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Chocks away!

Saturday, February 11th, 2012

You’ll often hear the phrase “Chocks away!” in aviation films, and particularly to represent British aviators.

But why do modern aircraft, and private jets need chocks? Who removes the chocks before take-off at a private jet terminal?

Read on to find out what chocks are used for, and why they could increase the cost of your private flight.

1. What is a chock?
Traditionally a wooden triangular block of wood that when placed under the tyre of a private jet stops any involuntary movement.

Today most aircraft chocks are made from ribbed rubber.

Often a private jet will carry its own chocks in the luggage compartment. This is because a private jet often flies into remote airfields with little or no support from the airport.

PrivateFly organises local handling agents to support our passengers and crews on arrival at a smaller private jet airports.

2. Where did the phrase ‘Chocks Away’ come from?
The term was originally used by British pilots during World War II, who allegedly shouted “Chocks away!” to indicate that they were ready to take-off. The ground crew would then remove the chocks in front of the aircraft’s wheels, ready for take-off.

3. Who removes the chocks on a private jet?
An airline chock is removed by the ground crew. In private aviation, after the passengers board their private jet, the pilots will normally make sure all chocks are removed prior to closing the door.

At some private jet airports, like RAF Northolt in London, crews are not allowed to remove chocks for safety reasons.

4. What is chock time?
An airline will publish a flight’s departure time as the expected time the aircraft will start taxiing. This is known as ‘off chocks’ or ‘off blocks’ or ‘block time’. Likewise an airline’s published arrival time is the time the aircraft stops taxiing.

Often airlines like RyanAir and EasyJet will publish much longer chock times so they always appear to be on time, even if they depart late.

Private jets flight times are much more confusing. Some private jet companies quote flight times as chock times (from beginning of the taxi to when the aircraft is parked at the arrival airport).

Other private jet companies will quote airborne time (from the take off to the landing and not including any ground taxiing). PrivateFly publishes actual flight times only.

5. Are private jet passengers charged for the taxi time?
PrivateFly does not charge our members for taxiing time. PrivateFly private jet charters are fixed cost and the price will not change, no matter how long the taxi or flight actually takes.

Many fractional and card providers of private jet flights (such as NetJets) will add 20 minutes to every flight for the taxi.

For example on a flight from London to Paris this means fractional and card private jet customers are being charged an extra 40% of the flight cost for taxiing on the ground.

PrivateFly does not charge any extra fees for ground taxi time.

6. How does a pilot signal for the chocks to be removed?
From inside the flight deck a private jet pilot will touch both thumbs together then twist both hands through 180 degrees to point the thumbs upwards and outwards; this indicates to the private jet ground staff that the aircraft’s brakes are on and it is safe to remove the chocks.

7. Why does a private jet need a chock?
An aircraft’s brakes are normally hydraulically applied. Unlike a car which has a wire from the hand brake to the brake, a private jet uses hydraulic oil to apply pressure to keep the brakes in place.

After a period of time after an aircraft’s engine is shut down, the hydraulic pressure in the brake pipes dissipates and the aircraft’s brake will be removed.

If a private jet is not chocked, there is a danger that it will roll away causing damage if it impacts a surrounding building, vehicle or other aircraft. If a private jet is parked on a slope or in windy conditions, it is particularly important to ensure the aircraft wheels are chocked.

8. Is it true that the doors in the PrivateFly office are chocked?
We believe in bringing the spirit of aviation to everything we do, so aircraft chocks in the office keep us grounded. In our case they never put the brakes on moving our technology and service forward though!

9. Do bigger aircraft use bigger chocks?
The size of an aircraft wheel dictates the size of the chock required to stop the wheel moving. Surprisingly, many large aircraft have smaller wheels than you would expect. This is a design requirement to minimise the total weight (known as the All Up Weight) of the aircraft.

10. “Chocks away” in film
Often used in War films, the phrase “Chocks away” was recently heard in Aardman Animations studios’ “Chicken Run”. The chocks in this case were made of Toblerone.

Posted in Aircraft, Airports, FAQs, FBO, Pilot, Safety | No Comments »

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 »

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 »

Why can’t a private jet land at Courchevel?

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

With the European ski season just around the corner, we’re “snowed under” with private ski flights to Sion, Samedan, Chambery and Geneva airports in the Alps. We also get asked for private jet prices for flights into Courchevel, right in the heart of the French Alps. Unfortunately commercially chartered private jets are not allowed to land at Courchevel.

