Private Jet Daily http://www.privatejetdaily.com Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:18:16 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png http://www.privatejetdaily.com Private Jet Daily PrivateJetDailyhttp://feedburner.google.com http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/D9CzOVcMAIE/Fewer-used-private-jets-for-sale.html Recent statistics indicate that the number of used private jets in the resale market have declined for the first time in several months. The number if used private jets had increased for 18 consecutive months before decreasing by 2 percent last June, according to report from UBS Securities analyst David Strauss. However, Strauss said that the used jet inventory still remains 48 percent higher compared to last year. “Overall, we think the current business jet market is still characterized by significant oversupply, weak pricing and tight financing,” maintained Strauss. The business jet industry has been one of the biggest victims of the recession. Strauss says that there may still be more production cuts and extended downturns. During the first quarter, the number of business jets delivered dropped by a significant 36 percent. In response to this, Cessna Aircraft, Hawker Beechcraft, and Bombardier Learjet have laid off or announced cuts of about 12,000 employees in Wichita. Brian Foley, a president of a business aviation consultancy firm, says that the next couple of years will be “trough years.” He says that deliveries will hit rock bottom in 2012 and slow recovery will begin in 2013. Average asking prices for newer models have dropped by 30 to 40 percent from their peak levels and pricing is down 3 to 4 percent in the last month, cited Foley. Source: The Wichita Eagle (http://www.kansas.com/business/aviation/story/884880.html) News - Latest Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:08:21 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090709520/Latest/Fewer-used-private-jets-for-sale.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/WiOfNR8Ka2c/ExecuJet-South-Africa-handles-record-number-of-private-jets.html ExecuJet South Africa handled a record number of private jet movements during the last two months with the Inauguration of South Africa's new President in May and soon after that, the 19th World Economic Forum on Africa that took place in Cape Town from 10 -12 June.The inauguration weekend was both challenging and rewarding for ExecuJet South Africa, with many Presidential and diplomatic flights coming in from all over the world. ExecuJet's FBO team in Johannesburg assisted both crew and passengers in entering and exiting the country in the most comfortable and hassle-free way, including co-ordination of transport, re-fuelling of the aircraft, catering, hotel accommodation and permits. Gavin Kiggen, Operations Manager at ExecuJet's Lanseria office in Johannesburg commented: It is thanks to the organisation and experience of ExecuJet's trained staff that the movements were carried out successfully with limited interruptions. The staff maintained an enthusiastic and positive approach, proving again that ExecuJet are the African experts! Over the five-day period of 7-11 May 2009, ExecuJet handled 28 international and 28 local movements at Lanseria International Airport and 35 movements at OR Tambo International Airport. Eleven ExecuJet staff members worked throughout this period, with some on 24 hour duty at Lanseria as well as additional agents deployed to Johannesburg OR Tambo, Kiggen continues.A month later, it was the turn of ExecuJet's brand new, state-of-the art FBO in Cape Town to welcome private jets carrying overseas Ministers, Presidents, VIPs and celebrities. With numbers up significantly from last year, ExecuJet Managing Director Ettore Poggi commented: We're pleased that our new facility has aided the smooth transition for the vast number of delegates attending this years WEF, the attendees at these events require high quality and privacy above all else and ExecuJet's new facility provides just that. The Cape Town facility is strategically located parallel to the main runway, with 5,000 sqm of hangar space and 7,000 sqm of dedicated ramp parking.The majority of aircraft flying into Cape Town consisted of wide-body business jets (Gulfstream IVs, Gulfstream Vs and Global Express aircraft) which, combined with the increase in jet movements, contributed to an increase in ExecuJet's fuel sales.ExecuJet's FBO representatives on the ground, led by Cape Town's FBO Manager Cilliers Jordaan, looked after flight crews and passengers as well as all aircraft servicing and ground transportation requests. The ExecuJet personnel were well prepared for the extra business and pulled together as a dedicated team. A large number of Government Ministers, dignitaries and VIPs travelled to South Africa for the WEF and we were very pleased to make their experience through ExecuJet's private FBO facility a pleasant one, said Jordaan. The ExecuJet Aviation GroupThe ExecuJet Aviation Group is a leading global business aviation organisation offering a diverse range of services including pre-owned and new aircraft sales, aircraft management for private and commercial registered aircraft, aircraft charter, aircraft maintenance, aircraft completions management and fixed base operations. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, ExecuJet has operations in five regions - Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and South Africa, embracing a workforce of over 800 experienced staff. The ExecuJet Aviation Group manages 150 business jets worldwide under the most stringent safety standards. Its commercial fleet is operated under the regulatory umbrella of eight regional civil aviation issued air operating certificates (AOCs). ExecuJet has many authorised maintenance facilities throughout four regions, certified to work on most Business Jets. The ExecuJet Aviation Group operates six stunning FBO facilities in Berlin, Zurich, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur. The ExecuJet Aviation Group offers considerable experience in pre-owned aircraft sales worldwide and has a large inventory of business aircraft to suit all budgets with an international team of sales directors offering local knowledge and expertise. ExecuJet is the exclusive sales agent outside North America for the eight to 12-passenger Aerion Supersonic Business Jet, expected to come into service in 2015. News - Latest Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:50:41 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090709519/Latest/ExecuJet-South-Africa-handles-record-number-of-private-jets.