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UK airport consultation: A pilot’s view

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

What the proposed Thames Estuary airport could look like

Yesterday it was announced that the government’s consultation on a new UK aviation hub will begin in March. The process will focus on the need to retain the UK’s status as a major aviation hub and the options for siting a new airport close to London – including a detailed assessment of the ‘Boris Island’ Thames Estuary airport proposal.

This is welcome news – given we have previously built our biggest London airport in exactly the wrong spot from a safety perspective. Here’s why.

In order to reduce the ground speed required for flight and the length of runway required, aircraft take off and land into the wind. This means that, at Heathrow, aircraft are predominately flying low and slow over Greater London to land on the two westerly runways – as 80% of winds in the UK are westerly.
Heathrow, like most airports, has a mandatory 3 degree glide slope approach. This results in a descent of 300ft per mile on the ground – and given Heathrow’s position, means aircraft over the centre of our capital city are descending through 1500ft over our most populated areas.
Taking these factors into consideration and looking at London as a clock face, the worst possible position for an airport is therefore at 9 o’clock – where we have inadvertently built our biggest airport. Far better to have aircraft descending and landing at airports in the 12 o’clock (Luton), 3 o’clock (proposed Thames Estuary) or 6 o’clock position (Gatwick) where their approaches will not affect such large areas of population.
Landing is the most critical stage from a safety perspective – accident data shows that the majority of incidents occur on the approach. This is when an aircraft is most vulnerable, flying low and slow. As we saw with BA 777 crash in January 2008, an incident over London is an accident waiting to happen. Not to mention the nightmare scenario of a ground-to-air missile attack on low-flying aircraft coming into Heathrow.

The majority of pilots agree: We have in inadvertently built London’s major airport in the worst possible position. In their consultation for a new UK airport hub in London, the government should consider Manston (in Kent) or the Thames Estuary as the only viable locations.

Posted in Air Traffic Control, Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, British Airways, Closest airports, Investment, Pilot, Politics, Travel trends, Weather | No Comments »

Chancellor gives date for introducing APD to private jet flights

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

In his Autumn statement yesterday, the chancellor George Osborne announced that Air Passenger Duty on private jet flights would be introduced in April 2013. His statement read “The Government will proceed with the extension of Air Passenger Duty (APD) to flights taken aboard business jets, effective from 1 April 2013. Details will be set out in the Government’s response to the APD consultation on 6 December 2011″.

The extension of APD to business aviation was announced earlier this year in March’s Budget with many expecting it to come into operation next year in April 2012, alongside the increases in APD bands for airline passengers (the details of which will be announced next week). Some commentators are seeing this as a delay, although a start date for APD on business aviation wasn’t clearly set out.

The timings may be unclear but I’m not sure the Chancellor needs to drag his heels, if APD is to be calculated the same way for private jet passengers as it is for airlines. It would add a relatively small increase to the costs of a private charter flight and would be unlikely to cause much alarm with passengers.

Currently, the duty applies to airline flights in bands according to both the distance of the journey and the class of seat. Our average passenger payload is 2.8 per flight, so the impact on a return flight from London to Paris would be to increase the cost overall by 3.5 percent (£134.40 on a typical £3,900 return journey). Or by 2.5 percent on a longer journey, such as London to Cairo (when the increase would be £672 on a typical cost of £26,900)*.

Two areas remain unclear

That said, it is not yet clear if APD will be calculated the same way for business jet passengers – ie according to distance travelled and seat pitch. Should the Chancellor introduce a new APD band for private jet passengers, the reaction may be different.

The other issue I see is with collection of APD from customers. Business jet flights are like taxis and flights departing from the UK can be operated by UK-based operators or by overseas operators whose aircraft happen to be here. UK operators will undoubtedly introduce robust processes to collect APD from passengers and pass this revenue to the Treasury, but who will ensure that overseas operators do the same on flights departing from the UK?
For example a team of US executives coming into Europe from the US for a series of meetings will fly from the UK to other points in Europe. Will they be asked to pay APD to their US-based operator? With a relatively small number of passengers compared to airlines, its important that the administration effort created by APD does not become disproportionate to the revenue raised.

If those issues are solved, I also believe the industry will embrace the change. In the current economic climate, the business aviation sector is embracing the need for more transparency and new ways of operating. Introducing APD for private jet flights is just one way in which it is moving forward and integrating with the travel industry as a whole. Other key areas of change are making business jet flights more widely available through travel agents and providing online aggregation and booking.

