Travel
The Business Aviation Advantage
Flexible, Efficient, and Secure
Business Aviation Redefined
When the first business jets first flew, more than 40 years ago, life was very different. The pace of business — as well as everyday life — was certainly a lot slower in the days before e-mail, fax machines, cell phones, and overnight delivery services. Back then, it seems every executive had a cadre of assistants and middle managers to assist them, and things like routine long distance calling and transoceanic air travel were still to be appreciated; the world was just beginning to shrink.
Airline travel was also very different four decades ago. Point-to-point airline service ruled supreme. The hub concept had yet to be invented, and unless you were connecting at Idlewild (now JFK) Airport in New York City for that flashy new Boeing 707 or McDonnell Douglas DC-8 nonstop to Europe, there were few worries about missed connections or lost bags.
Back then, air travel was still a luxury and airline personnel treated customers as valued guests, not necessary evils. Instead of donning warm-up clothes or cutoffs for a flight, passengers saw airline travel as an event for which they dressed up. Meals were elegant, flights on-time, and there were no delays for security screening…because there were no security checkpoints.
Life has definitely changed. The pace is of course much faster, the stakes higher, and air travel is no longer just for the rich and famous — it's mass transportation. Instead of focusing on service and hospitality, thoughts gravitate to security, tight connections, and cramped, uncomfortable seats. And just who is that person screening your bags and why does that person sitting across the aisle look so, well, suspicious? Instead of arriving relaxed and pampered for a round of business meetings, too often travelers arrive frazzled, late, and feeling beaten up.
At least that's the way it is for those who travel via the scheduled airlines.
Like airline travel, business aviation has changed in the past four decades, too. From being merely a novelty in the early days of the jet age, business jets were next viewed as an extravagance, then a luxury. Now, in the early 21st century, private jet travel is being accepted as a necessity.
The tragic events of September 11 didn't necessarily change how we do business — but they did reinforce our underlying values and concerns. They crystallized questions about safety, managing risk, and getting the most from our time on the road. These things have of course always been important, but even more so since September 11.
The Airline Experience vs. Corporate Jets
With the airline industry reducing schedules and intensifying security, flying on scheduled airlines has become a very unpredictable way to get around — and more time-consuming than ever. According to many business aviation users and providers, those changes make private jet travel even more appealing.
Most business aviation professionals say September 11 hasn't affected the advantages of business aviation; what has been affected is the value travelers place on those benefits. Most airlines now require a two-hour check-in and have little sympathy for those who cut it closer — whether due to traffic en route or an important meeting that ran long.
However, business aviation is dealing with the new security concerns as well. Dassault Falcon Jet President John Rosanvallon acknowledges that increased security has just about doubled the time it takes business jet users to get from the curb to their airplane — from about five minutes to 10 minutes.
Another challenge for the scheduled airlines is wildly inconsistent airport security. You may or may not have to take off your shoes, submit to a manual search or take your laptop out and turn it on. Check-in and security lines now may be 10 deep or hundreds deep, as they were on a recent Tuesday afternoon in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Compounding this, airline terminals have been plagued by mass evacuations over the past months as security officials cope with increased demands on an already shaky system. Consider the delays and hysteria caused by these sample events:
November 16. Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport evacuated when an overzealous University of Georgia college football fan breached security while retrieving his camera bag on a busy Friday.
December 22. Passengers and crew subdue a passenger attempting to detonate a bomb in his shoes on an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami.
January 30. Explosive residue found on a man's shoes at San Francisco International led to a terminal evacuation after the man disappeared from the screening checkpoint. The substance could have been anything from fireworks residue to powder from nitroglycerine tablets.
February 7. Part of Baltimore-Washington International Airport evacuated due to a security screening equipment malfunction.
February 28. Five terminals at Los Angeles International Airport are evacuated when a metal detector being used to screen passengers was found to be unplugged.
March 4. Part of LAX evacuated again, this time when screeners discovered a phony hand grenade in a checked bag. The passenger said the grenade was a gag gift.
