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Archive for the ‘Closest airports’ Category

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 »

Will private jet charter be affected by public sector strikes?

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

Tomorrow morning I am flying into London Heathrow at 7AM in the morning on a long-haul scheduled flight from Brazil (I’ve been to visit the Embraer factory – more on that to follow). I’m already gritting my teeth anticipating the 12 hour wait at Heathrow.

Most of the people I am flying with are asking how the public sector strikes will be affecting private jet charter passengers. The answer is, it’s business as usual, with little or no impact for private jet customers.

At PrivateFly we’ve certainly seen a surge in pan-European flight search and bookings for 30 November, and it’s interesting to note that many of these bookings are from new customers who simply cannot afford to risk a 12 hour delay when they have an important meeting to attend or a personal reason to fly. As with any form of travel chaos, like during the volcanic ash cloud and snow chaos of last December, private charter flights become increasingly affordable when balanced with the significant time saving.

Private jet passengers at larger airports go through a separate terminal (known as an FBO) to scheduled or charter flights, and private jets can take-off and land from 1000s of smaller airports worldwide.

Using London as an example, we’re seeing potential gridlock of Heathrow tomorrow morning, and yet there are 14 alternative airport gateways to the capital, that will ensure a much more seamless and stress-free arrival, both during the immigration strikes and also on a normal day. (See our London Airport map)

Private jet charter passengers still clear immigration; although in most cases private jet passengers are pre-cleared before they fly. Before the flight their passport details are sent to the UK Border Agency staff for thorough clearance. Immediately after private jet passengers disembark their passports are checked by the FBO staff against the pre-clearance; and of course, the UK Border Agency can choose to spot-check private jet passenger passport details at any point, and at any UK airport.

For people who have to get into any UK airport on 30 November 2011, and cannot afford a 12 hour wait, they might be surprised that they can afford a private charter. We are booking last minute flights for tomorrow…

Using a twin propeller aircraft (and subject to aircraft availability and based on the hire of the whole aircraft) for short flights prices start from:
Paris – London from £500 per person
Dublin – London from £600 per person

And if you’re wondering why I’m on a long-haul scheduled flight (instead of a private jet flight), I am wondering the same thing! It’s certainly giving me an insight into the stress and time-cost of scheduled flights.

Posted in Aircraft, Airport security, Closest airports, FBO, Industrial action, Private jet charter, Time-saving, UK Border Agency strike | 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 »

Private jet travel – top 10 tips

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

To make sure you are not missing out on industry secrets or committing a “jet etiquette” crime, here’s my top 10 tips for flying by private jet.

1. To ensure a speedy departure update your crew (via PrivateFly) when you are enroute to the airport. Your Captain will then liaise with Air Traffic Control to ensure a swift take off.

2. When you book a return flight, ask for the aircraft to remain on the ground between your flights. This will maximise your opportunity to leave early, if your plans change, and ensures another flight is not scheduled before your return trip – which could result in knock on delays for you.

3. Sit on the right hand (starboard) side of the aircraft facing forward. The Captain always sits on the left (port) in the flight deck so you will have a good view.

4. Don’t be embarrassed to tip the crew. Whilst this is absolutely not expected in the industry, it is quite normal and your pilots will appreciate the gesture.

5. Help yourself to anything on-board. It is your aircraft and you must feel at home. If it’s in a drawer, it’s there for you to enjoy.

6. Challenge your provider to find the closest airport to your destination. There are 3000 airports in Europe; airlines only use 300 of them, which means – through private aviation – you can enjoy discovering the benefits of avoiding the crowds.

7. Request anything that will make the trip more enjoyable. Treat private aviation like a concierge service. You are paying a premium to avoid an airline experience, so don’t compromise on your enjoyment – if you want it, ask for it.

8. When travelling to a new region, ask PrivateFly for the local top tips. Whether you need a hotel or to find the best restaurant in town, our local handling agents will be able to advise.

9. Wait until the aircraft is in the cruise before chatting to your pilots. They are there for your safety, so let them take-off before you ask about the catering! However, when the aircraft is in level flight your pilots are your hosts; always feel free to wander up to the flight deck for a chat.

10. Don’t pay too much. Use PrivateFly’s private jet charter flight search to find the lowest charter prices within our global network of safe and accredited aircraft.

Have we missed something? If you need any top private flight tips email enquiries@privatefly.com or the PrivateFly team of aviation experts are available 24hrs to answer your jet etiquette questions on +44 (0)1747 642 777

Posted in Aircraft, Business, Business travel, Closest airports, FAQs, FBO, How to, Private jet charter, Top 10 | 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 »

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 »

Spanish airport strikes averted

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

Many holidaymakers and travel industry professionals breathed a sigh of relief earlier this week when it was announced that Spanish airport workers have voted to call off 22 days of strike action by Spain’s largest union, CCOO – averting disruption over peak holiday periods between April and August.