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/ZMgMwqU2K5M/Rectrix-expands-with-new-air-carrier-and-charter-operator.html Rectrix Commercial Aviation Services, the Suncoast aviation company, has recently finalized plans for expansion. The company has purchased an air carrier and a charter operator from New York. The new acquisition will help Rectrix grow and will expand the company’s flight offerings. “You have all the seating...and the seats move so, if you are doing business you can come out, you can sit, you can make it like a board meeting while you are going to your destination,” says Richard Cawley, CEO of Rectrix. “It's a world very few of us know...the high-flying world of high-class charter jets.” Cawley believes that he has found a niche in the world of private jets. He explains. “Private jet travel has had a bad rap ever since General Motors, Ford and Chrysler showed up on three jets. But I assure you that this is a global economy, and for any good United States-based company, they need to be global. And the only way they are going to be global and be competitive is with private jets.” In the next two years, the company is planning to add 20 to 40 aircrafts for its operation. That will mean more jobs in three Rectrix facilities. Cawley boasts the company’s facilities and services, some of which are unique to the industry. The company has a unique feature called hangar minims—privately owned hangars for Suncoast jet setters. “We are the Four Seasons, if you will, of private jet charter,” explains Cawley. “This facility here [Suncoast] ... there's nothing like it in the world. We're very proud of it. It's a great location for Rectrix” Source: MySuncoast.com (http://www.mysuncoast.com/Global/story.asp?S=10660159 nav=menu577_2_1) News - Latest Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:01:39 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090708518/Latest/Rectrix-expands-with-new-air-carrier-and-charter-operator.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/fIcAjzVkIGA/Delta-AirElite-Launches-Carbon-Offset-Program-with-The-Conservation-Fund.html Delta AirElite Business Jets announced a comprehensive effort to offset the annual carbon dioxide (CO(2)) emissions of its headquarters offices in Cincinnati and a complementary imitative to help address the CO(2) emissions associated with customer travel. The program was developed with The Conservation Fund, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting land and water resources. There is a vigorous commitment among our customers and our employees to improve our environmental stewardship in all parts of our lives, and we are pleased to offer a program that allows us all to make a difference by getting involved personally in this important way, said Michael B. Green, president and CEO of Delta AirElite. Through our affiliation with The Conservation Fund, we are providing opportunities for positive environmental change. Customers of Delta AirElite can make a donation to The Conservation Fund's Go Zero program to offset the CO(2) emissions resulting from their AirElite flights. In return, the Fund will plant native trees in protected parks and wildlife refuges in order to offset the appropriate amount of CO(2) emissions. Customers might consider planting a tree for every hour of flight, resulting in cleaner air, enhanced wildlife habitat and new recreation areas. Delta AirElite and its customers are providing critical, private capital that will help address two of the most extraordinary environmental challenges of our time, climate change and habitat loss, said The Conservation Fund's Go Zero director, Jena Meredith. Delta AirElite has committed to work with the Fund to measure and then offset the annual CO(2) footprint of its Cincinnati-based corporate headquarters and employees will have the opportunity to contribute to the cause as well. Delta AirElite's parent company, Delta Air Lines, was the first U.S. commercial airline to offer its customers the opportunity to offset their flight-based emissions via a similar program launched with The Conservation Fund in 2007. News - Latest Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:50:01 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090708517/Latest/Delta-AirElite-Launches-Carbon-Offset-Program-with-The-Conservation-Fund.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/F7Bj3vd2NjM/Grossmann-Jet-Service-increases-profile-among-VIP-clientele.html Pamela Anderson is the latest high-profile celebrity to fly with Czech Republic-based Grossmann Jet Service (GJS), a private jet company with a state-of-the-art fleet. Grossmann Jet Service was founded in 2004 by Dagmar Grossmann, who started her career as a flight attendant. GJS is one of the leading companies on the Czech business aviation market, and offers complete flight service and consultancy. Based out of Prague's Ruzyne airport, the growing firm recently got the attention of the business community during the world's top business aviation fair, EBACE, in Geneva this May. At the event, company representatives negotiated with business partners for a further expansion of GJS's portfolio for its VIP clients. “Pamela, along with three of her associates, took off on our Citation Mustang from Luton airport (London) for a two and a half hour flight to Vienna, said Dagmar Grossmann, CEO of GJS. The company's services have been used by a growing number of celebrities and noted public figures over the past few years, including Brad Pitt and the Dalai Lama, but GJS is also depended upon by a strong clientele of CEOs and executives. News - Latest Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:12:07 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090708516/Latest/Grossmann-Jet-Service-increases-profile-among-VIP-clientele.