Best of Private Jet Charter

King Pacific Lodge Canada – Perfect Luxury Hideaway Resort

2010-04-15T17:05:00.007+08:00

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If you are planning for your luxury hideaway holidays, here is a suggestion from my personal Top 10 Destinations - King Pacific Lodge, BC, Princess Royal Island Canada.

From wherever you are, charter a flight to Vancouver. From Vancouver, you will be transferred to Bella Bella by another charter flight which is part of the luxury all inclusive package offered by King Pacific Lodge. From Bella Bella, you will be transferred to this remote resort by float plane. This is actually one of the top luxury resorts I have visited and at the same time, the most remote. I remember my boss said ‘We are in the middle of nowhere’ when we landed in Bella Bella. I’m sure you’ll feel the same when you are here.

Arriving on a float plane

Float plane in motion

I went there out of a corporate retreat. After a brief stop in Vancouver, we all went on our private chartered jet and flew over to King Pacific Lodge, the eco adventure luxury resort.

There are several reasons King Pacific Lodge is on my Top 10 List. Here are a few of them:

Best Whale Watching
There were only 17 rooms. Some of them had sea view and only two of them had a balcony. I was so lucky to have one with both sea view and a balcony. Hence I could enjoy whale watching by lying on a chair in my balcony. Three steps in whale watching: heard a sound, saw a splash of water, saw the whale’s head or tail or body. I went by late September and there were lots of them, as it was the best time in a year to watch whales at King Pacific Lodge.

Best Eco Adventure
Kayaking among sea lions and starfishes was something extremely interesting. The sea lions were curious to find out who we were and were not afraid of swimming around us. Water here was crystal clear and along the shore, we could see a lot of dark red starfishes, some of them had five limbs and some had more. Of course we did whale watching at near distance. I failed in bear watching because I went on a rainy day when the bears might probably prefer to stay home. Many other wildlife were seen in areas around the lodge.

Travel by boat or walk at the lodge

Best Luxury Hideaway Resort
King Pacific Lodge is a perfect remote resort to do any corporate offsites because laptops and mobile phones wouldn’t work here. We were completely separated from rest of the world. My boss was happy to have full attention from everyone as they could not talk on mobile phones or check blackberries under the table while attending meetings. Likewise, if you want to enjoy a hideaway holiday, King Pacific Lodge is one of the top Canadian resorts where you won’t be disturbed by phone calls or emails.

Whale watching at the resort lobby

From their official website:

King Pacific Lodge provides the ultimate in luxury adventure travel and ecotourism vacations from its location in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. As a luxury wilderness lodge, this is an unsurpassed eco adventure travel destination. Among its many accolades, King Pacific Lodge was selected as the Best Resort in Canada by Condé Nast Readers' Choice Awards in 2008 and again in 2009.

– I personally think that KPL well deserves these awards.

Best of Private Jet Charter - Vacation Resort

Why Hiring a Wyvern Authorized Broker for Private Jet Charter?

2010-04-01T17:02:00.024+08:00

Being a luxury traveler, you may care about safety and comfort more than price. One of the first questions you may want to ask your private jet charter broker is “how can you assure me that the operator, aircraft, and crew are safe?” If your broker is a Wyvern Authorized Broker, you are assured that they are dedicated to aviation safety and be backed up with the most extensive aviation safety information and reporting system available.

The Wyvern Standard
The Wyvern Standard is the only standard when it comes to air safety. The Wyvern Standard consists of three separate, but very distinct sets of operating, auditing and auditor standards.

Why Hiring A Wyvern Authorized Broker?
Because they can provide you with:
* Up-to-date information on how operators, aircraft and pilots compare with The Wyvern Standard
* Audit reports
* PASS trip report on all operators

Key Benefits

(1) Get access to the leading aviation safety information system
Wyvern authorized brokers can access The Wyvern Report (TWR) which is an online aviation safety information database of audited charter operators in the world, and therefore be able to provide you with in-depth information about operators who meet the rigorous requirements of The Wyvern Standard.

(2) Get direct access to operator, aircraft and pilot information
As a TWR member, your Wyvern authorized broker can gain instant access to in-depth information about Wyvern recommended operators, aircraft and pilots including safety records, aircraft photos, insurance information and audit reports. This data is continually being updated by operators and verified by Wyvern.

(3) Get unlimited access to the PASS system
Wyvern Authorized Brokers can email you the charter flight information which they obtain from the Pilot & Aircraft Safety Survey (PASS) system. Each PASS report checks and verifies crucial information concerning the operator, aircraft and crew for any trip you fly and can be easily printed. The PASS system enables brokers to run safety reports on both Wyvern and non-Wyvern recommended operators.

A Pilot & Aircraft Safety Survey (PASS) report will demonstrate your broker cares about safety seriously by checking crucial
information concerning the operator, aircraft and crew for any trip you fly.