VIP service, privacy and comfort are still very much part of private aviation’s appeal, but the stereotype of the ‘fat cat’ private jet user is largely a thing of the past. Private jet charter is increasingly being seen as a viable and comparable form of time-efficient travel, with two thirds of European flights going where airlines don’t operate a direct service**; and offering optimal scheduling flexibility.

And of course, the industry is increasingly in demand when airline flights cannot meet demand, such as for recent evacuation flights out of Japan and the Middle East, or during the snowfall and ash cloud crises which affected Europe last year.

These are the current rates of APD applicable since 1 November 2010 – increases will be announced later this year:

STANDARD APD RATES
Band A (0-2000 miles) – £24
Band B (2001 – 4000 miles) – £120
Band C (4001 – 6000 miles) – £150
Band D (6000+ miles) – £170
(Standard rates apply when seat pitch exceeds 1.016 metres / 40 inches)

REDUCED APD RATES
Band A (0-2000 miles) – £12
Band B (2001 – 4000 miles) – £60
Band C (4001 – 6000 miles) – £75
Band D (6000+ miles) – £85
(Reduced rates apply when seat pitch is less than 1.016 metres / 40 inches)

*Charter flight costs are market estimates using the PrivateFly.com online cost calculator. Prices are subject to availability.

**Source: EUROCONTROL Air Traffic statistics

Posted in Air Passenger Duty, Aircraft, Airlines, Business, Business travel, George Osbourne, Industrial action, Politics, Price comparison, Private jet charter, Strikes, Time-saving, Weather | No Comments »

Can a private jet fly in the fog?

Monday, November 21st, 2011

Low visibility in fog presents challenges for all aircraft, though private jets have more flexibility in their routing and flight plans

Foggy conditions and poor visibility over the south of England in recent days have had a significant impact on airports and air passengers around London – with Heathrow, London City Airport, London Luton and other London airports all affected. By 09.00 GMT at Heathrow today (Monday), 37 airline arrivals and 23 departures had been cancelled by fog. At London City airport – which on a non-foggy day has one of the world’s most stunning airport approaches (see our shortlist and vote) – 44 airline flights were suspended yesterday (Sunday).

All aircraft, including private jets, are affected by fog and poor visibility. Although many commercial aircraft are equipped with auto-land autopilots (that can land the aircraft in zero visibility), it is on the ground and during the take off phase that most of the Air Traffic Delay occur. When the visibility at an airport drops below 1,500m (described by pilots and airports as RVR – Runway Visual Range) the airport enforces Low Visibility Procedures (LVPs). During LVPs, Air Traffic will reduce the number of aircraft taxing and taking off to prevent accidents and incidents occurring.

But just as in heavy snow and other unforseen weather conditions, the flexibility of private jet charter is a huge advantage in foggy weather. A private jet charter flight plan allows for last minute changes of plan, finding gaps in the fog and rerouting the flight accordingly – not an option open to airlines. For example, visibility earlier this morning was at just 100 metres at London Luton airport, but 4km at London Northolt. So by switching a flight departure from Luton to Northolt, the customer was able to depart with very minimal delays.

The fog now appears to be lifting but huge backlogs for airlines will mean disruption continues for the next day or two. With many aircraft now out of position, passengers are recommended to contact their airlines for further information before leaving home.

In foggy conditions, the advantages of private jet charter become very clear!

Posted in Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Fog, Pilot, Private jet charter, Safety, Weather | No Comments »

Can a private jet fly in the snow?

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Heathrow was grounded by snow last winter

Airlines were grounded by snow last winter at Heathrow airport

With winter starting to tighten its grip in the Northern Hemisphere and weather forecasts indicating another record-breaking big freeze this winter, travel disruption is a major worry for many people. A white Christmas may be an exciting prospect if you can stay at home and enjoy it, but not necessarily for those who need to travel for business, on Christmas holidays or to long-awaited reunions with family and friends over the festive period.

Last winter, heavy snowfalls, ice and Arctic temperature wreaked havoc for thousands of airline passengers who were left stranded after major airports closed and airlines cancelled flights. 35,000 commercial flights were cancelled during December 2010 in Europe – more cancellations than the whole of the previous year. And there was a similar weather story across the Atlantic with major air travel disruption for the East Coast of the US.

Obviously such extreme winter conditions impact private aviation too – but certainly not to the same extent and private jet charter is still able to keep passengers moving when airlines are frozen (whether due to bad weather or volcanic ash). So why can private jets fly when so many scheduled flights are grounded?