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/c8eFRe8CjEQ/Royal-Jet-and-ARABASCO-Alliance-Brings-Premium-Private-Jet-Service-to-Saudi-Arabia.html Aviation industry powerhouses Royal Jet and ARABASCO have entered into a commercial and operational alliance that will make the region's most sought after elite business aviation services available to Saudi Arabia. The agreement was signed by Royal Jet President CEO Shane O'Hare and ARABASCO President CEO Ret. Brig. General Mohamed Al Shablan. The agreement seals an alliance between the two companies which are chaired by HE Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan (Royal Jet) and Sheikh Khalil Mohammed Awad Bin Laden (ARABASCO), who was present at the signing ceremony alongside Royal Jet board member Nadir Ahmed Al Hammadi. Royal Jet will operate under the Arabasco AOC (Aircraft Operators Certificate) and will leverage the extensive experience and expertise of both parties in luxury private jet travel to address the regional and global executive travel needs of Saudi Arabia. Under the terms of the agreement, UAE-based Royal Jet will be positioning a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) and a Gulfstream 300 at ARABASCO's key hubs in Jeddah and Riyadh to better serve the Saudi market, together with crew, full operations team and all necessary supporting logistics. With a growing fleet of 10 jets including five BBJs, Royal Jet is the world's largest single BBJ operator. Based in Saudi Arabia, ARABASCO has been the premiere Fixed Based Operations (FBO) and maintenance facility company in the kingdom, offering a variety of aircraft maintenance, management and ground handling services to private, VIP and business jets. From its private terminals within the Kingdom, Arabasco and Royal Jet will now offer private jet charter, as well as domestic and international travel from Saudi Arabia, using the BBJ and Gulfstream 300 which can comfortably accommodate 30 and 12 passengers respectively, to cities like London, Moscow, Bangkok, as well as other business and leisure hubs in the region. With the new agreement, in the air, VVIP travelers can be assured of high standards of reliability provided by Royal Jet's highly trained and experienced pilots and flight crew and on the ground ARABASCO's VIP terminal and lounge. Royal Jet gives the highest priority to the training and recruitment of its high caliber staff; and has recently launched a 'world-first' by becoming the only private jet charter company to offer its guests a personal chef, providing them with bespoke gourmet dining based on their own individual preferences. Achieving growth in a key regional market such as Saudi Arabia is an important focus of Royal Jet's expansion strategy, said His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan. Increasing Royal Jet's presence in the region was part of our strategic five-year plan and this alliance will help us consolidate our position. Saudi Arabia is the single largest and most mature private jet market in the region, and there are significant benefits that are opening up here, especially when one enters the market with an established brand and product offering. HE Sheikh Hamdan added: This is a market where we hope to establish a significant presence, and this agreement is an important step in that direction. By leveraging our expertise and experience, we will be able to achieve a competitive edge and capture a substantial share of this highly lucrative market. We believe that the alliance is a significant boost to executive business aviation in Saudi Arabia, a market that has seen substantial growth in the past and is expected to continue growing despite the global economic slowdown. Through this partnership, we will be able to provide executives and families alike with superior private jet service through Royal Jet, said Al Shablan. Meanwhile, Royal Jet's O' Hare said, Saudi Arabia has proven to be a very important market for Royal Jet over the years. We expect this trend to continue in the coming months, notwithstanding the global slowdown, because of the strong liquidity in the market and the still lucrative growth projections expected this year. Our commitment to Arabasco is to provide a team of sales and operational staff who will provide the same high standards of service, reliability and luxury for which the Royal Jet brand has become known throughout the region, and the rest of the world. With a larger capacity of as much as 30 guests in various cabin configurations in the BBJ, the aircraft will comfortably and reasonably address greater demand as the alliance grows in strength and market share in the next couple of months. We expect 2009 to be challenging, but nonetheless a fruitful year for the private jet service market, especially in Saudi Arabia, continued O' Hare. Al Shablan shares Royal Jet's optimism, noting that business travel should either maintain or increase current frequency and flight capacity. There will always be a market for premium jet services especially in Saudi Arabia. Our business comes from the upmarket segment, which has maintained sufficient levels of liquidity and will never compromise on the luxurious standards of business travel that they have been accustomed to, he ended. News - Latest Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:54:36 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090707515/Latest/Royal-Jet-and-ARABASCO-Alliance-Brings-Premium-Private-Jet-Service-to-Saudi-Arabia.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/BE7vIJBw6b4/The-Queen-plans-to-buy-private-jet-to-reduce-travel-costs.html After the latest travel audit, the royal family was found to have spent over £193,000 on chartering flights during the past year. Now, Buckingham Palace is considering buying a private jet for the Queen to reduce travel costs. Senior officials from the Palace are currently discussing the plans whether to buy or lease a plane. They will decide next March whether to continue the proposal. Typically, a second hand jet BAe in today’s market costs £3 million. Last year, Prime Minister Gordon Brown cancelled a private jet purchase that he would’ve shared with the Queen. The £13 million acquisition was cancelled to shave costs. Until next year, the Queen will continue to travel on chartered flights. News - Latest Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:52:36 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090707514/Latest/The-Queen-plans-to-buy-private-jet-to-reduce-travel-costs.