Next time when you want to book a private jet, why not check if your broker is a Wyvern Authorized Broker?

A Wyvern Authorized Broker

Best of Private Jet Charter - Wyvern Authorized Broker

How To Find Best Price Private Jet Charter

2010-03-15T15:36:00.011+08:00

Private Jet Charter Company vs Broker

Private jets may be chartered directly from the operator, or through a broker.

Charter operators own or lease the planes they fly or act as the operators of planes owned or leased by a third party. Charter brokers arrange for charter flights on planes operated by someone else.

A broker compares rates from many operators and searches for the combination of jet type, cost, and services that you need. Unless you have loyalty to a particular operator, you may find it easier to charter a jet through a broker. There are many online.

Appoint A Private Jet Charter Broker
Brokers who arrange for flights on the planes of several operators may have hundreds or even thousands of aircraft at their disposal. Consequently, they offer a wider choice of aircraft types and a greater range of prices. It is much easier to find the best option through a broker.

Note the followings when appointing a broker:
Safety - Make sure the jet charter is registered with the Federal Aviation Administration and meets required FAA standards. It could be even better if it is a Wyvern Authorized Brokers (The Wyvern Standard is a safety standard whose requirements far exceed the regulatory requirements for commercial air charter operations and maintenance.)

Aircraft Type - Define your needs. Evaluate the aircraft types available against attributes such as size, make, model, luxury, price, maximum capacity for passengers and luggage as well.

Negotiate Prices
Use the internet site Onesky.com to find multiple price quotes. Onesky.com is a broker which has access to over 2,000 approved jet companies who is also a Wyvern Authorized Broker.

Brokers should be able to negotiate prices with private jet companies as they may offer discounts for certain number of travelers on the trip, for flying schedules and for sharing the plane with other travelers. The earlier you book the trip, the more leverage you'll have with a jet company.

Find out if there are any empty-leg flights which suit your itinerary and enjoy a discounted fare.

Additional note on pricing: Chartering a plane with an operator based at a local airport may eliminate the repositioning fee that is charged if the plane must fly from one airport to another to pick up its passengers.

Best of Private Jet Charter - Find Best Price

How to Choose a Private Jet Charter Company

2010-03-04T16:07:00.013+08:00

This article provides the steps, tips and warnings to help you choose a private jet charter company. You should find it useful whether you are experienced or new to hiring a private jet.

As the pace of your life accelerates, it’s clear that your time is becoming too valuable to spend waiting in airports for delayed flights to activities or meetings that had to be postponed until you arrived! You begin thinking about private jet charter -- a faster, easier, more customized way to travel to your destination. Luckily, flying in a private jet is one of the safest and most luxurious ways to travel. Unlike commercial airlines, private jets fly in and out of smaller suburban airports that are closer to departure and destination points. Also, typically smaller airports do not have the long lines or delays passengers have come to expect at any of today’s large urban airports.

STEPS

(1) Identify the Right Charter Operator. Yes, one could check the local yellow pages or a favorite search engine to locate charter companies. However, there won’t be any information about the quality of individual companies there, other than what is written in advertisements created by the companies themselves. Use the web to look for online directories of FAA authorized charter operators, their locations, and the various aircraft they offer. There are a number of charter brokers who appear to have many aircraft but in reality are serving in a capacity similar to a travel agent. Charter brokers are not FAA authorized and do not have any aircraft under their control. If you like the idea of using a travel agent keep in mind a quality FAA authorized operator can access a jet anywhere in the world just like a broker. Now that you have a list of operators, their aircraft, and phone numbers you need to ask a few basic questions.

(2) Validate the Charter Company. The next step is verifying the charter company’s advertising claims through official documentation. In order to simplify this complicated task, one can break down the process into three categories: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) documentation, insurance and third-party audits.

o FAA Documentation – Each charter company must have a valid Part 135 air taxi certificate which authorizes it to fly for hire. Obtaining a Part 135 certificate requires the charter company to adhere to FAA guidelines and is strictly enforced by the FAA. Ask for a copy of their "Air Carrier Certificate" which is the official document granted by the FAA. If a charter company does not have an air carrier certificate, they are not authorizied by the FAA to conduct charter operations.

o Insurance – Often overlooked, insurance can provide a great deal of information about a charter company. Typical limits for a charter company are $50M-$100m for a small jet (such as a Cessna Citation, Lear 40 or Hawker 400XP), $100M for a mid-sized jet (such as a Hawker 800XP, Lear 60 or Citation XL) and $100M-$500M for a large jet (such as a Challenger, Gulfstream or Falcon). Often, these higher insurance limits require an audit by the insurance company to assure that the pilots and mechanics have the appropriate experience to operate a safe flight. Also, another free service most operators will offer is for the passenger to be “named additional insured” on the policy. This option is really a personal decision. It should be considered if the passenger flies private charter on an ongoing, regular basis.

o Third Party Audits – There are several companies that specialize in auditing charter companies. The industry’s most used services are Aviation Research Group (ARG/US) or Wyvern. ARG/US & Wyvern compile several databases, including FAA, Department of Transportation (DOT) and one on aircraft transactions, to determine the safety records of the operator, its pilots and its aircraft. In addition, these companies will perform on-site audits on safety procedures, aircraft log books and additional documentation. The only way to verify that an operator has been audited by one of these organizations is to contact ARG/US or Wyvern directly.