Private jets can use many more airports

In Europe, private jet charter flights can take their pick from 3,000 airports – ten times more than the 300 airports used by airlines. Snowfall and temperatures can vary considerably even over a relatively small area of the country, so this allows the pilot to switch to an airport than is less affected – not an option open to inflexible airlines. And at smaller airports, snow clearing and de-icing can actually happen quicker, as there is a much smaller area of taxiway and fewer aircraft to keep clear (plus many private jets are kept out of the cold in hangars which reduces deicing requirements). As we saw last winter in the UK, Heathrow and Gatwick were less able to cope with clearing snow, despite their greater resources, than a smaller airport such as nearby Farnborough in Surrey which managed to stay open for much more of the time.

Private jet travel allows for flexible schedules

When you hire a private jet, you agree a departure time and route but, unlike airline flights, this plan is very flexible and either the customer or the pilot can change the schedule up until about two hours ahead of takeoff. So bringing a flight forward when further snowfall is forecast – or switching the route to find ‘gaps’ in the weather or to avoid closed airports is a very real possibility. Airline schedules are simply unable to work like this – their only option is to cancel the flight.

Private jets can start moving again very quickly

Inevitably the most extreme of winter conditions will affect some private jet charter flights. Safety is the primary consideration and there will be times when it is simply unsafe to fly due to extremes of temperatures or severe ice on runways. However the agility of private jet charter is a huge advantage when conditions begin to thaw. As we saw last winter, with enormous backlogs and so many aircraft out of position, airlines took days to return to normal – leaving passengers stranded even after the snow was cleared. With so much more flexibility, private jet flights were able to start operating almost immediately. Charter brokers such as PrivateFly.com – which gives access to thousands of private aircraft worldwide – were particularly well-placed to help passengers, finding aircraft that were already waiting at their closest airport. With PrivateFly you can book at very short notice (online or over the phone) and in many cases be in the air in as little as 90 minutes from first contact.

Posted in Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Ash cloud, Business, Business travel, Closest airports, Evacuation flights, FAQs, Holidays, Pilot, Private jet charter, Safety, Snow, Volcano, Weather | No Comments »

Unmanned aircraft: Are the pilot’s days numbered?

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

Military drone It seems that civilian, pilotless aircraft could soon be a very real prospect in the skies above us, according to industry opinions at last week’s Unmanned Systems North America conference in Washington.

General aviation industry representatives there said that they accepted the inevitability of new, pilotless aircraft or as they are technically known, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), though urged a cautious ‘go-safely’ approach.

Currently, unmanned aircraft in the US can operate only in restricted airspace or through certificates of authorization (CoA) issued by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to public agencies. A proposed rulemaking governing the operation of small UAS (50 pounds or lighter) is also anticipated by December, with a final rule expected in mid 2013. In June, the FAA established an aviation rulemaking committee to consider allowing larger unmanned aircraft to fly in civil airspace.

Over the short, 100-year history of aviation, global advances have always been led by the military. Ballooning, radar, instrument landing systems have all been designed with a military purpose and then adapted for commercial, civilian use.
So this is likely to also be the case for pilotless planes. And with the major focus of investment in military fighters now on drones, does it follow that it is only matter of time before the flying public accept getting into a commercial airline or private jet aircraft with no pilot?
They already do this on the ground, every time they step on to London’s Docklands Light Railway or on airport shuttle services.

There are many reasons why a pilotless aircraft would be more efficient and, theoretically, safer than one with a pilot in the cockpit.

However for many passengers this would be a very big leap of faith in technology. There would need to be as much investment made in communicating safety to passengers as in the safety systems themselves – and this will take time and effort.

Pilots can probably rest easy for now, but it’s a fascinating area of innovation and one that will inevitably play a very real part in aviation’s future.

Posted in Aircraft, Airlines, Innovation, Private jet charter, Safety, Technology, Travel trends | No Comments »

Private jet tech round-up

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

The private jet industry is not always seen as the most innovative when it comes to new technologies. While other travel sectors have embraced the internet’s ability to give customers increased transparency and control while driving significant operational efficiencies, a traditional private jet company is often perceived as an organisation with one wing in the past. Many assume that a private jet service and online technologies are incompatible, perhaps due to the industry’s very traditional, premium values.