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/oR--BAlJcRQ/Private-jet-industry-thrives-in-Middle-East.html Industry figures suggest that the Middle East business aviation industry is fairing well against the economic slump compared to other regions. Demand for business jet flights from wealthy travelers remains high, said Kevin Ducksbury, director of Air Partner for the Middle East and Asia. “If you look at the client profile here, the wealth and how it is spent is different to what we see in Europe and the Americas,” Ducksbury said in an interview with Arabian Business. “The high net-worth individual who travels for leisure purposes is certainly more prominent here.” Ducksbury said that clients in the region are willing to spend greater amounts on larger aircrafts even if there are only one or two passengers. “In the Middle East, it’s more about the aircraft and the perception of the aircraft they are travelling on,” he added. On an objective note, Ducksbury also mentioned that the sector had its share of losses for 2009. He says: “We have certainly seen a little bit of slowdown.” He explains, “In Dubai it’s been hit quite hard and in the overall Middle Eastern market there is still growth, but it has slowed down over the last eight months.” According to the company, in 20 offices, the office based in the Middle East was the only one that registered growth in 2009. While he continues to view the situation optimistically, Ducksbury admits that they are anticipating slow summer sales, because people will leave the region. “We are seeing more operators, not just local ones but also European and US ones, looking to base aircraft here in the region, so all the time we are seeing the supply of private jets expand,” he said. “It’s possible that this is slightly ahead of the demand, but we are in a limbo situation where people are waiting for the downturn to flatten out and growth to start coming back again. News - Latest Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:02:35 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090707513/Latest/Private-jet-industry-thrives-in-Middle-East.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/Z3YGfm9jQ3M/Bombardier-selects-Goodrich-SmartProbe-air-data-system.html Bombardier has selected Goodrich to provide the SmartProbe air data system for the Learjet 85 midsize business jet. This will be the first time that the SmartProbe air data system will be installed on a Learjet model. The installation will be conducted by Goodrich’s Sensors and Integrated Systems team based in Burnsville, Minn. According to its manufacturer, the SmartProbe system will give the plane critical air data parameters, including stall protection. The system integrates several probes, pressure sensors, and air data computer processing. Eliminating pneumatic lines will reduce system cost, weight, and complexity. A complete installation of the system improves the aircraft’s reliability, maintainability, and performance. The system’s flexibility and versatility makes it a perfect partner for flight-by-wire flights. “Selection of our SmartProbe system, a first at Learjet, broadens our business opportunities with Bombardier and strengthens our market leadership in air data systems for next generation aircraft,” said Jan Mathiesen, VP of Goodrich Sensors and Integrated Systems. “The system brings outstanding value and performance to the Learjet 85 as this exciting new platform joins a long list of successful aircraft using SmartProbe technology.” The new Learjet 85 model will be the first Bombardier private jet to feature an all-composite system. This will allow Learjet engineers to improve cabin comfort by minimizing aerial drag. Its entry into service is scheduled on 2013. News - Latest Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:49:20 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090706512/Latest/Bombardier-selects-Goodrich-SmartProbe-air-data-system.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/RRlb5rp_zPw/OneSky-Jets-Acquires-the-Business-Interests-of-Jets.com.html OneSky Jets (www.onesky.com), a Manchester, New Hampshire-based private jet company, announced today that it has acquired the assets of Quincy, Massachusetts-based competitor Jets.com. Included in the sale are the Jets.com technology platform including its servers and all the data contained therein; the LegFind charter industry portal software and domain; explicit rights to the Jets.com customer list; and Jets.com's rights, title, and interest in all non-disclosure, non-compete and/or non-solicitation agreements. The sale of Jets.com's assets was handled through assignment to Boston-based Tron Group. Founded in 1999, Jets.com grew to be one of the largest and most respected private jet brokers in the United States. Speaking from OneSky headquarters in Manchester, New Hampshire, Mr. Greg Johnson, President CEO, commented: The Jets.com business model is sound and is synergistic with the service portfolio at OneSky Jets. This is a classic counter-cycle opportunity to gain scale and increase efficiency through consolidation. Our outreach to former Jets.com clients has been met with an overwhelmingly positive reaction to this transaction. The best features and benefits of the Jets.com Titanium membership program will be incorporated into OneSky Jets' Latitude Membership program. Both programs place member deposits into interest bearing FDIC insured escrow accounts as a standard feature. A commitment to safety due-diligence is a shared cornerstone within the two organizations. OneSky Jets is a founding member of the Air Charter Safety Foundation. OneSky Jets will combine the best of the Jets.com technology platform into OneSky's own proprietary Cloud 9 information management suite. These systems represent several million lines of code and incorporate learning gained through sixteen years of combined operating experience. OneSky's Cloud 9 suite is an Adobe ColdFusion-based platform that integrates lead generation, sales pipeline management, CRM, pricing and quoting, vendor management, trip management, and comprehensive reporting tools. Cloud 9 is tightly