But I’ve seen private jets landing at Courchevel?
Many of you will either have landed at Courchevel in a private aircraft or seen private flights landing at the airport. However the French Aviation Authority does not allow commercially chartered private flights to land at Courchevel due to the short length of the runway (525 metres), uphill gradient of the runway, steep approach and “no go around” procedure.
Privately owned aircraft can land at Courchevel.

What’s the difference between a “commercial” and “private” flight?
A “private” flight is when an owner of the aircraft (or one of their friends/ family) are using the aircraft for private use. No money changes hands for the use of the aircraft.
A “commercial” flight is when the customer has paid for a commercial charter of that aircraft. The rules for commercial flights are more stringent than private flights and include limitations on crew duty hours, runway length and other safety considerations.
For commercial private jet charter the minimum stopping distance for the aircraft is multiplied by 1.6, to create the minimum landing distance required (LDR). Which makes Courchevel’s runway too short for all commercial private flights.

What are the alternatives to Courchevel?
You can land at Courchevel by helicopter. For commercial private jet flights to airports in the alps, fly to nearby Chambery, Geneva, or Annecy.

And here’s what a landing at Courchevel looks like…

Posted in Aircraft, Airports, FAQs, Fleet, Helicopters, Private jet charter, Safety | No Comments »

What is a FBO?

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

You’ll often hear the terms “FBO” being talked about within the private jet industry, but where does the name come from and what exactly does it mean? PrivateFly.com investigates.

What is a FBO?
FBO stands for Fixed Base Operator. It refers to the private jet terminal at an airport.

History of the term
The terms Fixed Base Operator was created in the United States in 1926, harking back to the pre-commercial days of private aviation.

After the end of World War I in November 1918, civil aviation in the United States was primarily unregulated and was mainly made up of transient pilots (often called ‘Barnstormers’) who operated inexpensive military surplus aircraft. They moved from city to city, often landing in farmers’ fields on the outskirts of a town – since airports were scarce at that time. These travelling aviators offered passenger flights, aerobatic demonstrations or impromptu airshows for the locals, charging whatever economic conditions would allow – and then moving on. As a result, mechanics and early flight instructors moved around with the aircraft and had no fixed business location.

The Air Commerce Act of 1926 generated a number of requirements in the licensing of pilots, aircraft maintenance and training standards, as a result, the transient nature of civil aviation was curtailed. The pilots and mechanics then began establishing permanent businesses, which were termed Fixed Base Operations or Operators – as a way to distinguish these new permanent aircraft operators from the transient aviators of old.

Until comparatively recently the term FBO was applied to the aircraft operator who was based at the airport (and in fact this is still the case at many smaller private jet airports). When a private flight wanted to land at an airfield which was not their home base, they would contact the Fixed Base Operator at the airport, in order to make the practical arrangements for the flight to land there. Initially this was all done in a non-commercial manner.

As the industry has evolved and private jet flight movements became busier, a need arose to create third party organisations to manage facilities for customers and crew at busier airports – such as refueling, security, hangars, lounges, car parking and concierge.

FBOs today

These days the FBO industry is evolving fast. From a landscape where there were previously lots of smaller, independent players, we are now seeing much more consolidation – particularly post-recession. It is a competitive field – many larger private jet airports have more than one FBO, which gives operators a choice of where to land; with facilities and costs varying considerably.

Increasingly frequent-flying passengers are becoming aware of this choice too and are expressing their own preference when booking private jet hire.

There are a number of key players in today’s market which operate across multiple locations. Signature Flight Support are the biggest brand, with over 100 FBOs worldwide. They are the market-leader in the United States but are actually owned by a British company, BBA Aviation plc, which is headquartered in London.

Others such as Ocean Sky and Landmark Aviation are snapping at Signature’s heels – some looking to compete on fuel pricing, others developing different niches in order to compete for their share of handling private aviation traffic.

Posted in Aircraft, Airport security, Airports, Closest airports, FAQs, FBO, History, Pilot, Price comparison, Prices, Pricing, Private jet charter, Recession, 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 »

NATS technical problems causes flight delays

Monday, August 8th, 2011

Flights around London and the UK have been delayed this morning as the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) monitoring system failed.

NATS have been manually monitoring flights, which has caused delays at many of the UK’s airports.

Some scheduled and private jet flights are expected to be delayed for the rest of the day, but NATS has now resolved the issue.

For private jet charter advice if your flight is delayed please call +44 (0) 1747 642 777.

Posted in Aircraft, Airports | 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.

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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 »