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Karl Lagerfeld hosts private jet-themed show at Paris Fashion Week

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Karl Lagerfeld's private jet-themed show at Paris Fashion Week 2012

Yesterday’s Chanel show by Karl Lagerfeld at Paris Fashion Week demonstrated the enduring appeal and glamour of private aviation for the fashion industry.

Chanel’s Haute Couture show at the Grand Palais in Paris was transformed into a ‘Chanel Air’ private jet, with numbered seats, strip lighting, emergency exits and of course, a bar.

Despite his unrivalled reputation for hosting lavish shows, Lagerfeld’s design was in fact far less lavish than the interiors of many real private jets. A real private aircraft would never have numbered seats – passengers can sit, recline or even sleep wherever they like. In fact some aircraft interiors have fully-fitted bedrooms and bathrooms, not to mention meeting rooms and spacious seating.

The interior of a Boeing Business Jet

The Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) is one larger private charter aircraft that offers a large, luxury interior that is suitable for the most discerning of fashionistas. The 5,390 cubic feet of cabin can be designed almost any way desired. Most configurations divide the cabin into four compartments. The four compartments generally consist of a board room, a lounge, a VIP bedroom, a business office, and two lavatories with showers. Separate galley, washroom and luggage storage are also included.

Other haute couture interiors in the sky are offered by the new Gulfstream G650 – which will be available for private charter later this year – and Embraer’s Lineage.

Posted in Aircraft, Boeing, Celebrities, Embraer, Gulfstream, Gulfstream G650, Karl Lagerfeld, Luxury travel, Private jet charter, VIPs | No Comments »

Private Jet Predictions for 2012

Monday, January 16th, 2012

Despite the continuing economic downturn, the next 12 months promises some exciting times for the private aviation industry.

Key factors in 2012 will include London’s Olympics, the global economy and advances in technology, all of which look set to have an impact on the private aviation industry as a whole.

Here are my predictions for the year ahead in private aviation:

1. London Olympics
Demand for private jet flights, helicopters and (most importantly) parking; will be very high. London’s regional airports such Oxford, Southend and Lydd will become medium stay parking for large numbers of private jets that inner London Airports cannot accept. Customers wanting a flight to or from London during the Olympics need to book early to guarantee availability. London Olympic Flights

2. RAF Northolt Airport
RAF Northolt will become London’s premier private airport. As the UK’s Ministry of Defence increasingly needs to generate cash from its assets, the current limitations of 10 private jet landings per day at Northolt will be increased. As RAF Northolt is within the M25 and a short drive from the centre of London, RAF Northolt could become the equivalent of Le Bourget in Paris.

3. Aviation Taxes
In 2012 there are two key aviation tax issues:
i) Regional taxes: The Italian government has started 2012 by announcing that non-Italian jets parked for more than 48 hours at Italian airports will be heavily taxed, which means that private jets will simply park in neighbouring countries.
ii) Air Passenger Duty: The UK government will work out how to collect Air Passenger Duty (APD) on private aviation flights. The current plan is to leverage Air Passenger Duty on the average passenger count (rather than actual number of passengers on each flight). However the government also needs to plan how to collect the tax from overseas operators for flight departures from the UK.

4. Pilot Shortages
Currently private aviation is facing a future of pilot shortages. Many factors are causing private jet charter pilot shortages including less ex-military pilots (due to the global reduction in military personnel); scheduled airline pilot demands and planning; and lack of training scheme and funding availability for private pilots.

Pilot training schools currently estimate that 96 percent of new pilots are interested in an airline career, compared to just 4% planning a career in business aviation. Whilst this has the potential to limit private aviation industry expansion, in 2012 industry bodies such as EBAA and BACA will be looking for solutions. Private Jet Pilot Shortages

5. Speed of Response
In the current competitive market, with aircraft operators competing for every flight, a vital customer requirement is how fast the flight quote is returned. Obviously price is a crucial factor in private jet charter Along with increased price transparency, customers now expect increased responsiveness at every stage of the process – both through instant online pricing or by 24-hour telephone.

6. Private Aviation Goes Mobile
Increasingly customers and flight crew expect to be able to request, book and manage private jet charter from their mobile or tablet device. Despite doubts about the value of “apps” for high value transactions we see the private aviation industry as a whole concentrating on developing mobile and tablet apps to for post-booking management. Expect to be able to view and change flight details on your way to the airport soon.

7. Experimental Business Models
In 2011 the private aviation industry saw the development of “social jet-sharing” and new empty sector business models. In 2012 we expect entrepreneurs in private aviation to come up with different private jet models to produce solutions to the traditional issues of industry inefficiency and the perceived high costs of private jet charter. We’ll also see how successfully the new business models address the issue of maintaining customer flexibility and privacy whilst satisfying multiple customer flights.