integrated with a Mitel enterprise VoIP call center and tele-worker solution providing the industry's most advanced centrally managed globally scalable booking, trip management, and communications platform. The aircraft charter sector has been hard hit by the global economic crisis, a situation that has been compounded by repeated attempts to villainize the private jet that began last fall when executives from General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler flew privately to Washington, D.C. and has continued in 2009 as banks such as Citigroup have been chastised for private jet orders they placed years ago. Challenging times like these create unique opportunities for consolidation to increase scale, efficiency, and stability. OneSky Jets' acquisition of the assets of Jets.com is a move that will enhance value for clients, employees, and shareholders alike. News - Latest Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:22:49 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090706510/Latest/OneSky-Jets-Acquires-the-Business-Interests-of-Jets.com.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/sQ1On7OaWUo/Perf-Go-Green-Partners-With-a-Private-Jet-Company-in-First-Aviation-Commercial-Conversion.html Perf Go Green Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB:PGOG) (http://www.perfgogreen.com; Perf Go Green ), the leader in biodegradable plastic products and everyday green solutions, today announced its first aviation conversion with a Private Jet Company. Perf Go Green's commercial line of biodegradable trash bags will reduce the environmental impact of the Private Jet Company's fleet of private jets. We, at Perf Go Green, are proud to partner with a private jet company in our first aviation conversion and are happy to provide our commercial line of biodegradable trash bags to contribute to their overall environmental impact. We expect commercial airlines to soon follow suit in this environmental initiative says Tony Tracy, Chairman and CEO at Perf Go Green. Perf Go Green has completed commercial conversions nationwide in hotels, hospitals, office buildings, and through major distributors with their commercial line of biodegradable trash bags. News - Latest Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:05:19 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090701509/Latest/Perf-Go-Green-Partners-With-a-Private-Jet-Company-in-First-Aviation-Commercial-Conversion.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/jpUn6FKT9c8/Sentient-Jet-Extends-Partnership-with-PGA-TOUR-Through-2013.html Sentient Jet, an official marketing partner of the PGA TOUR since 2006, has signed a four-year extension and will continue as the Official Private Jet Provider of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour through 2013. An industry leader in private jet membership, charter flights and fuel management services for aircraft owners, Sentient provides TOUR members with a number of benefits designed to fit the unique demands of a professional golfer's travel schedule, including the flexibility to access a full range of jet sizes and categories to accommodate specific trip needs. Sentient Jet has been an outstanding partner of the PGA TOUR over the past four years, providing a valuable service to a growing number of TOUR members who have opted to use private aviation for the flexibility and security it provides, said Tom Wade, Chief Marketing Officer of the PGA TOUR. We are pleased to announce this four-year extension with Sentient and to continue to offer our members special services from the leader in private jet travel. We are honored to continue our partnership with the PGA TOUR, an elite organization that shares our passion for excellence, said Ed Lynch, Sentient's Vice President of Sports Business Development. Our Membership Program is extremely popular among the players because we offer a tremendous value and complete flexibility without the residual value risk and capital commitments associated with other private jet programs. We look forward to continuing to serve all the members of the TOUR community in the years ahead. Since pioneering the membership approach to private jet travel in 1999, Sentient Jet has established itself as a private aviation leader by offering non-capital, cost-effective private jet solutions with a renowned commitment to safety and service. Sentient Jet's Membership Program is the most flexible and value-oriented approach to private aviation. Members enjoy access to premium executive-class aircraft with a guaranteed response time of as little as 10 hours anywhere in the continental United States. The Program features fixed one-way rates as well as Sentient's unique Network Pricing feature. With Network Pricing, Sentient takes advantage of the efficiency of its certified operator network - the largest in the industry - to search for substantial savings on each client's trip. News - Latest Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:52:04 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090701508/Latest/Sentient-Jet-Extends-Partnership-with-PGA-TOUR-Through-2013.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/8XGKCLSKVA0/Flexjet-Named-Best-of-the-Best-in-Flight-Services.html Flexjet has earned top honors in the Fractional Program category from the Robb Report in its 21st Annual Best of the Best issue published in June 2009. Flexjet was spotlighted for its innovative, industry-exclusive programs and its backing by parent company Bombardier, the world's largest business jet manufacturer. Both the Flexjet 25 Jet Card program, operated by Jet Solutions, and Bombardier Skyjet program were also recognized as top providers in the categories of Fractional Card and Charter Card Programs. We are pleased the Robb Report has recognized Flexjet, the Flexjet 25 Jet Card and Bombardier Skyjet for their outstanding service, innovative programs and ongoing commitment to flexibility and efficiency, said Fred Reid, President, Flexjet and Skyjet. By offering a full range of award-winning aviation solutions - from whole aircraft management through our Flexjet One program to fractional jet ownership, jet cards and charter - we are uniquely positioned to help companies and individuals best meet their changing needs. Touted