The strikes would have involved security staff, baggage handlers, ground crew and others at 47 Spanish airports and would have dealt a serious blow to Spain’s tourism industry in the busy Easter holidays and summer travel seasons. Apparently, Spain is seeing an increase in visitor numbers as tourists avoid trouble spots in the Middle East and North Africa such as Egypt and Tunisia.

Demand for private jet charter goes up significantly during periods of industrial action or airline disruption for other reasons such as political unrest or extreme weather conditions. Private charter operators are often able to keep passengers moving when airlines fail; by using smaller, regional airports which may be unaffected or providing ground transportation to nearby countries. And by maintaining a flexible itinerary, private jet charter operators are able to respond quickly to changes in any such situation, getting passengers airborne again quickly.

The Spanish island of Majorca is one of the destinations featured on our Easter 2011 holiday private jet hotspots. With the Easter, Royal Wedding and May bank holidays falling so close together this year, the period is proving particularly popular with UK travellers.

Posted in Airlines, Airports, Closest airports, Egypt, Evacuation flights, Holidays, Luxury travel, Politics, Private jet charter, Travel trends, Weather | No Comments »

Unpredictable times

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

With the world in the grip of unprecedented geopolitical unrest in recent weeks, the private jet charter industry is seeing a number of changes in our usual demand patterns.

Obviously the last week has been a truly devastating time for Japan, and recently we have seen significant political unrest in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen – all of which has resulted in demand for evacuation flights from the countries affected. Governments are keen to fly their citizens to safety (today the UK Foreign Office has announced it is using private jet charter for evacuation flights out of Japan in addition to the commercial options available); global corporations are using private jet hire to evacuate their employees; and individuals are also making their own private charter arrangements to fly home, given the uncertainty with booking and confirming airline flights – understandable in such challenging and fluctuating times.

Analysis of PrivateFly.com online flight search data (ie what people are searching for using our online flight search functionality) usually shows a fairly predictable annual pattern in terms of top destinations for private jet charter. Paris, Geneva, London, Moscow, New York and Los Angeles are popular year-round while there are predictable seasonal highs for destinations such as the Caribbean, ski resorts in Europe and the US/Canada, European summer hotspots and for the host cities of major international events, such as the London 2012 Olympics. However the last few weeks of unrest have resulted in unprecedented swings in our top 10 search destinations. Previously quieter spots for private jet charter are appearing in the top 10 for the first time, with airports in neighbouring ‘safe’ countries to those affected (such as Cyprus and Malta) proving popular landing spots in addition to increased interest in departures from the crisis-hit countries themselves.

These are unpredictable times. Click here for further advice on evacuation flights by private jet charter.

Posted in Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Closest airports, Egypt, Evacuation flights, Japan, Libya, Lists, London 2012 Olympics, Politics, Private jet charter, Travel trends, Weather | No Comments »

Mixed messages from Lord Sugar

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

Lord Sugar appeared on stage yesterday at the British Business and General Aviation Association’s annual conference in St Albans. During his informal interview by George Galanopoulos (MD of London Executive Aviation) he made a series of surprising and contradictory statements. He certainly knows his stuff when it comes to business aviation but, in this instance, I couldn’t help but wonder: Was Lord Sugar making any sense?

At the outset of the interview, Lord Sugar wooed the audience of private jet operators and service providers by describing how he was introduced to private aviation. He talked about how, in the early days of his career, he was required to visit an factory in Aalborg, Denmark twice a week. By chartering a private jet he was able to leave his home at 8am, fly directly to the factory, spend a full day’s work in Denmark and still be home by 6pm. Inflexible airline schedules and long ground transfers were just not an option for his business needs and there was a clear argument for private jet charter in order to significantly increase his efficiency.

This was the music to the industry’s ears and the room was warming to our celebrity business guru. However then Lord Sugar switched approach rapidly and stated that, actually, he and other business leaders used private aviation fundementally because they were lazy and enjoyed the luxury of avoiding busy airports and the masses.

So which Sugar is your cup of tea?

Lord (white) Sugar A: “Private aviation is all about efficient use of executive times”

Lord (brown) Sugar B: “Executives use private aviation because we are lazy and enjoy the luxury of avoiding airports and people”

Self-deprecating humour perhaps? Or playing up to the bloated tycoon stereotype? Many of us in the room weren’t quite sure.

Posted in Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Business, Business travel, Celebrities, Closest airports, Lord Sugar, Luxury travel, Private jet charter, VIPs | No Comments »