8. Aircraft Trends
Look out for military technology in corporate jet designs. Embraer’s Legacy 500 (possibly coming to the market at around $18m) uses “fly by wire” flight controls in a medium sized corporate jet. Meanwhile the new Gulfstream G650 promises to be an exciting option for the private jet set.

9. The Rise of Private Jet Charter
Again due to difficult global economic conditions, we expect to see private jet users increasingly move away from cash upfront card, fractional and ownership options towards ad hoc jet charter. As the charter industry matures and offers clear price transparency and reliable VIP service, charter becomes a viable option for those trading down from aircraft owning or factional and card schemes.

10. Emerging markets
Private jet manufacturers are seeing strong demand from the Asian market. The trend in Europe is generally for unbranded aircraft, whereas in Asia expect to see corporate and individual names emblazoned on the side of aircraft.

So in summary I expect to see some highs and lows, but the Olympics promises a fantastic opportunity to showcase the industry.

Posted in Aircraft, Emerging markets, Innovation, Investment, iPad, iPhone app, London 2012 Olympics, Pilot, Politics, Price comparison, Private jet charter, Recession, Top 10 | No Comments »

How fast can a private jet fly?

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

When it comes to overall journey time, a private jet beats an airline flight every time. Passengers can check in just minutes before take-off; often drive right up to the aircraft steps; and land at many more airports, saving significant time on ground transfers.

But what is the world’s fastest private jet and can it fly faster than airline flights? PrivateFly investigates.

The fastest passenger aircraft in the world is currently Cessna’s Citation X business jet, which flies just under the speed of sound at a cruising speed of 604 mph. This compares to the fastest aircraft used by airlines, the Boeing 747, which has a cruising speed of just over 500 mph.

However there are a number of factors other than engine capability, which affect an aircraft’s speed. Rate of climb and cruising altitude also play a significant part. Just like driving a car, an aircraft does not reach its cruising speed until it has clearance to do so – and this can only happen when it has moved out of congested skies.

Private jets can often climb quicker, reach their optimum altitude and take a more direct routing than airline flights, which can result in reduced flying times. Additionally an airliner’s passenger and luggage weight will restrict its ability to reach its optimum height and flying speed.

Later this year, the Citation X will lose its title as the queen of speed when Gulfstream’s much-awaited G650 becomes available for private charter.

Here are the current speed contenders and a look at the leading supersonic concept in development, which could get you across the Atlantic in time for a second breakfast:

Cessna’s Citation X

The world’s fastest in-production jet is the Cessna Citation X. At a range of 3216 nautical miles the Citation X offers 12 seats in a 1.73 metres high cabin at cruising speeds of up to 604 mph (Mach 0.92).

That’s almost 100 miles per hour faster than the standard cruising speed of an Airbus A320. On a five-hour trip from London to Cairo, that could save you about 50 minutes flight time.

Standard seating configurations include 8 executive seats, a fully equipped galley and a bathroom / dressing room.

The Gulfstream G650
The Citation X will soon lose its title as the sky’s current speed queen with the arrival of Gulfstream’s new G650 model. Deliveries will begin later this year.

With a record speed of 704 mph (Mach 0.925) it is faster than the Citation X and offers a range of 7000 nautical miles on long-range cruise. That gives the G650 the capability to do non-stop transatlantic journeys; on a trip from London to New York this could save you more than one and a half hours.

Manufacturer Cessna has already announced there will be a new improved version called ‘Citation Ten’ out in 2013 to bring the title of the fastest in-production jet back to Kansas.

The HyperMach SonicStar
Since the demise of Concorde in 2003, supersonic flights have been off the mainstream aviation radar, and many believe it’s unlikely that we’ll see a commercial airliner travelling at these speeds again. But the prospects for private aviation look much brighter.

Currently in development, the futuristic SonicStar is designed to carry up to 20 people travelling speeds of 2740 mph. This would enable a trip from Paris to New York in less than 2 hours and would make the SonicStar the world’s fastest passenger aircraft.

One major reason for suspending Concorde operations in 2003 was its prohibitive operating costs. To fly from London to New York, Concorde used about the same amount of fuel as a fully loaded 747 which could carry four times as many passengers.

Manufacturer HyperMach claims the SonicStar will be 30% more efficient than Concorde. To save weight the hull and wings of the jet will be largely built from super lightweight materials such as composite or titanium.

Then there is the SonicStar’s propulsion concept called the S-MAGJET. Unlike current jet engines this is a hybrid system in which a generator unit provides electric energy used by highly efficient propulsion fans. This is a totally new concept in aviation which HyperMach claims would result in 70% more operational efficiency and a significantly reduced carbon footprint compared to other aircraft. In fact, you wouldn’t hear any supersonic boom from the ground.

