Private Jets and Business Aircraft
With the well documented issues in commercial flying more and more people have found reasons to turn to private aircraft.
There are a variety of options to consider. The starting point is how often you want to fly privately.
If you only fly a few hours a year then on demand aircraft charter is probably the best way to go. As your number of hours of private flying increases look at charter cards and fractional cards.
Once you reach about 50 hours of flying a year then fractional aircraft ownership can start to make sense and above 300 or so hours per year whole ownership is worth looking into. Here is some core information to help you understand the options.
All of the major providers have expanded over the last few years. Many now offer a wide range of products and solutions to meet the needs of various clients. If you're looking at the different options and would like a good general overview then download our free Guide to Private Aviation, which includes details on charter, jet cards and fractional ownership. For detailed side by side comparisons of the leading jet card and fractional providers, a directory of charter operators, and our Aircraft Buying Guide then sign up for membership.
The latest news and research on private jets and aircraft is included below.
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Avinode, a company that provides charter quotes on more than 3,000 aircraft in their marketplace, has recently released data showing that charter jet rates are continuing to rise in the US and Canada.
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SherpaReport has just released a brand-new searchable and browsable directory of all the US airports. The online directory includes commercial airports, private airports, and helipads, and is sorted by state. You can use it to find the nearest airport to you or your destination. It is especially useful if you're flying privately and can access the thousands of airports that commercial flights do not serve.
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Flying internationally always requires more planning than domestic travel, even when flying on private aircraft. Before leaving, be sure to know what all of the specific rules are. Your aircraft operator or broker will help, but here are some general guidelines for flying internationally on private aircraft.
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If you’re used to flying first class on commercial flights, then you may be wondering about taking the next step to a private jet. Here’s a run down on some of the key differences, including some price comparisons for certain trips.
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PlaneSense, a Portsmouth, NH based fractional-ownership company, took delivery of their 50th Pilatus PC-12 on May 17th, 2014. PlaneSense was founded in 1996 and has partnered with Pilatus for almost 20 years.
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If you are looking to try an aircraft out without buying, or if you need access to a private aircraft for a limited time, Tyrus Wing's "Try Before You Buy" program may be the solution. This short term lease program is an alternative to buying or chartering. Jets can be leased for any duration of your choice - 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, or longer. The service can be useful in a variety of different situations, from those who require all of the benefits of aircraft ownership but without the worry of depreciation, to banks and financial institutions who'd like to earn income from under-used or re-possessed assets, and operators wanting to add aircraft to their fleet without having to buy an aircraft.
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For customers looking for a more customized solution for their next jet card, Magellan Jets has just announced a new "Build-A-Card" program. The system allows customers to choose their own preferences to put together the perfect option for their specific traveling needs. Customers are offered a variety of options to choose from for jet category, amount of hours, and two additional add-ons, including no peak surcharge and 1.5 hour minimums.
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The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has recently released their 2013 General Aviation Statistical Databook & 2014 Industry Outlook. The report included data on sales of new business jets in 2013, which showed a small 0.9% increase in the number of planes sold, from 672 in 2012 to 678 in 2013.
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JETNET, a provider of corporate aviation data and information, recently released 2013 year-end results for the pre-owned business jet, business turboprop, helicopter and commercial airliner markets. The data continues to show a buyer's market, but with a continued drop in for-sale inventories across all pre-owned market sectors with the exception of turbine helicopters.
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Private jet company, Nicholas Air, was founded in 1997 by Nicholas Correnti as an aircraft management company. Over the years, they've added an array of private jet programs, including a jet card, a fractional jet share, and an aircraft lease program. Nicholas Air operates in and out of 9,000+ airports in the US, and has had 17-years of accident-free operations. Their fleet of Pilatus PC-12s, Phenom 100s, and Phenom 300s are 5 years or newer and allow customers to choose the most economical aircraft for their mission.
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In December 2013, American Airlines and USAirways finalized their merger, which made them the nation's largest commercial air carrier. Following the recent mergers of United and Continental, and Delta and Northwest, the United States now has three major air carriers, offering 70% of seats in the US. These changes, along with the January 2014 implementation of FAA Rule 117 (Flightcrew Member Duty and Rest Requirements) have combined to make private aviation even more appealing to consumers concerned with convenience.