There’s certainly a nugget of truth there: In many ways the industry does still operate in old-fashioned ways (and there are certainly significant inefficiencies in operational terms which could be improved) but there are also many exciting developments taking place across the industry, which demonstrate that the private jet sector is not the technological tortoise that many believe it to be. Here PrivateFly.com presents a round-up of some recent tech developments, in and out of the cockpit.

High speed internet connectivity on Bombardier jets

Bombardier's Global 5000 business jets will soon be fitted with high-speed internet.

Manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace has recently announced that it is to provide new increased high-speed internet access for passengers as an option for its Global 5000 and Global 6000 business jets. The system, provided by EMS Aviation, provides a virtual office in the sky with resilient in-flight data links and multi-regional service coverage. This will be dramatic step forward from what is available in today’s private jets: Most don’t offer internet access of any kind and those that do offer just a basic data link service – allowing passengers to send text-based emails only. With the current system, speed, bandwidth and coverage are limited – and the service usually comes at a high price. So this will be a major enhancement to the onboard experience for passengers, particularly those travelling on business – unless of course they are looking to escape from their emails for a while!

Smartphone app for best fuel prices at FBOs

More and more businesses in the industry are embracing the immediacy of apps for smartphones and tablets. Last month we announced the launch of PrivateFly’s Android app, which – following our iPhone and iPad app launch last year – gives instant price estimates for global private jet hire to users of the increasingly popular Android platform. Within the industry, B2B service providers are also developing some interesting and groundbreaking apps for pilots and operations staff.

Globalair.com has recently released an application for iPhone and iPad which allows pilots to locate and compare which private jet terminal (FBO) to use at any given airport, according to the most competitive fuel prices. The app puts pertinent FBO location and fuel pricing information at pilots’ fingertips and provides real-time, accurate information based on a search by airport/city and type of fuel required. Globalair claims that pilots will be able to make significant cost savings on a trip to trip basis.

iPad app for weather and flight planning & scheduling

Leon Software now offers its aircraft operators an iPad interface that pilots can use to view essential weather and flight planning notices (NOTAMs). Civil aviation regulations require pilots to check this information prior to every flight. The interface should have a positive impact on flight efficiency: Even today, many airline and private jet flights are delayed because the Captain is waiting for the flight dispatcher to appear with this paperwork.

iPad app for flight paperwork

Another new app allows company-controlled manuals and flight crew documents to be sent to iPads as part of an electronic record-keeping effort, reducing the considerable time associated with the updating of traditional paper manuals. International Business Aviation Solutions Group (IBASG) has produced the system, called JetSync, which connects the app user with a secure, web-based administration portal, from which documents can be uploaded as required. With more and more manuals now required on aircraft, this offers exciting time-saving efficiencies, as well as streamlining the cockpit Similarly, large airlines are making considerable cost (and paper) savings by providing pilots with Electronic Flight Bags – providing the documentation they need on every flight (such as airport landing data for every airport in the world) in electronic form.

New plug-in avionics suite talks to mobile devices

Aspen Avionics Connected Panel technology for the cockpit

Aspen Avionics are introducing Connected Panel technology to the cockpit

Another leap forward in cockpit efficiency was unveiled recently by avionics manufacturer Aspen Avionics. Its Connected Panel technology, which will be available by the end of the year, allows certified avionics in an aircraft’s panel to receive data from personal handheld devices on the iPhone and Android platforms. This will streamline flight-related activities by providing two-way wireless communications between panel avionics and personal smart devices.

The Connected Panel hardware is enclosed in a small box behind the aircraft panel and includes wireless, Bluetooth and USB connectivity options, along with flash memory storage. It also allows for other technology to be plugged in later – which has exciting potential for partnerships with other apps targeted at pilots. According to Aspen, 90 per cent of US pilots now have an iPad in their cockpit. It seems the days of switching mobiles off when boarding an aircraft will soon be over – the pilots will certainly be keeping their devices on!

Remote security checks by video link

Recently Signature Flight Support at London Luton airport has invested in new technology for security screening. This is a video link system which allows security staff to remotely check and clear passengers and their baggage at the point of departure, using the latest technology to perform high-quality visual ID, security and passport checks.

Signature has been testing this for some time now and it appears to be quick and seamless – it’s not offputting to passengers, while providing a more economical and flexible staffing solution.

It will be interesting to see if other private jet FBOs follow suit – and indeed other main airport terminals could also consider using this technology, particularly as a back-up system when experiencing peak demand or for smaller airports where the staffing balance is more difficult to achieve.

