Super Midsize: Cessna Citation Sovereign

The Cessna Citation Sovereign (316.517.6056, www.cessna.com) "does a lot of things really well," says Robb Report Private Aviation Advisory Board member Kevin O’Leary. "It’s got a lot of range, a nice cabin, and carries plenty of baggage." The Sovereign, however, is perhaps best known for its remarkable short-field performance. "It can operate from a 3,600-foot runway," says O’Leary. "That’s unheard of for an airplane that size." This capability will prove convenient when landing at locations like the Toronto City Airport, which offers no runways longer than 4,000 feet.

Even with its short-field performance, the jet still makes light work of transatlantic flights and trips from California to Hawaii. O’Leary says that the Sovereign fits into an intermediate niche, as it is slightly larger than a midsize jet but less expensive than other jets in the super-midsize category. The Sovereign typically seats nine and sells for about $17.6 million.

—Mary Grady

PRIVATE JET PREDICTIONS FOR 2011 -Private jet booking platform PrivateFly.com looks forward to a year of exciting change in the industry-

By David Castillo

[openPR press release] — At the start of 2011 the private jet industry looks set to continue its cautious post-recession recovery flight path. Here, private jet booking service, PrivateFly.com, has compiled a list of predictions for the industry in the coming year.

PrivateFly’s CEO and founder, Adam Twidell, comments: “2011 promises to be an exciting year ahead. Despite the economic downturn, the last twelve months presented many opportunities for the private jet industry, not least through increased levels of short-term enquiries and bookings due to airline failures during snowfalls, ash clouds and industrial action.

“I am now looking forward to seeing what the New Year has in store for the sector, and believe we will witness many advancements and changes. Here are just some of the things I predict will happen.”

1. Increased cost-consciousness. A key industry trend emerging from the recession is a marked increase in cost-consciousness from private jet customers – which will continue in 2011 as a permanent priority. Both business and leisure users are shopping around more for the best deal, which is driving increased transparency from operators and brokers.
2. Embracing new technology. The private jet industry is finally moving online in an accelerated fashion and 2011 should see the emergence of additional online search and booking functionality. Private jet customers are increasingly demanding the ability to search for prices online, even if many will prefer a personal VIP phone service to confirm the booking. Similarly, increased usage of smart phones and tablets will see further mobile apps emerging for private jet users on the move.
3. Aircraft trends. Certain aircraft types look set to soar in 2011 as customers become more specific in their needs, choosing the right size of aircraft for their trip – at the right price point. For example, the new Embraer Phenom 300 will be a major player in the small and medium-sized jet categories, embracing the gap between the two. Much as Embraer’s Legacy did for the medium to large categories five years ago.
4. Empty legs. These one-way repositioning flights will attract more attention than ever before, as private charter operators find new methods of promoting their available inventory, and the industry continues to coordinate demand and supply. Premium leisure customers with a flexible itinerary will play a key role here, travelling one way by private jet and the other by scheduled airline.
5. Industry consolidation. The industry will continue to tighten as further buyouts and mergers are announced such as smaller operators joining forces; independent FBOs being bought out by the bigger players; more airlines forming alliances with private jet suppliers for VIP transfers; and online networks such as our own bringing a fragmented industry together.
6. Increased travel industry integration. Private jet charter will increasingly be seen by the travel industry as a viable travel option for both business and premium leisure travellers. With improved online functionality and transparency, TMCs and concierge agents can now confidently provide their customers with rapid response quotes and online booking for private jet travel. This will be a major opportunity for new sector growth.
7. Rise of the charter segment. Ad-hoc charter will continue to grow as a sub-sector of the industry as existing private jet users migrate from other options. Increased transparency of pricing and improved VIP service levels from charter brokers has increased charter’s appeal to those trading down from the upfront financial commitment of fractional/full ownership or card schemes.
8. Emerging markets. China will be the key one to watch, with regulations relaxing such as flight plan lead times; expansion of airports and infrastructure; and growth in aircraft manufacturing. In India the high proportion of high net worth individuals will continue to drive demand for changes to their bureaucratic aviation authority.