March 5. Part of Bradley International Airport in Hartford evacuated when a pair of scissors was found in a garbage can beyond the airport's security checkpoint.
Business aviation remains a growing alternative to the airlines not only as U.S. airport security determines an appropriate level of vigilance, but because private jets consistently excel at what airlines cannot: safety, security, and comfort.
So while security tightens at all airports, the "intimacy" that has always existed between passengers, crews, and providers remains, further solidifying the security that has always been a crucial, yet discreet, part of the business jet experience.
Another key advantage of business jets, according to Tom Seeber, president of Pentastar Aviation in suburban Detroit, is their ability to "give the user an incredible amount of flexibility in scheduling and in modifying flight plans while out on a trip to respond to customers' needs, market conditions, or internal issues." Pentastar's new owner, Edsel B. Ford II, certainly knows. He says some of his earliest recollections as a child were of flights on the Ford Motor Company aircraft on business trips with his father, Henry Ford II.
Another business aviation advantage is increased productivity, which comes, says Christian Domer, president of Rifton Aviation Services, "at a time when companies are right-sizing, enabling fewer executives to be in more places almost simultaneously."
And business aviation providers are coming up with more creative approaches to broaden their potential market. Delta AirElite, the business jet charter and management arm of Delta Air Lines and its Comair subsidiary, is working on plans for Delta to become corporations' full-service transportation provider. AirElite President Michael B. Green is finalizing a multitiered marketing strategy that will incorporate loyalty programs and other marketing incentives in the Delta arsenal to retain premium corporate business across all of its brands — including corporate jets.
Charter vs. Ownership — Your Options
Once you identify business jet travel as a viable, affordable option, the next decision is whether to be a renter or an owner.
Charter
Aircraft charter, says Jet Aviation Senior Vice President Jamie Barrett, is "the most economical way for you to get from point A to point B when you want to fly in a private airplane…without tying up a lot of initial capital to buy an aircraft or fractional share." According to Rifton's Domer, "Charter also is a way to start using different aircraft and understanding how important this mode of transportation is for you."
As important as choosing what type of aircraft to charter is the question of choosing the right operator. Although all charter operators require what's known as a Part 135 charter certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, all operators are definitely not created equal.
While price is a factor in any business or personal financial decision, it should not be the sole criteria in choosing an air charter company. Like identifying a good surgeon, experience, not price, is a good barometer of skill. Look for companies that exceed FAA minimum requirements in such areas as maintenance, pilot training, pilot experience, high-limit liability insurance, and other items that distinguish superior operators from the rest.
Each company may have a different specialty that appeals to you, such as Rifton's regional approach, focusing on flights originating in the northeastern U.S., or Detroit-area-based Automotive Air Charter. With 21 charter aircraft and extensive worldwide charter experience, AAC is a popular choice among automotive industry executives and the entertainment industry. Another example is Jet Aviation, a global operator with facilities in all corners of the world.
Ownership
If chartering an aircraft doesn't meet all of your air travel needs, the next step is aircraft ownership. Buyers can opt to purchase either a fractional share or an entire aircraft.
Fractional ownership is the fastest-growing segment in business aviation, with most experts forecasting 800 to 1,000 new fractionally owned aircraft over the next five years. Owning a portion of an aircraft offers buyers the use of a depreciable asset, and the freedom to walk away after every flight without thinking about the aircraft, the crew, or any other aspect of aircraft operations.
One well-known provider, Flight Options, recently doubled the size of its fractional fleet after merging with Raytheon's Travel Air fractional program. The combined operation now offers shares in 11 different types of aircraft, marketing them in new as well as pre-owned aircraft.
A more regionalized approach to fractional ownership is available from CitationShares, which sells shares in three different aircraft in the Cessna Citation product line. Ownership is available east of the Rockies; the operator primarily serves the U.S., eastern Canada, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and portions of Mexico, although service to other points is available.