as one of the best in the category of Fractional Programs, Robb Report describes Flexjet as top in its class due to Bombardier and the decades of civil aviation experiences that go with it. Along with Flexjet's notable ancestry, Robb Report discusses the added options available through the fractional program, including Flexjet's five-percent charter limit guarantee and the unique Versatility Plus program. Flexjet has also recently introduced a number of new programs which provide offerings that better meet its customers' changing needs. The newly redesigned Walk Away Lease program provides many of the benefits that come with fractional jet ownership, but with the option to exit the contract with just a 90-day notice. Flexjet is also the first in the industry to offer fractional jet owners a round-trip pricing benefit, saving them 15 percent off each hour of qualifying round trips. The Flexjet 25 Jet Card program was recognized as the Best of the Best in the category of Fractional Card Programs. The program was praised for continuing to grow their card program in (an) interesting way by offering a variety of value-added options. Unlike traditional jet card programs, the Flexjet 25 Jet Card is available in 25-, 30- and 35-hour increments and allows cardowners to choose the number of days per year they wish to fly-275, 325, 355 or 365. What's more, if Flexjet 25 cardowners are not 100 percent satisfied with the program at any time, their unused hours will be refunded with no questions asked. The Flexjet 25 Jet Card also offers a number of programs that provide greater flexibility for its owners. The Split-Payment option allows jet cardowners to divide the purchase price of a 25-, 30- or 35-hour jet card into two equal payments. The Combination Jet Card offers jet cardowners the benefit of purchasing 50 percent of their total hours in one aircraft type and 50 percent of the remaining hours in another aircraft type, chosen from the entire Flexjet 25 fleet, operated by Jet Solutions. In the division of best Charter Card Programs, Robb Report distinguishes Bombardier Skyjet, the pioneer service for online brokering of private jets and provider of the Skyjet Card, as one of the leaders in the industry. It was cited for its ability to consistently offer customers new and different programs that feature enhanced services and discounts, plus some creative benefits. The article also references Skyjet's reputable guarantees that include aircraft availability and free positioning, along with its reputation for working effectively and efficiently in the highly competitive and ever evolving charter industry. Skyjet Card Membership also provides guaranteed flat hourly rates with the option to take advantage of empty leg flights if available, at a lower cost than program rates. News - Latest Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:50:53 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090701507/Latest/Flexjet-Named-Best-of-the-Best-in-Flight-Services.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/af5Hk0p1As0/New-Charter-Business-Takes-Off.html The explosion of the Internet has led to immense developments in nearly every industry, especially aviation. From thousands of aviation forums, online transponder tracking, online flight bookings, and so much more. A new business has been launched this week that seeks to do for private aviation what Expedia has done for commercial travel. Listjet.com is a website that allows users to request quotes for charter flights, then sources the best rates from hundreds of qualified aircraft partners. All aircraft partners must meet rigorous safety requirements, including and exceeding all ARG/US safety standards and comprehensive pilot and crew background checks. Once a flight has been sourced and booked, Listjet does not stop until every detail is perfect for your flight. Listjet has enlisted the services of Bruce Greenberg, a hospitality expert with years of experience in the luxury hotel business to help meet the needs of every guest. Each charter is assigned a Flight Liaison who ensures all needs are met and exceeded; from your choice of catering to hiring flight attendants with nursing experience for ill travelers, the sky is the limit. Shail Silver, an enthusiast of aviation and business, founded Listjet.com earlier this year. Silver, like most web based business owners, is a young entrepreneur who has a deep passion for aviation and saw a need for his service. A resident of Toronto, Canada, he received his private pilot's license at the age of 20 and has been active in the industry since. Silver says, There has been a disconnect between online business and excellent customer service, Listjet aims to bridge this divide with our hands on approach to jet charters . Listjet enables customers to charter a private jet with the reliability, safety, convenience and privacy that is said to exceed all expectations of executive travel. Chartering a jet enables customers to travel on their own schedule and to several secluded destinations many air carriers cannot reach. Traveling with your own schedule and needs in mind, 24 hour 7 days a week aircraft booking and availability, avoiding flight delays, membership fees, maintenance fees, and other airline and private ownership hassles encompass some of the benefits of chartering a private jet with Listjet. The beginning of 2009 presented one of the worst economic storms to hit the aviation industry. Aircraft deliveries and flight hours are down, layoffs are up and rising, everyone in the industry is feeling the pinch. The NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) says its the worst is over. Brian Foley, a highly respected analyst of the aviation business, says, more bad times ahead, its a mountain to climb . The private charter business caters to the wealthiest citizens across the globe, its no wonder that when markets are down worldwide, the global elite have closed their pocketbooks. In private aviation there are slumping aircraft production rates, even with European use growing. Many of the top business managers in the world, including billionaire's Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, argue that private jet travel is the cost of doing more efficient business. The NBAA has predicted that the Charter and FBO business will rebound soonest, as a recovery has already begun in the early part of the second quarter of 2009. Listjet is in the forefront of web based personal service and has an infrastructure built for rapid growth. It will be interesting to see if this new economy is ready for Listjet to take off. News - Latest Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:29:09 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090701506/Latest/New-Charter-Business-Takes-Off.