Posted in Aircraft, Aircraft manufacturers, Airlines, Airport security, Airports, Android app, Bombardier, Business, Business travel, Closest airports, FBO, Fleet, Innovation, iPad, iPhone app, Pilot, Price comparison, Prices, Pricing, Private jet charter, Technology, Time-saving, Travel trends | No Comments »

The world’s Top 10 famous aircraft

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

It’s not an easy task to choose just ten aircraft that have played the biggest part in aviation’s rich history. But here, after much debate and deliberation, PrivateFly.com presents our Top 10 rundown of the world’s most famous aircraft:

1. The Wright Flyer
Length: 21 ft
Wingspan: 40 ft
Max speed: 30 mph

Why famous? The biplane aircraft, designed and built by the pioneering Wright brothers, is at the forefront of aviation history, performing the world’s first ever powered flight in 1903 over North Carolina, USA. It was built using giant spruce wood, with the engine and other parts all made by hand. A sprocket chain drive, borrowed from bicycle design, was used to power the twin propellers. To fly the plane, pilot Wilbur Wright lay on his stomach on the lower wing to reduce drag, with the steering controlled by with a hip cradle which pulled wires to warp the wings.
Where now? National Air and Space museum (Smithsonian Institution), Washington DC, USA.

2. Concorde
First flew: 2nd March, 1969
Length: 61.6 m
Wingspan: 25.6 m
Max speed: 1,350 mph (Mach 2.04)
Powerplant: 4 x Rolls Royce/SNECMA Olympus 593
Crew: 3 (2 pilots, 1 flight engineer)

Why famous? Widely regarded as one of the most significant aircraft in aviation history, the world’s first supersonic airliner regularly allowed passengers to travel across the Atlantic in just 3½ hours – with a record-breaking flight time achieved in 1996 of just 2 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds from London Heathrow to New York JFK. Concorde entered service in 1976 and continued commercial operations for British Airways and Air France until 2003. The tragic crash of Air France 4590 in July 2000 (the only fatal incident involving Concorde) ultimately brought about its retirement, resulting in lower passenger numbers and decreased confidence in the iconic aircraft – even after safety modifications were made. Famously Concorde featured a pointed, adjustable nose, enabling it to achieve optimum aerodynamic efficiency in flight while still allowing the flight crew a full view during take-off and landing.
Where now? 20 Concorde aircraft were built by manufacturer Airbus, 6 for development and 14 for commercial use. 18 remain preserved in locations including:

• National Museum of Flight, Scotland, UK
• London Heathrow airport, UK
• Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, France
• Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK
• Airbus Factory, Toulouse, France
• Airbus UK, Bristol, UK
• Manchester Airport, UK
• Museum of Flight, Seattle, USA
• Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York, USA
• Grantley Adams Airport Bridgetown, Barbados

3. Air Force One (currently the Boeing VC-25)
Length: 70.6 m
Wingspan: 59.6 m
Max speed: 630 mph
Crew: 26

Why famous? Air Force One has been immortalised in popular culture as a symbol of the American presidency and its power. However, unlike other aircraft on the list, it is not a specific aircraft, but an air traffic control call sign. Most often this will be used by the private aircraft that is primarily designated to transport the President of the United States – which then becomes known by the name. However the call sign can be used by any US Air Force aircraft while the president is on board. The term was developed in 1953 after a security glitch occurred when President Eisenhower’s plane entered the same airspace as a commercial airliner with the same call sign. Several aircraft have been used as Air Force One since, with Boeing now the exclusive manufacturer of choice. A Boeing VC-25 (a highly-customised 747) is used currently, with three further Boeing planes in development.
Where now? Several former Air Force One presidential aircraft are on display in aviation museums in the USA, including the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton Ohio; the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, California; and the Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson Arizona.

4. Supermarine Spitfire
Length: 9.1 m
Wingspan: 11.2 m
Max speed: 378 mph
Powerplant: 1 x Rolls Royce Merlin 45 supercharged V12 engine
Service ceiling: 35,000 ft

Why famous? The Supermarine Spitfire is arguably one of the most universally respected and loved aircraft in the world. Designed by RJ Mitchell to meet the RAF’s need for a new fighter aircraft, the single-seat aircraft first flew on 5 March 1936 and was produced in greater numbers than any other British aircraft before it. The aircraft, with its distinctive semi-elliptical wing design, is most famous for its role during the Battle of Britain in World War II, when it helped to secure air superiority over Britain. For this action and its continued success throughout the war, it won the hearts of the British public and was universally loved by the pilots that flew it.
Where now? Approximately 44 spitfires are left in airworthy condition in locations across the world (though there are many more in static displays) and feature regularly in airshows and ceremonial flypasts.