Rifton Aviation has created its own regional approach to fractional ownership, known as JetLimited. Focusing on companies and individuals within a few hundred miles of its Newburgh, New York base, JetLimited currently offers three different aircraft types and, unlike its larger competitors who sell shares as small as one-sixteenth of an aircraft, JetLimited shares start at one-quarter of an aircraft. Rifton's Domer says the program will remain small, so "our clients will consider themselves partners in the aircraft…they'll be seeing the same crews and get a real level of comfort about who is flying and who's flying them."
For a fixed monthly fee, the fractional companies are responsible for all operational aspects of the aircraft, including maintenance, training, crew hiring, and scheduling. Owners are entitled to use their aircraft for 50 hours annually for each one-sixteenth share of the aircraft they own and are billed a set fee for each so-called "occupied hour."
For those with the right budget and the need for more flight time, whole aircraft ownership is the ultimate business aviation choice. Companies without an existing flight department may wish to consider placing their aircraft under a management agreement for a monthly fee. Like fractional ownership program managers, aircraft management firms will assume full responsibility for the operation of your aircraft. Executive Jet Management, Delta AirElite, Rifton, Jet Aviation, and Pentastar Aviation, to name but a few, all have extensive experience in the management business and can assist in the selection and purchase of an appropriate new or used aircraft to fit your needs and budget.
Most aircraft management companies also give owners the option to offset fixed expenses by offering their aircraft for charter. Owners typically receive the lion's share of any charter revenues, which reduce — but rarely eliminate — the expense of owning your own plane.
If you need any information or help with concerns about charter, fractional, or full ownership of business aircraft, NATA and NBAA are both intimately involved with and knowledgeable about the industry, and are both good resources on which to call.
The Right Fit
Aircraft come in all shapes and sizes, from small jets with limited seating and range to heavy jets sporting ultra-long range capability and seats that convert to beds. There are even converted airliners with showers, full bedrooms, and seating enough for a small army.
Once you've decided to explore the possibilities private aviation has to offer, the next most important decision is choosing the right aircraft. And the right aircraft may be different each time you fly, depending on whether the mission is transporting a few troubleshooters to a stalled factory in Kalamazoo, a whirlwind tour of Asia to visit key customers, or even skiing with the extended family in Aspen or diving with them in the Caymans.
Most business aircraft fall into one of four categories.
Light Jets
Whether chartering or buying a fractional share or a whole aircraft, light jets, not surprisingly, offer the most economical form of business jet travel. These smaller planes usually seat between five and eight passengers, have limited baggage capacity, and a range of up to 2,000 miles.
The seating is quite comfortable, although the airplanes may not have enclosed lavatories or sophisticated in-flight entertainment equipment, and only very basic catering facilities. You also probably can't stand up straight in the cabin of a light jet.
Light jets currently being manufactured include the Cessna Citation Bravo, Encore, CJ1 and CJ2, as well as the Learjet 31A and Raytheon Premier I. Other popular aircraft in this category include the Lear 35, Cessna CitationJet, Citation V Ultra, Citation II, and Beechjet 400A.
Midsize Jets
These aircraft offer a step up in range, speed, comfort, onboard facilities — and, of course, price. Midsize jets accommodate up to eight passengers, have enclosed lavatories, and usually offer more onboard catering and entertainment options. It also is possible in most midsize jets to stand up straight, or at least close to it — a good thing, given that many of them can fly nonstop coast-to-coast.
Popular new midsize jets include Learjet 45 and 60 models, the Gulfstream G-100, and the Falcon 50EX, as well as Cessna's Citation Excel and Citation X. Among the other existing midsize jets operating worldwide are the Falcon 20, Hawker 800, Cessna Citation III and VII, and Lear 55.
Super-Midsize Jets
The airplanes in this relatively new category are larger, more capable, and more versatile than some of their smaller brethren, and may offer features traditionally found in heavy jets at a fraction of the price.