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/_qVYnQZErTM/Green-Hypocrisy-by-the-Royal-family.html Prince Charles recorded the most expensive travel bill in the history of royal accounts with two private jet trips. In behalf of the Foreign Commonwealth Office, he went to the Far East last autumn and visited South America last May. The trips cost British tax payers £694,081 and £698,890, respectively. On both trips, the royal family member was accused of “green hypocrisy” as visits were supposed to highlight environmental issues and global warming. In 2008, the Queen and her extended family spent £6.5million worth of travel expenses. The statistic indicated a £300,000 increase on the previous 12 months. The expensive bill includes travel in private jets, helicopters, and the Royal Train. One of the most expensive travel bills was recorded by the Duke of Gloucester, who travelled with his wife to the South Pacific to attend the coronation of King Tupou V of Tonga. The trip, which cost £140,000, included scheduled flights in Australia and a private jet trip from paradise isle. Aides insist that Tonga is a Commonwealth county, making it essential for one of the queen’s representatives to attend. Another expensive trip came from the Duke of York, who is now dubbed by reporters as “Air Miles Andy.” He represented the Queen as a UK Special Ambassador for Trade and Industry to the Baltic States, Mongolia, and China last October. His trips accumulated a total cost of £149,430. However, Prince Charles topped the list for expensive trips with over £2million spent on trips at home and abroad. Source: Daily Mail (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196421/Green-Prince-Charles-private-jets-1-3m.html) News - Latest Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:07:19 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090630505/Latest/Green-Hypocrisy-by-the-Royal-family.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/pUP-w6WVJt0/OneSky-Jets-Acquires-the-Business-Interests-of-Jets.com.html OneSky Jets (www.onesky.com), a Manchester, New Hampshire-based private jet company, announced today that it has acquired the assets of Quincy, Massachusetts-based competitor Jets.com. Included in the sale are the Jets.com technology platform including its servers and all the data contained therein; the LegFind charter industry portal software and domain; explicit rights to the Jets.com customer list; and Jets.com's rights, title, and interest in all non-disclosure, non-compete and/or non-solicitation agreements. The sale of Jets.com's assets was handled through assignment to Boston-based Tron Group. Founded in 1999, Jets.com grew to be one of the largest and most respected private jet brokers in the United States. Speaking from OneSky headquarters in Manchester, New Hampshire, Mr. Greg Johnson, President CEO, commented: The Jets.com business model is sound and is synergistic with the service portfolio at OneSky Jets. This is a classic counter-cycle opportunity to gain scale and increase efficiency through consolidation. Our outreach to former Jets.com clients has been met with an overwhelmingly positive reaction to this transaction. The best features and benefits of the Jets.com Titanium membership program will be incorporated into OneSky Jets' Latitude Membership program. Both programs place member deposits into interest bearing FDIC insured escrow accounts as a standard feature. A commitment to safety due-diligence is a shared cornerstone within the two organizations. OneSky Jets is a founding member of the Air Charter Safety Foundation. OneSky Jets will combine the best of the Jets.com technology platform into OneSky's own proprietary Cloud 9 information management suite. These systems represent several million lines of code and incorporate learning gained through sixteen years of combined operating experience. OneSky's Cloud 9 suite is an Adobe ColdFusion-based platform that integrates lead generation, sales pipeline management, CRM, pricing and quoting, vendor management, trip management, and comprehensive reporting tools. Cloud 9 is tightly integrated with a Mitel enterprise VoIP call center and tele-worker solution providing the industry's most advanced centrally managed globally scalable booking, trip management, and communications platform. The aircraft charter sector has been hard hit by the global economic crisis, a situation that has been compounded by repeated attempts to villainize the private jet that began last fall when executives from General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler flew privately to Washington, D.C. and has continued in 2009 as banks such as Citigroup have been chastised for private jet orders they placed years ago. Challenging times like these create unique opportunities for consolidation to increase scale, efficiency, and stability. OneSky Jets' acquisition of the assets of Jets.com is a move that will enhance value for clients, employees, and shareholders alike. News - Latest Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:50:54 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090630504/Latest/OneSky-Jets-Acquires-the-Business-Interests-of-Jets.com.