5. Airbus A380
Length: 72.7 m
Wingspan: 79.75 m
Maximum speed: 587 mph
Powerplant: 4 x Rolls Royce Trent 970/ Engine Alliance GP7270

Why famous? The A380, nicknamed the Superjumbo, is currently the largest passenger airliner in the world, and can carry up to 853 passengers in a double-deck seating configuration. It was designed by manufacturer Airbus to challenge Boeing’s monopoly in the large airliner market and entered commercial service in October 2007. Due to the enormous size of the components (fuselage sections are built in France, Germany, Spain and the UK), specially-designed ships and barges – and even new roads – had to be built for surface transportation to the assembly hall in Toulouse, France. The A380 features highly innovative passenger provisions and pilot technology – with an avionics suite based on that of advanced military aircraft.
Where now? 69 aircraft are currently in operation (with many more on order) at a cost of US $375 million each and are used by airlines including Singapore Airlines; Emirates; Qantas; Lufthansa; Air France and Korean Air.

6. Spirit of St Louis
Length: 8.4m
Wingspan: 14m
Max speed: 133 mph

Why famous? The single-seat monoplane executed the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic, from Roosevelt Airfield in New York to Paris Le Bourget in 1927. The feat, which took 33 hours and 30 minutes, netted pilot Charles Lindbergh a $25,000 prize. The aircraft – one of the most fuel-efficient and aerodynamic designs of its time – was designed by Ryan Airlines and named after Lindbergh’s home town of St Louis, Missouri. The fuel tanks were located at the front, to improve safety and balance; however this meant that there could be no front windshield in the tiny cockpit, requiring a periscope to provide front visibility.
Where now? National Air and Space museum (Smithsonian Institution), Washington DC, USA.

7. Lockheed Vega 5b
Length: 8.4 m
Wingspan: 12.5 m
Maximum speed: 185 mph
Powerplant: 1 x Pratt & Whitney Wasp R1340C

Why famous? The six-seater monoplane (named after manufacturer Lockheed) was made famous by Amelia Earhart, who in 1932 became the first woman to fly non-stop across the Atlantic single-handedly. At the time, it’s long-range and rugged design made it a popular choice for record attempts.
Where now? National Air and Space museum (Smithsonian Institution), Washington DC, USA.

8. Gulfstream GIV
Length: 29.6 m
Wingspan: 23.7 m
Maximum speed: 581 mph (Mach 0.88)
Powerplant: 2 x Rolls Royce Tay 611-8C
Service ceiling: 45,000 ft

Why famous? The Gulfstream IV has a firm place in the hearts of all aviation enthusiasts across the globe as the first truly global business jet. The private jet aircraft became a firm favourite, following its launch in 1987, as its unmatched range allowed private jet passengers to travel anywhere in the world with just one fuel stop. It also offered slick design and a spacious interior.
Where now? The GIV ceased production in 2003, replaced by Gulfstream’s other long range jets including the latest addition, the Gulfstream G650. Gulfstream jets are operated worldwide by private owners, fractional ownership companies and private jet charter operators.

9. Cessna Citation XL
Length: 16 m
Wingspan: 17.17 m
Max speed: 506 mph
Powerplant: 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545B
Service ceiling: 45,000 ft

Why famous? Since its first flight on 29 February, 1996 the Citation XL revolutionised the private aircraft market by offering a cost-effective competitor to the twin turboprop aircraft – and has since become the most popular selling private jet in the world for the past 5 years. The XL quickly became a favourite with private jet passengers and aircraft operators alike due to its speed, high passenger capacity and relative low cost in comparison to its competitors. Following the success of this aircraft, manufacturer Cessna has also developed the Citation XLS and Citation XLS+ which featured new engines and other improvements to performance.
Where now? A total of 308 Citation XLs were built before it was superseded by the XLS. Aircraft in the Citation XL family are currently operated across the world by private owners, fractional ownership companies and private jet hire operators.