These aircraft feature stand-up cabins, full onboard galleys, enclosed lavatories, large baggage capacity, and seating for up to 10 passengers to destinations as distant as 3,600 miles away.
Gulfstream's new G-200 is a popular choice in this category. Another jet, the Bombardier Continental, is expected to begin deliveries later this year.
Heavy Jets
As the name implies, these aircraft are among the largest business jets available — typically outfitted with 12 to 14 seats, and up to 19 in high-density configuration. Some seats may be able to be converted into berths for extended flights, and the aircraft may offer more sophisticated in-flight entertainment and communications systems. And the sky — or your flight attendant's culinary abilities — is the limit for food preparation aboard these airplanes.
In the high end of heavy jets are ultra-long-range aircraft, allowing hassle-free travel between city pairs as far apart as 7,400 miles. Aircraft in the heavy jet category include the Falcon 2000, 2000EX, and 900C, as well as Gulfstream's IV-SP and the Bombardier Challenger 604. Airplanes with ultra-long range capabilities include the Gulfstream V, Falcon 900EX, and Bombardier Global Express. Veteran heavy jets also include Bombardier Challenger 600s and 601s, as well as Gulfstream IIs and IIIs.
If you're in search of the latest designs, there are a number of aircraft in various stages of development, including: the ultra-long-range Gulfstream V-SP — due later this year, the midsize Cessna Citation Sovereign, the long-range Bombardier Global 5000, super-midsize Raytheon Hawker Horizon, and Falcon Jet's cutting- edge 7X.
With so many aircraft types available, Kenn Ricci, chairman of Cleveland-based Flight Options, says he advises buyers: "If you're confused between two airplanes, buy the smaller one. It might be easier to get more involved in aviation than less involved, so we encourage you to start small, get comfortable with it. It's always easy to go up the ladder."
Ownership Has Its Privileges
Imagine making six or seven client calls in four cities in three days. That's pretty grueling and virtually impossible on the airlines, but that's the pace of business at The Fenske Companies, a family-owned direct mail firm based in Billings, Montana.
An aircraft owner since 1990 and a charter user for many years before that, Fenske is now on its second jet — the popular Cessna Citation CJ2 — a business asset Tom Fenske says gives his company "the power to meet with decision makers all across the country." That power comes with the flexibility to change itineraries at a moment's notice in response to unexpected challenges and opportunities; flexibility that is unavailable when using the airlines.
The Fenske family views the jet in the same way they view their state-of-the-art Heidelberg printing equipment — as essential tools to help capture new clients and service their existing ones, offering superior support. "For the past 10 years, we've invested in the latest equipment and technology," Tom Fenske says. "The Citation is an important part of that equipment-and-technology mix."
Tom's father, Paul, who founded the business in 1957, once said, "With 285 million people in this country, there's a lot of business out there. All you have to do is go get it." The CJ2 permits Tom and his brothers David, Brian, and John to reach most of those 285 million people within a few hours of their first contact, or at the first hint of a problem.
"In direct costs," David says, "it's much cheaper for us to fly this way than to use commercial airline tickets." Brother Tom adds, "The return is several times what it costs."
Despite the commitment to high-tech printing equipment and aircraft, when all is said and done, most business still comes down to relationships. David says, "We all travel to build relationships with our customers." The CJ2 is a relationship-building tool, not only carrying the Fenskes to their current and future customers — but to bring clients back to Fenske company facilities and Fenske-led workshops.
Four brothers, a father with a vision, and one airplane are taking this Montana company to new heights.
Business Aviation — the Better Way
Although there's no medical research to back up this claim, business jet travel would probably be found to have a beneficial effect on the health of its users. Private jets help reduce the stress associated with air travel. They also increase your efficiency and productivity, freeing more time to do the things you want to do, which presumably does not include layovers at Hartsfield, O'Hare, or LaGuardia.
"Business aviation is the only viable transportation solution when every minute in the day matters," says Bombardier Business Aircraft President Peter Edwards. "Business jets offer executives absolute control of their schedule, the ability to conduct critical meetings with privacy, and state-of-the-art communication systems which make business aviation cabins an extension of the office."