Adam Twidell continued: “Every cloud has a silver lining and the recession has been a major catalyst for innovation in the private jet industry, which previously had largely remained unchanged for 10 years. The economic conditions remain challenging, but there is much to look forward to in 2011.”

-Ends-

About PrivateFly:

PrivateFly is an online booking network that makes it quicker, easier and more cost effective to arrange private jet charter.

With over 2700 operators registered worldwide, PrivateFly is the only online aggregator for private jet charter in Europe.

PrivateFly combines online efficiency and transparency with offline expertise to offer a full-service VIP charter service to direct customers and partners. The bespoke software has been created in-house specifically to meet the needs of charter customers and operators.

In February 2010 PrivateFly launched the world’s first iPhone application to provide instant private jet pricing on a mobile phone.

PrivateFly was recently announced as one of the Smarta 100 companies 2010, by a judging panel including Dragon’s Den’s Deborah Meaden and other leading entrepreneurs, such as Bebo founder Michael Birch. The company also won the innovation category of the Best Business Awards in February 2010.

Founded in 2007, PrivateFly is based in St Albans, Hertfordshire and in 2010 secured first round investment funding to expand the business within the UK and selected international markets.

Famous Private Jets Charter Companies 1

Heritage	The name Hawker is synonymous with aviation. Only seven years after the Wright Brothers made the world's first flight in a powered aircraft, Australian Harry Hawker learned to fly. He went on to set important records, pioneer aircraft designs and flying techniques and established Hawker Siddeley - one of the most famous and respected marques in aviation. Today, the Hawker name lives on in Hawker Pacific, a company originalzly established in Australia in 1927.
Reputation	Hawker Pacific is a leader in aviation sales and product support, both civil and military. It takes the complexity out of owning, operating, servicing, leasing and modifying aircraft by offering a total solutions package. Our client list includes heads of state, defence forces, emergency services, specialist agencies, major corporations and private customers.
Capability	Hawker Pacific's facilities and systems are accredited by aviation authorities around the world, including:

Cessna Restarts Sovereign Line

Cessna last week restarted the Citation Sovereign line, bringing back to life the last of the production lines that were shuttered early last summer. The company recalled 60 workers last week, with plans to recall 120 more over the next two weeks. The workers initially will undergo training before rejoining the line. “All of our assembly lines are back up and running,” a Cessna spokesman said, but added, “albeit, at greatly reduced rates.”
Cessna originally had planned to deliver 535 jets in 2009, but the free-falling general aviation market pushed that number down to 275. Cessna expects to build even fewer jets this year, but further layoffs are not expected.

Cessna had laid off more than 8,000 workers – or about half of its work force – last year. The company’s actions were designed to prepare Cessna for the much lower production rates going forward, the Cessna spokesman said. “We think that’s where we are now,” he said, “We think the company’s sized for planned production in 2010.” Cessna parent Textron is expected to further define Cessna’s production plans when it releases its fourth quarter results and 2010 guidance on Jan. 28.

In addition to restarting Sovereign production, Cessna is increasing the build rate of the new eight-passenger, $8.75 million Citation CJ4, which had attracted 70 orders the day it was announced and more than 150 orders by the time the first production model rolled out Nov. 16. While the first production CJ4 proceeds to completion, three flight test aircraft are in the process of earning certification so that customer deliveries will be on schedule in 2010.

Photo credit: Cessna
By Kerry Lynch

Charter a Boeing Business Jet

 

The Boeing Business Jet is valued for its range capability and cabin size and this model enhances both attributes of the private BBJ family. It can travel non-stop between business centers such as New York and Cairo, Paris and Beijing, or Los Angeles and London. The Boeing Business Jet has marvelous interior and hudge capability: 21 to 140 passengers.
The most popular destinations of the flights of our Boeing Business Jets are LAG, LAS, Las Vegas, LAX, LGA, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, NY, NYC, San Diego, San Francisco, Boston, BUR, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, EWR Newark, Honolulu, Houston, LA, La Guardia, San Jose, Santa Monica, Seattle, SF, SMO, HPN Westchester Co, ISP Long Island Mac Arthur, JFK, John F Kennedy, TEB, Teterboro, VNY, Washington.