10. SpaceShipTwo
Length: 18.3 m
Wingspan: 8.23 m
Powerplant: 1 x RocketMotorTwo liquid/solid hybrid rocket engine

Why famous? SpaceShipTwo is a suborbital spacecraft designed to carry space tourists. The aircraft, which offers an open cabin and large viewing windows, is currently the frontrunner in race to take commercial air passengers into space. Currently undergoing later stages of flight testing, manufacturer Virgin Galactic has announced that it intends to launch flight operations in 2012 with a maiden voyage carrying Virgin founder Richard Branson and his parents. In the meantime, the operation is funded by a pre-booking down-payment of $20,000 from ‘passenger astronauts’ on the full ticket price of $200,000.
Where now? Virgin Galactic will operate space flights from its Spaceport base in New Mexico, USA.

Posted in Airbus, Aircraft, Aircraft manufacturers, Airlines, Airports, British Airways, Business, Business travel, Celebrities, Cessna, Concorde, Gulfstream, Gulfstream G550, Gulfstream G650, History, Innovation, Korean Air, Lists, Lufthansa, Pilot, Private jet charter, Sir Richard Branson, Space, Top 10, Virgin Atlantic | No Comments »

Streamlining the security process

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

Streamlining security screening for private jet passengers, while maintaining impeccable private jet safety levels, is an ongoing area of development for the private jet industry. Of course, even private jet passengers must undergo security checks, many are reassured by this part of the departure process (though would of course want it to be as rapid as possible).

At PrivateFly we are able to pre-screen private jet passengers. The operator of the flight undertakes full security and passport checks prior to the passenger’s arrival at the airport. This is then usually followed by a further, quick ID and baggage check before boarding, which means that the passengers are able to move through the FBO very quickly once they arrive – without the security delays so often experienced at main airport terminals. Depending on the country, these final checks can often be undertaken by the staff of the FBO or handling agent.

However there is increasing pressure from agencies, including the UK Border Agency (UKBA), to implement a consistent security process for private jet flights which is more in line with commercial airline flights. This could mean checks undertaken at the point of departure – particularly in the run up to high profile events such as the London 2012 Olympics.

Of course this presents practical and economic problems for the average FBO. It would be expensive to hire full-time security staff for the relatively small passenger throughput of a private jet terminal – compared to the huge flow of passengers moving through a commercial airport terminal. And there would be unwelcome delays if the passengers had to wait for the security officers from the main airport to arrive.

Signature have been testing this for some time now and it appears to be quick and seamless – it’s not offputting to passengers, while providing a more economical staffing solution.

The private jet industry often proves to be a test bed for innovation in aviation and this is another advancement which may well become adopted as best practice in the industry at large.

Posted in Aircraft, Airlines, Airport security, Airports, Business, Business travel, FBO, Innovation, Investment, London 2012 Olympics, Prices, Pricing, Private jet charter, Safety, Time-saving, UK Border Agency strike | No Comments »

European travel chaos

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

While travel chaos means misery to those affected, it can often present an opportunity for the private jet charter industry – which can very quickly respond to disruption by providing evacuation flights for passengers stranded by strikes, extreme weather conditions, political unrest, airline cancellations or other unforseen events.

This week a combination of a strike by UK Border Agency staff and industrial action by Greek Air Traffic Controllers is generating disruption for passengers across Europe. There are no flights in or out of Greece for much of the day today (Wednesday) and the 48-hour UK Border Agency strike will affect many UK airport and seaports (including the channel tunnel) when it commences at 18.00 GMT, having been organised by four public sector unions in protest at public sector pension reform.

None of this disruption will be on the scale of the ash cloud crisis in 2010 or the political unrest in the Middle East earlier this year, but for a variety of reasons the last 18 months have seen unprecedented levels of private charter enquiries from customers who are stuck or stranded – many of whom are using private jet or helicopter charter for the first time. The cost-driven business model of today’s commercial airlines leaves them unable to respond quickly to the unexpected whereas the flexibility of private charter – allowing tailor-made departure times or a switch to an unaffected airfield at short notice - really comes to the fore in uncertain circumstances. For example many smaller private jet airports will not be affected by the UK Border Agency strike and border clearance can be arranged in advance of the strike for many private jet flights.

These types of evacuation flights now make up a significant proportion of private jet hire business in today’s market and obviously demand is often impossible to predict in advance. So we are always prepared to expect the unexpected. There’s certainly never a dull moment in private charter.

See more information and advice on flights affected by today’s UK Border Agency strike.

Posted in Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Ash cloud, Business, Closest airports, Evacuation flights, Helicopters, Industrial action, Private jet charter, Snow, UK Border Agency strike, Volcano, Weather | No Comments »

The Space Race: The new frontier for commercial air travel

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

The founders of Virgin, Paypal and Amazon are neck and neck in the race to take you into space. PrivateFly.com compares the options and the entrepreneurs.