Nevertheless, first-time users should probably be given a warning from the surgeon general, because private aviation is addictive. Very addictive.
Kenn Ricci likens the Flight Options experience to a scene in the movie Pretty Woman in which Richard Gere and Julia Roberts fly to San Francisco to go to the opera. He explains to new employees that their job is "to make everyone feel they're Julia Roberts and Richard Gere."
Jet Aviation President Terry Kelley tells customers they just have to call and say, "Where you want to go, when you want to go and what you want to eat, and we'll do the rest." Not exactly the response you get when you call a major airline.
While life and business have changed since the advent of business jets in the early 1960s and continue to respond to the devastating effects of 9/11, Gulfstream's President Bill Boisture says many things have not. He observes: "The significant need to travel in order to do business hasn't changed. A significant erosion in the convenience and appropriateness of airline travel hasn't changed. And a significant concern for safety, security, and privacy hasn't changed either." As a result, he concludes, "People who can afford a business airplane will continue to have them."
With the increasing number of quality charter, fractional, and management providers — not to mention the increased numbers and growing types of aircraft available — business aviation is more accessible than ever to a broader audience than its creators could ever have dreamed possible four decades ago.
Fractional Ownership — Hassle-Free Business Jet Ownership
Although in wildly different businesses — one manufactures modular homes, while the other has managed and outfitted the private aircraft of prominent Asian companies and dignitaries — Harry Karsten and Andrew Novak share at least two common attributes: They're both successful in their fields and each is passionate about his use of business jets. Both own shares in aircraft through the Flight Options fractional ownership program.
With a home in Southern California and factories in Northern California, New Mexico, and Oregon, Karsten travels frequently to meet with employees and customers. He says a typical trip from Orange County to Albuquerque, which takes five to six hours door-to-door on the airlines, is now a two-hour trip. As a man who's accustomed to having some measure of control in his business life, he says fractional ownership gives him similar control over business travel. He says, "Now when I want to leave, I go to the airplane and it leaves when I get there." He calls airline travel "absolute agony," especially when contrasted with the comfort and convenience of his private jet.
According to Karsten, customers appreciate the frequent visits, and that, in turn, has helped him become even more successful. "I believe that making more money is the result of good management," he says, "so there-fore if I manage well, take good care of my customers, understand their needs, and respond to them, I'm going to do better and if I do better I make more money." Fractional aircraft ownership, he adds, has enabled him to do just that.
A self-described fussbudget who travels frequently, Andrew Novak says, "I can't think of a better investment" than his fractional ownership interest in a Hawker 800 jet. Semiretired, Novak uses his aircraft for personal and business travel. Destinations over the past year have included Paris, Chicago, Florida, and Dallas. As the owner of thoroughbred horses, Novak has also used the Hawker to visit New York City for the Belmont Stakes and other equine destinations such as Louisville, Kentucky.
He says the service and convenience he receives is "something you can't emphasize enough." After working with and flying on other people's aircraft for many years, "I came to the realization it was ridiculous not to own my own aircraft." Unlike Karsten, Novak hasn't traveled on the airlines in the past few years and has no desire to.
Both men say they're impressed with the professionalism of the flight crews, condition of the airplanes, and high levels of customer service and reliability they receive from Flight Options.
Karsten concludes, "It's just marvelous. Travel is a pleasure rather than a burden. I'm much more relaxed when I get to where I want to go, there's less stress in my life. I would urge anyone who can afford it to consider this — they'll never regret it."
Corporate Shuttles — Business Aviation for All
One of the fastest growing segments of business aviation is that of the corporate shuttle. Corporate shuttles are typically available to a much broader number of employees than traditional corporate jets, and provide a customized travel solution for corporations with frequent employee travel between company locations.
