by Matt on September 29, 2011
Kate Chapman, of The Dominion Post, leads speculation on who was in a Royal Jet charter plane that recently landed at Wellington International Airport in New Zealand. The Abu Dhabi-based Boeing 737 is ”the world’s most luxurious and technologically advanced BBJ [Boeing Business Jet], offering full GSM mobile and WiFi broadband connectivity along with live TV”. The plane features a VIP lounge, a meeting and dining area, and a rest and relaxation zone, and can carry up to 40 passengers. In addition, some of the seats can be converted to lie-flat beds.
by Matt on September 28, 2011
Michelle Higgins from New York Times reports that flying a private jet may be getting a bit cheaper. New web sites, social media and high fuel prices have opened up some opportunities. Last minute discounts may be possible by searching specific web sites, such as emptysectors.com, which advertise “empty legs” (repositioning flights without passengers), and being flexible.
Social media is another one to check out. JetSuite’s SuiteShare can set you up on a charter and then offer unused seates through Facebook (facebook.com/jetsuiteair). When someone else joins your flight, you all pay a little less.
socialflights.com is an online service that uses social networking to match charter companies with empty seats and travelers who want to lower their costs by sharing a plane. Fifty seven private plane operators offer flights on some 400 aircraft, and if enough people want to travel to the same place at the same time, the cost is the price of a seat.
One final option is to hire a broker to do the leg work for you. Of course, you have to pay a commission, and then independent private jet brokers act as your agent to solicit bids.
by Matt on September 26, 2011
Greenpoint Technologies, a sponsor of this blog, has made personnel changes to support growth and manufacturing divisions in Texas and Washington.
Changes include:
“Scott Goodey, Greenpoint’s President is now President and CEO. Greenpoint’s Founder and former CEO, Jon Buccola now carries the title of Chairman and Founder. Sloan Benson, Executive Vice President is additionally appointed President of Greenpoint’s Denton Facilities in Texas…Benson remains EVP at Greenpoint’s headquarters where she began working in 1989, only a year after its inception. Adrian Osborn, previously Vice President of Programs, is promoted to Vice President, Operations. Osborn is responsible for overall operations at all Greenpoint facilities: Denton, Texas; Marysville, Washington; and the modification site in Everett, Washington. Nikki Clarke, previously Director of Human Resources, is promoted to the position of Vice President, Human Resources. Nima Seyedali is appointed Director, Legal. Seyedali joined Greenpoint over a year ago as Contracts Manager and Patent Counsel for the 747-8 products division. Mark Keilholz is promoted to Corporate Controller for all Greenpoint divisions in Texas and Washington State.”
by Matt on September 26, 2011
German business aircraft operator DC Aviation has been working to expand its long range fleet this year, with 5 new jets, reports CharterX.
Specialists in the long-range and wide-body segment, the company now has 16 long-range jets including the Gulfstream G450/G550 and 4 VVIP Airbus 319 CJ.
Michael Kuhn, CEO of DC Aviation, said:
“With the expansion of the fleet and the resulting additional capacities, we are able to continue providing the highest level of service for the growing charter demand in this sector.”
by Matt on September 25, 2011
India’s Aviotech has signed to purchase 10 Sukhoi Business Jets (SBJ), the Superjet VIP version, with options for another 10 aircraft, according to Ria Novosti.
“The Sukhoi Superjet 100 is a joint venture of Russia’s Sukhoi and Italy’s Alenia Aeronautica. The passenger aircraft is being produced in three seating classes…The aircraft will have a range of nearly 8,000 kilometers with additional fuel tanks in the cargo compartment. It will carry passengers on long routes like from Paris to New York.”
by Matt on September 25, 2011
This summer Greenpoint Technologies, a sponsor of this blog, partnered with Aviation Technical Services (ATS) on a kaizen event aimed at improving efficiency for Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) modifications. Consulting firm Shingijutsu USA facilitated the event.
Adrian Osborn, Greenpoint’s VP of Programs, said:
“The event was a great success…the week not only provided improvements to our process but has codified the partnership between ATS and Greenpoint – we are one entity working together to deliver high quality interior products to our customers.”
Kansas isn’t taking President Barack Obama’s comments about ending tax subsidies for private aircraft purchased by corporations lightly says Roxana Hegeman of Businessweek.
When President Obama recently targeted “egregious loopholes that are benefiting corporate jet owners or oil companies at a time where they’re making billions of dollars in profits” during debt ceiling talks, Kansas governor Sam Brownback pointed out that at least 30,000 people in the state are employed by the aviation industry, and more than 40 percent of general aviation aircraft around the world is built in Kansas. Other community leaders said:
“…vast majority of businesses and organizations that fly planes are not wealthy chief executives, but people who use airplanes as another tool to do businesses. About 90 percent of airports in this country do not have commercial airline service.”
If eliminated, the resulting tax increase would raise $3 billion over the next decade.
Kate Sarsfield of Flightglobal reports that Embraer and Minsheng Financial Leasing have an agreement for a purchase up to 20 business jets. Minsheng plans to expand it’s executive fleet in Asia. Embraer and AVIC (a Chinese Aerospace company) signed an agreement this past April which includes large cabin 650s produced in Harbin for the Chinese market.
The Gulfstream G250 aircraft has been renamed the G280.
Larry Flynn, senior vice president, marketing and sales explains:
“Since introducing the Gulfstream G250 in 2008 and presenting it to customers around the world, we determined that G280 is a more amenable number sequence in certain cultures. We value our international customers highly, and this change reflects our commitment to understanding the diverse cultures of our global business environment.”
The G280 jet, introduced in 2008, is capable of traveling 3,400 nautical miles at Mach 0.80 and has a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.85. With an initial cruise altitude of 41,000 feet, the G280 can climb to a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet.
A private jet company, Sentient Jet, has signed up to sponsor the Breeders’ Cup $500,000 Juvenile Sprint. Sentient Jet already sponsors a year-end event, and will now take on the newest race in the Breeders’ Cup lineup, scheduled for November 4, 2011 at Churchill Downs.