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/ahrK1Ah84XA/Manchester-Airports-sees-decline-in-private-aviation-business.html The Manchester Airport has seen an 80 percent reduction in passengers for private jet flights last May. In the last 12 months, private aviation movements have fallen by 25 percent and new figures suggest that the stats went down by 34 percent last May. Higher fuel prices, tighter corporate budgets, and the desire to evade negative public opinion have all contributed to the current industry slump. However, some of the elites still use private jets despite the current economic situation. Natalie Raper, marketing director of Ocean Sky Jet Centre Ltd, describes the current condition of the industry as “tough.” Raper attributes part of the slump to the banking industry. “Bankers flying around would not go down very well because of what has been in the news,” said Raper. “That will have contributed to the downturn in movements. But there is still a very strong core of clients who have not been affected by the economy. For us there is less flying, but more aircraft are in maintenance, which offsets it to some extent.” Raper believes that there will be an upturn in the industry next year. Source: Crain’s Manchester Business (http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090629/SUB/306299978/1006/toc/-/-/airport-sees-corporate-jet-usage-fall-by-80-per-cent) News - Latest Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:20:22 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090629503/Latest/Manchester-Airports-sees-decline-in-private-aviation-business.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/FPIo5Y-yNrM/Schubach-Aviation-buys-brand-new-Gulfstream-IV.html Schubach Aviation, a leading air charter service company, has recently added a Gulfstream IV private jet to its luxury aircraft fleet, as confirmed by the company president Henry Schubach. Gulfstream IV is one of the world’s largest cabin business jets. It has an impressive technical performance record and its safety and reliability are second to none. This aircraft is powered by twin Rolls Royce turbofans that provide high thrust output and low noise emission. The plane has a range of 4,350 nautical miles and it is known to be the roomiest cabin in its class. The newest model can easily make connecting flights from San Diego to Honolulu, New York to Frankfurt, and Chicago to Paris. It is a spacious and comfortable solution to short-time travel. With a capacity to carry 14 passengers and three crew members, this Gulfstream IV has two lavatories, a galley, a private lounge, and in-flight phone, two CD players, and even air show capabilities. The plane will be added to Schubach Aviation’s existing fleet of 23 private jets, which includes various makes (Bombardier, Hawker Beechcraft, etc.) News - Latest Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:08:51 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090629502/Latest/Schubach-Aviation-buys-brand-new-Gulfstream-IV.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/SNsxzYzusF0/Aircraft-Management-Group-Inc.-Launches-New-Website.html Aircraft Management Group, Inc., a provider of aircraft management, private jet and aircraft charter services, is pleased to announce a major redesign and improvement of their website, www.aircraftmgt.com. This marks the completion of Phase I of the redesign project taking into account the addition of the company's Charter services information and a page dedicated to their Partners as well as a few new interactive features. Prospective clients can now 'Get a Quote' through links on Aircraft Management Group's website and have instant access to real-time information on fleet availability, estimated trip costs and flight times, said Kristina Kushmerek, Vice President and Co-founder of Aircraft Management Group, Inc. In addition, we have made it easy for visitors to our website to verify Aircraft Management Group's PASS (Pilot Aircraft Safety Survey) Ready status, through our membership with Charter X and by clicking on the PASS Ready icon located on our home page. We also made it easy to follow Aircraft Management Group, Inc. on Twitter, a social and marketing networking site, through the Twitter icon displayed on our home page. Aircraft Management Group, Inc. will continue to make future updates to the website, including a fleet gallery, aircraft profiles and a direct link to Aircraft Management Group, Inc.'s Facebook page. Visit www.aircraftmgt.com for more information. News - Latest Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:56:52 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090629501/Latest/Aircraft-Management-Group-Inc.-Launches-New-Website.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PrivateJetDaily/~3/2Fwx2RebQwE/Taipei-aviation-specialists-propose-the-use-of-air-taxis.html In Taipei, aviation experts are suggesting to use private jets to operate an air taxi—a customized flight service that will cater to business travelers. However, regulators said that the proposal might not be feasible because of the current rules and regulations. The concept was promoted by Lin Chin-e, a professor from National Cheng Kung University. He introduced the air taxi idea during a seminar held at the Aviation Education Foundation to discuss rules regarding personal aircrafts. Lin said that it is expensive to own a private jet. It would cost an individual around US$45,600 to maintain one. But with an air taxi, business travelers can enjoy a private jet without having to pay for maintenance and other miscellaneous costs. “Business groups could invest in an air taxi by purchasing the aircraft, while leaving the maintenance and management to an air taxi operator,” said Lin. “Different air taxi operators could jointly solicit customers by organizing an online ticketing system.” Apart from that, he said that the private jet option gives clients flexibility. They can choose their time of departure and arrival at an airport nearest to their destination. Lin asserted that the use of these charter flights would reduce the costs of travel for many big companies in the long run. He emphasized that this service is best-suited for flights that take no more than three hours. However, Billy Chang, chairman of the Aviation Education Foundation, said that the proposal could counter existing aviation regulations. Chang said, “At present, only airlines can solicit customers and sell tickets. In that case, they are legally qualified to offer an air taxi service. Others can't.” Source: Taipei Times (http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/06/27/2003447249) News - Latest Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:46:52 +0100 http://www.privatejetdaily.com/index.php/20090626500/Latest/Taipei-aviation-specialists-propose-the-use-of-air-taxis.html