Current corporate shuttle operations serve a range of needs, from short, high-frequency flights aboard small turboprops to flights that rival scheduled airlines' transatlantic business class cabins. An example of the former is Corning Incorporated's daily turboprop flights linking upstate New York with Newark, New Jersey and company facilities in the mid-South, while DaimlerChrysler's Transatlantic Star flies employees between the automotive giant's Michigan headquarters and its German HQ in Stuttgart. The flights are nonstop aboard an Airbus Corporate Jetliner, a derivative of the popular Airbus A319 airliner.
For another major U.S. manufacturer, Executive Jet Management (EJM) operates the largest and most sophisticated corporate shuttle network in the world. The operation has grown from a single turboprop to a fleet of Embraer Regional Jets and turboprops. Although the manufacturer maintains its own flight department, it has opted to outsource the shuttle to EJM because of their expertise in providing this type of service. This year the shuttle will carry more than 150,000 passengers.
A newcomer to the corporate shuttle arena is Jet Aviation, which is offering its new 1-Way Coast-to-Coast service between the New York metropolitan area and Southern California. Using its own 11- to 14-passenger GIIIs, Jet is pricing the charters to appeal to companies with large expenditures on premium-class travel between the coasts but that would rather not make the long-term commitment to a more formalized corporate shuttle.
The advantages of corporate shuttles include:
- Convenience. Schedules are determined by the corporation, based on what's best for its employees. The flights are direct, eliminating the need for connecting flights and avoiding airport security delays.
- Productivity. Since there are only "insiders" on board, employees are better able to conduct business with discretion, transforming what might otherwise be wasted time into productive time.
- Morale. Corporate shuttles reduce the stress of travel and enable employees to spend more time at home and less time on the road.
Corporate shuttles can be configured to suit your company's needs, whether on owned aircraft using an in-house flight department, outsourced to a company like Executive Jet Management, or sometimes by arrangement with charter operators such as Jet Aviation, Rifton, Automotive Air Charter, or Delta AirElite.
Delta AirElite Business Jets
Delta AirElite Business Jets is leading the way in worldwide charter and aircraft management services. With more than 16 years of experience, this wholly owned subsidiary of Delta consistently offers customers the highest level of reliability, safety, and customer service available today.
Delta AirElite operates a diverse fleet of Bombardier Challenger, Learjet, Gulfstream, and Cessna aircraft. Maintained and operated according to stringent airline standards, our charter fleet is ready to take you anywhere in the world you need to go. And as a part of Delta's corporate structure, Delta AirElite is able to utilize the buying power and operating expertise of a global leader in air transportation.
Our comprehensive Aircraft Management Program offers customers the benefits of aircraft ownership while letting us take care of the details. Whether you're an existing aircraft owner or purchasing your first airplane, Delta AirElite will manage all aspects of your aircraft operations. And through our Charter Management Services, we can further reduce your ownership costs.
With a long and successful history of delivering superior levels of service and responsiveness to charter customers and aircraft management clients, Delta AirElite is the right answer for today's corporate travel needs.
With a long and successful history of delivering superior levels of service and responsiveness to charter customers and aircraft management clients, Delta AirElite is the right answer for today's corporate travel needs.
Jet Aviation's Charter Services Span the Globe
 For 35 years, Jet Aviation has spanned the globe dedicated to offering comprehensive services for executives and the business aviation community. From aircraft charter and management, aircraft sales, maintenance, completions and engineering to handling services at 60 operations around the world, Jet Aviation's 3,500 employees have always taken premium care of customers every day.
To the business world, Jet Aviation has a tradition of excellence in global aircraft charter services. And since the introduction of the company's Private Fleet in the U.S. and Europe, consisting of Gulfstream, Challenger and Citation jets and a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter, Jet Aviation's performance has exceeded customer expectations. Today, the company manages a fleet of over 150 aircraft and offers its clientele worldwide access to more than 1,700 business jets of all types and sizes.