Other manufacturers are working on designs for supersonic jets, including the Aerion Corporation, but the Citation X, G650 and their rivals can rest easy for a few more years. Such ground-breaking technology takes time, so we will probably have to wait another decade or more to see supersonic aircraft in action.

Posted in Aircraft, Cessna, Gulfstream, HyperMach, Private jet charter, Technology, Time-saving | No Comments »

How to de-ice a private jet

Monday, December 5th, 2011

Every winter snow and ice affect private flights and scheduled airlines alike. (You might remember during the snow last December that Heathrow’s planes were all grounded as Heathrow ran out of de-icing fluid). It is a legal requirement for all aircraft (whether private or scheduled) to be de-iced before take-off.

The de-icing process is similar to de-icing your car windscreen – although on an industrial scale! The aircraft is hosed down with de-icing fluid (which is coloured orange so you can see where the fluid has been applied). If the weather is particularly cold, or it is snowing during the de-icing process, it might have to be done several times before take-off.

Private jet charterers are liable for the costs of de-icing, unless they have taken out a de-icing waiver at the time of their booking. Charterers may be able to avoid de-icing if the aircraft is kept in a hangar, or is parked in a heated hangar until just before take-off. Here’s PrivateFly’s de-icing waiver

Here’s my top 10 tips for de-icing:

Ask your private jet supplier the night before your flight if de-icing is expected to be required. This will encourage them to avoid de-icing if possible. See how to avoid paying de-icing costs.

Use a heated hangar to keep your private jet protected from the weather and melt any ice that has formed.

Encourage your crew to remove layers of snow with a brush from the wings before the aircraft is de-iced. This will reduce the amount of de-icing fluid required. This manual procedure is only possible on small aircraft. On large private jets it is not safe to remove snow from the wings.

Keep your private jet crew informed of when you will be arriving at the FBO (private jet terminal) This will allow the de-icing to be timed just before your arrival and prevent it being required twice.

Ask to be on-board your private jet when it is de-iced. This will allow your aircraft to depart immediately after the anti-icing fluid is applied. A further de-ice may be required if your departure is delayed.

Never argue against a de-ice. Your private jet Captain is making a safety decision and should not be influenced by financial or time considerations.

Ask your crew how much quantity of de-icing fluid is expected to be used before the de-ice starts. This will encourage the crew to remove excess snow from the airframe with a brush to reduce the amount of fluid required. In larger aircraft this will not be possible.

If you have a choice of airports, ask for the price of de-icing fluid at each FBO (Private Jet Terminal). Depart from the private jet airport that offers the lowest price of de-icing fluid. Often the de-ice is more expensive than the landing and handling fees.

If possible avoid flying early in the morning. Often the sun will melt any small layers of ice on a private jet.

Buy a de-icing waiver from PrivateFly before your private jet flight call us on +44 (0) 1747 642 777 or email enquiries@privatefly.com

Posted in Aircraft, Private jet charter, Safety, Snow, 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 »

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 »

Pilot shortages in business aviation

Monday, November 21st, 2011

At The Future of Business Jets conference in London in November 2011, I chaired an industry round table on pilot shortages. This is a very brief summary of the discussion (please excuse the bullet points format) and includes some comments from those who took part which may not reflect the groups overall opinion. Please do contact me (adam@privatefly.com) if you would like any more details; or indeed if you took part and think I have missed anything!

Current professional pilot numbers & predictions of requirements for the next 10 years

There are currently 250,000 commercial pilots globally. IATA (Air Transport Association) predicts that over the next 10 years the aviation industry will need 17,000 new pilots every year. The table decided this could be a very conservative estimate and the actual numbers of new pilots required could be significantly higher.

We checked IATA’s calculation by looking at Airbus & Boeing’s order books. eg for Airbus:

Airbus have 4216 aircraft on order yet to be delivered
Currently output from Airbus is 500 aircraft delivers per year @ 15 pilots = 7,500 Airbus pilots
Highest number of Airbus deliveries per year is expected to be 1,500 eg 22,500 Airbus pilots

The assumptions being:

Scheduled airlines have an average of 15 pilots per aircraft
Highest output of aircraft from a single manufacture in recent history was Boeing at approx 1,500 in 2007

Factors affecting the global shortage of pilots

The majority of airline pilots have traditionally been recruited from the military or civilian training establishments. Most nations are now drastically reducing their military organisations. On top of this reduction, Air Forces are using increased numbers of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and globally are reducing pilot numbers.

The average cost of pilot training in Europe is now EUR 80,000 – 100,000. Banks are not lending and so new young pilots must find this funding from friends & family. The low cost carriers have set a precedent of very low pilot starting salaries and charging for aircraft type ratings. The return on (a pilot’s training) investment is very low and is not a motivating factor.