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While commercial airlines continue to cut back on food and beverage options available to passengers, private aircraft travelers have numerous options for meals and snacks aboard their flight. SherpaReport had the opportunity to talk with Manda Redfern, Flight Options Catering Services Manager, and Marialena Barnard, Sentient’s Senior Manager of Client Operations, about the options their companies offer owners and clients.
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Every year, tens of thousands of companies use private aviation services, including private jets, turboprops and helicopters. While many may think that the typical passenger is a senior manager from a Fortune 500 company, the truth is, those travelers are actually in the minority of private aviation customers.
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- Written by Nick Copley
In announcing results for last year, Sentient Jet saw key metrics rise to levels not seen since 2008. The company sold over 32,000 hours in 2013, which is the equivalent of more than 1,300 25-Hour Jet Cards, and grew revenue to more than $150 million.
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- Written by Nick Copley
With the economy rebounding the large private aviation companies have been placing orders for a variety of new aircraft over the last few years. The total value of these orders is over $32bn since 2010.
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While private jets provide much more flexibility for travelers than flying commercial, sometimes that still isn't flexible enough. Travelers flying in the Boston to Washington DC corridor, who need the flexibility of landing on a heliport or private landing spot may consider a helicopter charter, fractional ownership, or flight card from Associated Aircraft Group (AAG). AAG, which has been in business for over 20 years, started offering fractional helicopters in 1999. They have nine Sikorsky S-76 six- and seven-passenger cabin helicopters, that can be booked 24/7, 365 days per year.
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- Written by Nick Copley
Use the tool below to find information about over 250 business aircraft, including jets, turboprops and pistons. This free tool, powered by AircraftBudgetAnalyzer, provides operating costs and specifications for the aircraft you’re interested in. The free interactive executive summary lets you change:
- Flight Hours
- Fuel Costs
- Home Base Airport
You can see the effect on annual operating expenses when you make flight hour and fuel cost changes. You can also see historical summaries including associated general characteristics.
The editable Range Map graphically represents the actual distance you can fly from your preferred departure point, or any of the over 8,000 airports around the world. To access your free PlaneFastFacts© Executive summary, please register below and submit your request. You will receive an email immediately, with a link for the aircraft you’re interested in.
The full set of results is available for purchase for just $89 for seven days of access, and lets you do side-by-side cost comparisons on up to 3 aircraft. It also includes detailed specifications and typical floor plans.
Finding the right aircraft for your mission has never been easier.
The results were powered by Aircraft Cost Calculator.
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For those looking to give the gift of time and convenience, several private jet companies are offering exclusive holiday deals on their jet cards, which are available for a limited time. Here are some of the available offers.
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Are you looking for a luxury travel gift for the person who has everything? Flexjet has teamed up with luxury travel experts Abercrombie & Kent to offer Passport to the World. Inspired by Jules Verne's 1873 adventure novel Around the World in 80 Days, the Passport to the World is a fourteen-day, around-the-world trip for up to eight people on board a Challenger 605. According to the companies, this is the first and only completely private jet experience available for trips circumnavigating the globe.
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The holiday season is the busiest travel time for all of the private aviation companies, with peak days being the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the day before Christmas Eve, and the two days after Christmas. The winter months are also busiest at the mountain airports because of ski season. That, combined with the somewhat treacherous conditions, can result in more delays than usual.
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AirSprint, a North American fractional aircraft operator with offices in both the US and Canada, has announced newly restructured fractional jet ownership programs. Recognizing that some owners would like to avoid capital costs, and others would prefer a guaranteed rate of depreciation on fractional ownership, AirSprint has created options that are appropriate for all owners. The new programs, which are available for both the Citation CJ2+ and Citation XL/S, are offered at two levels - called the Club and the Infiniti Access Programs.
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VistaJet, a global business aviation company, is expanding into the United States market, and has announced partnerships with two US-based companies. Jet Aviation will handle US operations while Wheels Up will handle US sales.
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