Contact:
In the U.S.: 1-800-RENT-JET (201) 462 4100
In Europe: (41-1) 816 4898
In the Far East:(852) 2215 3833
www.jetaviation.com/charter
Pentastar Aviation — Innovation, Experience, Commitment
At Pentastar Aviation we know what it takes to be the best in corporate air travel and support. Since 1964, we've provided some of the world's leading companies with the highest quality corporate flight services, aircraft management, aircraft charter, and maintenance and support.
Now under the ownership of Edsel B. Ford II, Pentastar Aviation is stronger and more focused. Ford's passion for aviation is exceeded only by his commitment to excellence. And this commitment is reflected in everything we do:
Aircraft Management
Our experience includes all types of aircraft and operations. We take care of every detail, from hiring and training flight crews to maintaining your aircraft.
Aircraft Sales and Acquisition
Whether it's finding the right aircraft or the right buyer, Pentastar's professional staff is ready, making sure the entire transaction runs smoothly.
FBO Services
Located at the Oakland County Inter-national Airport in suburban Detroit, our passenger and pilot amenities are second to none. Our on-site catering provides five-star gourmet meals or simple refreshment. With over 11 acres of concrete ramp, Pentastar Aviation is the perfect stop — whether you're flying a Gulfstream or a King Air. We even have a commercial jetway and a full U.S. Customs operation.
Aviation Service Center
Over the years we've successfully maintained hundreds of aircraft, so you're assured of the peace of mind that comes with quality maintenance. We're also the only independent Gulfstream warranty and service center in the U.S. Whatever your aviation needs, Pentastar Aviation is your business aviation resource.
Automotive Air Charter — A Heritage of Excellence
 In today's world, there is no substitute for quality, reliability, safety…and experience. As a leading provider of aircraft charter services, Automotive Air Charter (AAC) is your source for comfortable, efficient air travel.
Combining the resources and capabilities of General Motors Worldwide Travel Services and Pentastar Aviation, AAC offers worldwide charter capability to meet virtually any travel requirement. Our well-appointed, well-maintained fleet of 21 aircraft includes:
| • 5 Gulfstream Vs |
|
• 5 Citation Xs |
| • 2 Gulfstream IVs |
|
• Hawker 800 |
| • 3 Gulfstream IIIs |
|
• Hawker 700 |
| • Challenger 604 |
|
• Lear 60 |
| • Challenger 601-3A |
|
• Citation VII |
Whatever your destination or your requirements, AAC has the experience, the equipment, and the capability you want — and expect — from a premier charter provider.
With extensive experience in corporate air transportation, and a safety record that is unblemished, our heritage of excellence ensures that we'll meet your travel needs — whatever and wherever they may be. With our commitment to customer satisfaction and our unparalleled fleet, Automotive Air Charter will make your next trip productive, comfortable, and hassle-free.
When you need reliable and dependable transportation, you need Automotive Air Charter. For information on how Automotive Air Charter can solve your transportation needs, call us at 888-426-8999 or 248-886-8999. Or visit www.automotiveair.com.
JetLimited, NY — the unfractional
A JetLimited share isn't for everyone. If you feel secure with the idea of sharing your jet with hundreds (or thousands) of other owners, you might find us too private, too personalized, too exclusive. If you thought fractional ownership meant giving up any of the benefits of full ownership, we invite you to compare a new fractional alternative that's anything but limited.
Drawing on the years of experience of our parent company, Rifton Aviation Services, we provide a full range of private aviation solutions including on-demand charter, block charter, fractional ownership and full aircraft management — all with a unique, innovative emphasis on personalized service and quality.
JetLimited offers the highest level of service, the most flexible contracts and a set of unique innovations at a cost competitive with the other major fractional programs. We're small, and intend to stay that way. Our goal is to offer matchless flexibility and premium personalized service at a reasonable cost.
Executive Jet Management — Taking Excellence FurtherExecutive Jet Management (EJM) is a leading provider of air charter, aircraft management, shuttle management, maintenance and aircraft purchasing services.