Virgin Galactic

Who & when: Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin empire and travel adventurer, teamed up with designer Burt Rutan in 2002 to launch his current commercial space program after several prior attempts to design a passenger space flight vehicle were rejected on safety grounds. In 2005 it opened for business, helping to fund the development by asking for a $20,000 deposit to pre-book a seat. Richard Branson is expected to take his parents on an official launch voyage in spring 2012.

Price tag: $200,000 per seat

Experience: 3 day experience including 2 days of ground school training followed by a 3-hour flight in passenger ship SpaceShipTwo. This is similar in size to a Falcon 900 business jet, with an open cabin and large viewing windows both to the side and above. ‘Passenger astronauts’ are able to float freely within the cabin in zero gravity while the pilots provide a changing view.

Technology: The passenger ship is transported and released by a twin-fuselage mothership, WhiteKnightTwo, the largest all-composite aviation vehicle ever built, able to carry a heavy payload of 35,000lbs to high altitude (50,000ft). SpaceShipTwo is released at the height of a commercial airliner then, fired by a hybrid rocket motor, accelerates into space at almost 2500mph, over 3 times the speed of sound. For re-entry, the wings fold back into the cabin in a unique aerodynamic ‘shuttle cock’ design. The re-usable aircraft reconfigures as a glider once back within the earth’s atmosphere, making a runway landing back at the New Mexico base.

Blue Origin

Who & when: Jeff Bezos, chief executive and billionaire founder of online retailer Amazon, has recently confirmed that he too is developed a passenger space program at his ranch in Houston, Texas , after accepting a $22m grant from Nasa to develop low-cost spacecraft. Bezos, who is said to have a lifelong fascination with space travel, is working with partners including aircraft manufacturer Boeing. The company has not yet disclosed full details of its plans but industry insiders are tipping a launch in spring 2012 – around the same time as Richard Branson’s launch flight.

Price tag: Not yet announced.

Experience: Blue Origin’s spacecraft New Shepard (named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space), will launch from the private spaceport near the Texas town of Van Horn site, carrying seven people in total, including at least 3 commercial passengers. The company says it expects to conduct up to 52 launches per year once operational.

Technology: New Shephard is a vertical take-off/vertical landing (VTOL) suborbital shuttle which comprises of a crew capsule atop a launch rocket. The aircraft takes off from the ground in a similar way to existing space shuttles and is controlled by on-board computers, without ground control. Then, after accelerating for two and a half minutes, the rocket engines will shut down, using momentum to continue before releasing the crew capsule in space. After re-entry the capsule deploys parachutes for a ‘splashdown’ landing in water. The technology is less innovative than Virgin’s but is expected to be much cheaper to operate.

SpaceX

Who & when: Elon Musk, founder of online payment system PayPal, established his space development company in 2002 in Los Angeles using $100 million of his own money and in 2005 announced plans for manned commercial flights. Musk has subsequently also received venture capital funding for his SpaceX business, which has a clear focus on undercutting other players in the commercial market via largely in-house processes and a simplified management structure. No official launch date has been announced for passenger flights though last year Musk suggested a 2 to 3 year timeline.

Price tag: A passenger price has yet to be announced although operating costs of $7M per rocket launch have been disclosed.

Experience: SpaceX describes its long-term goal as ‘enabling humanity to become a space-faring civilization’. Its Dragon spacecraft orbital vehicle is intended to carry up to seven people and is launched atop a rocket launch vehicle. The company has launch facilities at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, Cape Canaveral in Florida and at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Technology: SpaceX has developed a family of partly-reusable, two-stage ‘traditional’ rocket designs. Its Falcon 9 has been designed for manned spaceflight, carrying the passenger craft Dragon, a conventional blunt-cone ballistic capsule which, after re-entry, deploys parachutes and lands in the sea. SpaceX plans to eventually use the passenger vehicle’s thrusters to achieve a land-based landing.

PrivateFly’s view

Of the three contenders, there is no doubt that Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is currently the front runner. Closest to completion, on the cusp of FAA approval and backed by Virgin Atlantic’s experience and safety record, it is now a very real prospect on the (suborbital) horizon.

Posted in Aircraft, Aircraft manufacturers, Airlines, Celebrities, Environment, Falcon 900, Innovation, Pilot, Price comparison, Prices, Pricing, Private jet charter, Sir Richard Branson, Space, Special occasions, VIPs, Virgin Atlantic | 2 Comments »