The difference between private jet and airline pilot recruitment

A scheduled airline will order an aircraft for delivery in 3-4 years time and can plan their pilot training and recruitment with long lead times. A private jet operator on the other hand may only have one month’s notice before the arrival of a new aircraft – and so has very short lead times when new pilots are required.

At present no private jet company supports or sponsors pilot training. The NetJet pilot training programme established in 2008 (in association with Oxford Training School) is believed to be cancelled. Private jet companies compete with airlines (with considerably larger budgets) to recruit new pilots. The question is whether business aviation is doing enough to attract pilots to fly private jets instead of scheduled airliners.

Scheduled airline pilots have a regular schedule, good career progression, and a stable job. A private jet pilot has a less regular schedule, and limited career progression opportunities within typically very small companies. But flying private jets does offer more of a flying challenge, pilots fly into smaller airports and have much more operational control over their flights.

Current statistics from training schools show that amongst student pilots, 96% are interested in an airline career while only 4% are considering a career in business aviation.

Pilot shortage or experience shortage?

Regulation changes mean that less experienced pilots will be in the cockpit. For example Europe’s new multi-crew licence, which allows abinitial (new) pilots to fly with as little as 200 hours flying experience. Asian airlines will prefer to have home grown pilots rather than expensive ex-pats and Asian flight training establishments are expected to gear up extensively to meet demand. Regulations and training will adapt to ensure any pilot shortage is met. The future First Officer will have significantly less airmanship than in the past.

Pilot shortage impact on private jet charter market

The expansion of the business aviation industry over the next few years will be limited by the lack of available pilots and crews. Charter customers may need to book their flights further in advance in order to guarantee crew availability for their flight. A private jet operator will always ensure their owner’s flights are crewed before a charter flight is crewed. Aircraft owners will see less return on investment of their aircraft. This may produce a ‘snow ball’ affect, as more private jet customers turn to charter as apposed to ownership.

How can the business aviation industry solve a future pilot shortages?

The private jet charter industry is calling for industry organisations such as EBAA and BACA to investigate possible pilot shortage solutions. One possible option is for business aviation operators to share their pilots in a “pilot pool”. Aviation Authorities (such as the CAA in the UK) should review the possibility of private jet operators having shared licensing qualifications for pilots. eg 2 European operators who both fly the Citation XL, should be able to share pilots for charter flights. Currently pilots can only fly charter flights for an operator if they have a OPC (Operator Proficiency Check) with that specific company.

These private jet industry organisations should also actively promote ‘private flying’ careers to student pilots at training organisations. An industry wide crew benefit scheme would also help to persuade student pilots to take private jet jobs as opposed to starting an airline career.

Posted in Aircraft, Pilot, Private jet charter, Recession | 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 »

The new Citation Latitude

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

Last month at the NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) in Las Vegas, manufacturer Cessna unveiled a new mid-sized business jet aircraft, the Citation Latitude. This was their second new aircraft announcement in two weeks – the other was a new light business jet called the Citation M2.

With space for two crew plus up to eight passengers, the Citation Latitude slots into a fairly tight space the company’s line-up, between the Citation XLS+ and Citation Sovereign. The question is…will there be enough latitude in the market for this new Cessna to take off?

The new aircraft will offer a full fuel payload of 10,000 pounds (4535 kilogrammes), a maximum cruise speed of 442 knots true airspeed (819 kilometres per hour) and a range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,704 kilometres). It also offers stand-up access throughout the 16-foot cabin. The Latitude’s cabin width is almost 2 metres (77 inches).

The aircraft is priced at $14.9 million in 2011 USD. Its first flight is expected to be mid-year 2014, with FAA certification and entry into service expected in 2015. ”The Citation Latitude is a game-changer for the midsize segment, offering the payload, speed and range the market requires with an unmatched cabin experience at this price point,” says Brad Thress, Cessna’s senior vice-president.

With increased range and better fuel efficiency than its neighbour in the line-up – the Citation XLS+ (which is currently available for private jet charter on the PrivateFly.com network) – the Latitude does offer some advantages.

Within Europe it will allow non-stop coverage of the region, even with a full payload – which a XLS/XLS+ cannot always offer. The distances involved in other geographic markets, such as within the US and emerging markets, may give it even greater traction elsewhere.

The Latitude will be more cost-effective than the next rung in Cessna’s product ladder – the Sovereign. However with such small market gaps between aircraft now in Cessna’s range, it remains to be seen if there is enough of a market gap for the Latitude to plug.

Posted in Aircraft, Aircraft manufacturers, Cessna, Citation Latitude, Citation Sovereign, Citation XLS+, Emerging markets, Fleet, Prices, Pricing, Private jet charter | No Comments »