aviation, an AOG is generally resolved within hours thanks to the broker's operator network.
• IBC Aviation communicates in real time about the situation and deploys a replacement aircraft.
• Prevention relies on audited operators, close maintenance tracking and qualified crews.

What is an AOG?

AOG is the acronym for Aircraft On Ground. It refers to an aircraft that is grounded and unable to operate its scheduled flight, whatever the cause. It is an official status used by airlines, business aviation operators and maintenance facilities worldwide.

Two levels are generally distinguished:

• Standard AOG: the aircraft is immobilised but return to service is expected within a few hours to a day.
• Critical AOG: extended immobilisation requiring a part to be shipped or heavy maintenance work. A replacement aircraft is systematically sought.

Main causes of an AOG

Several factors can trigger an AOG in business aviation:

Technical issue on the aircraft

This is the most frequent cause. An anomaly detected during pre-flight checks or on a previous flight grounds the aircraft until it is resolved. The affected systems may include avionics, the APU (Auxiliary Power Unit), the landing gear, the engines or any component whose proper operation is required for flight safety.

Weather conditions

An aircraft may be held on the ground as an operational decision: dense fog, storm, severe icing conditions or airport closure. In these cases, the AOG is not related to the aircraft but to the environment.

Crew unavailability

Crews are subject to strict regulatory limits on flight duty and rest. An upstream delay can make the initially scheduled crew non-compliant for the return flight, leading to a grounding until a new crew is made available.

Part awaited (Critical AOG)

Some repairs require a specific part that must be shipped from the manufacturer's facility or a remote stock. The lead time can exceed one day, which justifies the immediate activation of a replacement aircraft.

Administrative or regulatory constraints

More rarely, an AOG may be triggered by a decision of the aviation authorities: temporary certificate suspension, unannounced inspection, airspace closure.

The IBC Aviation procedure in case of AOG

When an AOG is declared on a flight chartered through IBC Aviation, an immediate procedure is activated to minimise the impact for the client.

1. Detection and qualification

The operator notifies IBC Aviation as soon as the issue is detected. Our teams qualify the situation: nature of the issue, estimated duration, possibility of on-site repair, impact on the itinerary.

2. Transparent communication with the client

The IBC Aviation advisor immediately contacts the client to inform them of the situation, the cause of the delay and the action plan. Transparency is an absolute requirement: the client receives information in real time, with no information withheld.

3. Sourcing a replacement aircraft

In parallel, our teams query the network of trusted operators to identify an operational aircraft suited to the route, the number of passengers and the timing. The objective is to propose a solution in under an hour for standard itineraries.

4. Plan B activation and rollout

Once the replacement aircraft is validated by the client, IBC Aviation coordinates every parameter: aircraft repositioning, new flight plan, ground transfers, FBO welcome, catering if required.

5. Follow-up until arrival

The advisor remains available until the client's arrival at destination, to handle any last-minute changes.

Replacement solutions in case of AOG

Depending on the nature of the AOG and aircraft availability, several options are considered:

• Equivalent aircraft from the same operator: the simplest solution if the operator has a second available aircraft in the area.
• Aircraft from a partner operator: IBC Aviation activates its European and international network to identify an aircraft available immediately.
• Aircraft of a higher category: in urgent cases, a larger aircraft may be offered to maintain the schedule.
• Repositioning of an Empty Leg: an aircraft already on an Empty Leg in the area may be reactivated to operate the flight.

Prevention: what IBC Aviation does upstream

The best AOG is the one that never happens. IBC Aviation applies several levers to reduce AOG probability on its chartered flights.

Rigorous operator selection

IBC Aviation selects operators from a trusted network audited in-house. Criteria include the Air Operator Certificate (AOC), maintenance policy, insurance coverage, fleet composition and crew qualifications. An operator with a historically high AOG rate is not retained for our charters.

Maintenance tracking

IBC Aviation ensures that the maintenance programmes of the chartered aircraft are properly followed, and that crew training cycles are up to date. An aircraft whose next maintenance check falls close to the flight date is either ruled out or replaced upstream.

Presence at key hubs

At departure from Paris, Geneva, Luxembourg and our other hubs, our advisors are on site to assist the departure and ensure smooth boarding. This physical presence allows us to detect an issue and react even before take-off.

24/7 operational watch

Flight operational monitoring is continuous. Every flight is tracked, every anomaly reported, every plan B prepared if needed.

Summary table: AOG types and typical lead times

Frequently asked questions about AOG

Is an AOG frequent in business aviation?

No. AOGs remain rare on business aviation charters, especially when the operator is properly audited and maintenance is closely tracked. The vast majority of flights operate without incident.

What happens to the passengers during an AOG?

Passengers are informed immediately by their IBC Aviation advisor. Depending on the expected duration, they are either kept in the FBO lounge while awaiting resolution, or redirected to a replacement aircraft. No action is required from them.

Who pays for the replacement aircraft?

In most cases, any additional cost of the aircraft change is covered under the initial charter agreement, in line with contractual terms. The client is informed of any pricing impact before validating Plan B.

How long does an AOG last?

The duration depends on the cause. An AOG related to a crew or a minor anomaly is usually resolved within hours. A Critical AOG requiring a part to be shipped can last more than 24 hours, which is why a replacement aircraft is immediately sourced in such cases.

How does IBC Aviation reduce AOG risks?

IBC Aviation only works with audited operators, with maintenance tracking aligned with international standards and qualified crews. Every flight is monitored in real time by a dedicated advisor, from briefing to arrival.

Can I cancel or modify a flight in case of AOG?

Yes. If the proposed replacement does not suit you, or if the purpose of the trip is no longer relevant, your advisor will support you in reviewing the options: postponement, cancellation, refund, subject to the contractual terms of the charter.

Private Jet Charter with IBC Aviation:

Our teams advise you on the private jet best suited to your itinerary and needs, and monitor the operations of every flight. Available 24/7, our experts can be reached by phone in France on +33 1 41 69 88 88, in Switzerland on +41 22 880 28 88 or by email at contact@ibc-aviation.com.