Private Jet Charter Prices – 8 factors to determine charter cost

Prices given by private jet charter companies vary widely, we must understand about the components that determine the price they gave.
By understanding the pricing component of private jet charter services, then we will not be fooled by the cheap prices determined by the agents. we certainly do not want to suddenly have a very large additional cost or no we can not arrive on time at the meeting place for transport not properly prepared.
To determine the cost of private aircraft charter determined by several factors.
The following factors are quite important factors determining the standard calculation of private jet charter prices per hour :      
  

1.      Charter companies management, maintenance and acquisition costs

2.      Aircraft age (Original manufacture date, Number of cycles on the engines, Interior refurbishment, and Number of hours the aircraft is available for charter in a particular year )

3.      Safety status - All aircraft are verified by independent auditors such as ARG/US, Wyvern or Q-Star.

4.      Aircraft type - determined by ( Helicopters, Turbo Props, Light Jets, Mid-Sized Jets , Heavy Jets, and Airliners )

5.      Time and Length of trip (Same day round trip – occasional, Weekend trip - typically require overnight costs, and Several days)

6.      Repositioning - Occurs when: (Aircraft is chartered from an airport it is not based, Not all airports are bases to aircrafts, and Aircraft availability shortage at desired airport )

7.      Concierge Services requested (In-Flight catering, Luxury car rental or limousine service, Hotel accommodation, and Tickets to requested events)

8.     Other Fees ( fuel surcharge, Landing fees, FBO Service fees, and Carbon offsets )

Typical private jet charter prices  /hr:

·        Helicopters charter prices - 1000/hr up to 5000/hr

·        Turbo Props charter prices - 1550/hr up to 2500

·        Light Jets charter prices - 2250/hr up to 3450/hr

·        Mid-Sized Jets charter prices - 3450/hr up to 5000/hr

·        Heavy Jets charter prices - 5000/hr up to 9000/hr

·        Airliners charter prices - 6500/hr and up

First Supersonic Private Jet - Aerion Supersonic Jet

This is the Aerion Supersonic Business Jet, the first private plane that will fly at 1.6 Mach. The first unit has just been purchased by Sheikh Rashid, the ruler of Dubai. This bird will be able to fly the Ellisons, Jobs and Gores of this world from Paris to New York in just over 4 hours, so even while it has a $80,000,000 price tag, there will be no demand problems for it. The aircraft specs are amazing:

Aerion Supersonic Jet

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Thanks to its design, the Aerion Supersonic Business Jet will be able to cruise at 1.15 Mach over land without producing any boom on the ground. The plane can also keep a 0.98 Mach speed offering a similar cost-per-mile than competing subsonic private jets and complying with US regulations. Over water, however, you will be free to speed it up and sustain 1.5 Mach with ease. To give you an idea, at this speed the Aerion can cross the Atlantic in two hours (it has a 4,600 miles range over 45,400 pounds of fuel) thanks to its Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 engines.
Unlike the Concorde, which could only fly to certain airports through the world because of its operative requirements, this supersonic jet is designed to comply with environmental, sound and airport regulations everywhere. For example, the Aerion can land in just 3,460 feet, which makes it usable in most airports and a prime candidate to be Larry Ellison's next private plane.
Design-wise, the Aerion looks even better than the fastest turboprop private plane. At least, it looks stunning except for the color. But hey, for $80,000,000 I'm sure they will be able to deliver it in secret-plane black with alien markings.
The Aerion Supersonic Business Jet will be delivered in 2014, so you only need to decide if you want to spend $250,000 now for one of the forty "early delivery positions" or wait a couple more years to get it on a Black Friday, just like the rest of us. [Aerion]