With almost 40 years of experience in business aviation, EJM is part of the Executive Jet and NetJets® family of companies, and is owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. With a combined fleet of more than 400 aircraft, EJM's worldwide presence assures that you'll find a level of flexibility, convenience and personal service that is unmatched in the industry. As an approved operator for numerous FORTUNE 500® companies, EJM has a flight safety record that exceeds the industry standard.
Named the "Best Charter Service" by Professional Pilot magazine readership for five consecutive years, Executive Jet Charter has garnered worldwide praise for its elite aircraft charter services. For both business and pleasure, Executive Jet Charter offers you a choice of aircraft from each cabin class and manufacturer to match your travel requirements precisely. We invite you to discover what countless other discriminating travelers know — Executive Jet Charter is the way to travel in style and comfort, while making maximum use of your precious time.
To learn more about Executive Jet Management's comprehensive services, please log on to http://www. ejmjets.com, or call 1-800-451-2822.
Glossary of Business Aviation Terms
As you explore the world of business aviation, here are some helpful, commonly used terms and their meanings.
Charter brokers. Third-party arrangers of air charter. Brokers typically do not operate their own aircraft, but arrange charters with certified operators based on a customer's air travel requirements.
Empty leg. Also known as a "ferry leg," the empty return portion of a one-way trip. Charter customers are charged for these flight segments, while fractional owners are not. Some charter operators sell empty legs to existing customers or on the Internet at a discount.
FAA. Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. government agency responsible for regulating all facets of air transportation in the United States, including pilot licensing, aircraft maintenance, air charter, and fractional operators.
Flight simulator. Most pilot flight training occurs in flight simulators, rather than actual aircraft. The simulators are outfitted with cockpits that are identical to the aircraft themselves and provide pilots with a realistic simulation of the sights, sounds, and motions experienced in-flight.
FlightSafety International. One of the world's leading aviation training organizations for business jet operators and airlines. Owned by Berkshire Hathaway.
Fractional ownership. Titled ownership of a portion of an entire airplane. Generally sold in increments as small as 1/16, costs include acquisition, a monthly management fee, and hourly use fees. Similar to a real estate time share.
Managed aircraft. Owned aircraft for which a third-party provider supplies flight crews, maintenance, record keeping, and scheduling services.
NATA. National Air Transportation Association. A Washington, D.C.-based trade association for aviation businesses and operators, including air charter firms and fractional ownership companies.
NBAA. National Business Aviation Association. The leading trade group for business aircraft owners and suppliers.
Occupied hours. Actual flight hours for which fractional owners and air charter customers are billed.
Part 91 operator. A designation under the FAA's Federal Aviation Regulations. A corporate or general aviation operator who does not carry passengers for hire.
Part 135 operator. An operator carrying passengers or cargo for hire. Operators must meet FAA standards and operating guidelines to qualify for a 135 certificate.
Recurrent training. FAA-mandated training to ensure pilots maintain proficiency in the aircraft they operate. Although requirements for most Part 135 operators call for annual checks, some companies maintain higher training standards.
SimuFlite Training International. Leading training organization for business aviation pilots and mechanics. Recently acquired from General Electric by Canada's CAE.
Time in type. The number of hours a pilot has flown in a specific aircraft model. An important gauge of a pilot's relevant flying experience
If you're interested in participating in future sections on Business Aviation, contact Kathleen Matts, Associate Director/Custom Projects at (212) 522-4420 or send an e-mail to kathleen_matts@timeinc.com.
Written by David Rimmer, a senior editor at Business & Commercial Aviation magazine. He is also a freelance writer specializing in aviation and travel subjects and can be contacted at aviationwriter@yahoo.com.
Produced by Julie Stone Edited by James S. Harrison Designed by MGT Design, Inc.
Reprints of this section are available in quantities of 100 or more; custom reprints can also be created. To obtain a reprint order form, please fax your request to Randi Bergman at (212) 467-1695 or send an e-mail to randi_bergman@timeinc.com
|