(3) Visit the Company: This may not always be possible, but you will learn a tremendous amount of information about a company by meeting their people, seeing their facility, and touring a few aircraft. Viewing people and facilities will tell you a lot about the quality of aircraft and level of service you can expect from the charter company.

(4) Look for Good Customer Service: Ideally, there should be a single person responsible for your trip. Also, live help should be available around the clock for if you must change your plans, make a special request, or ask a question. You will get a great sense of their level of service by how you are treated on the phone. Does the agent take time with you, ask questions to ensure they understand what is important to you, are they polite, and most importantly, are they responsive.

(5) Select an Aircraft: Often, a charter company will provide pictures of an aircraft under consideration for a trip. Be warned, however, that pictures are deceiving and may not be current. The only way absolutely ensure the status of an aircraft is to view it personally. Also, because insurance levels can change at any time and vary by aircraft within the same fleet, it is important to ask for a copy of the insurance policy before each and every flight.

(6) Check up on your Pilot: Find out what the provider's standards are for minimum pilot hours. Different jet types require different pilot hours. Once you have chosen an aircraft, verify that the assigned pilot has the required number of pilot hours on that type of craft. Generally, each captain should have at least 5000 total flight hours and 300 hours in the specific aircraft type. Ask how often the pilots attend recurrent training in a full-motion simulator. Once every six months is considered ideal. Anything less, the pilot may not be as fresh as possible on the latest procedures.

(7) Find Out How Much it Will Cost: As the details of your needs become more specific, you should be able to get a clear quote, not a vague estimate that leaves room for surprises on the final invoice. Any always ask for a hard quote. Yes, certain things such as catering, ground transportation, and flight phone usage are not known before the flight, but everything else should be a firm quote so you are not surprised by the final billing.

TIPS

Different countries have different regulations. Those set forth by the FAA are specific to the United States. Other Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs) include:
- United Kingdom - United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority
- Australia - Civil Aviation Safety Authority
- United Nations - International Civil Aviation Organization

Some aircrafts are restricted in terms of night landings and must abide by some kind of "curfew." If you think you're going to need to go on night flights, ask about such regulations when you're choosing an aircraft.

A helicopter may be better for short trips to remote areas, but they can't fly under high winds or low visibility conditions.

WARNINGS

Make sure the charter company doesn't attempt to fly under the less strict Part 91 (owner flown) regulations. This is not legal.

Beware of outsourcing. There's the possibility that a well-known provider may place you on a small independent company's jet, and that company may or may not meet their safety requirement. If you are quoted on a jet not within the operators fleet, request the information of that operator as you have done from your booking operator.

Source: wikiHow

Best of Private Jet Charter

How to Choose A Private Jet Charter Company

Cessna Citation Mustang – Ideal Entry Level Business Jet

2010-01-04T18:07:00.001+08:00

Cessna Citation Mustang – top choice if you are targeting to charter a very light jet (VLJ).

Cessna Citation Mustang highlights
· The interior is comfortable and space-effective for its size
· First to be certified to fly into known icing conditions
· Remarkable 57 cubic feet (or 620 pounds) of baggage volume

First flown in 2005, the Cessna Citation Mustang is currently certified in 57 countries including the United States. Following take off, the Mustang business jet can climb swiftly to 41,000 feet and continue to fly for the duration of a 1,150 nautical mile-long trip, carrying a single pilot and three passengers.

The interior is comfortable and space-effective for its size. The seats are ergonomically designed with comfort and luxury in mind. The fully-reclinable leather seats come with work tables, armrests, storage consoles and power outlets.

Perhaps the most notable asset of the Mustang is its baggage storage space. The total external baggage volume measures a remarkable 57 cubic feet, or 620 pounds. The storage walls are recessed to allow ski transport as well.

The Mustang is an ideal entry-level business jet for small companies and individuals looking for an economical private jet for short-range missions, usually a little over one hour. Ideal for nonstop flights with maximum passengers from Los Angeles to Aspen; Washington, D.C. to Miami or Santa Fe to Oklahoma City; or something in between.

This private jet was the first in its class to be certified for flight and also the first to be certified to fly into known icing conditions.

Similar Aircrafts
Phenom 100, Eclipse 500

Cessna Citation Mustang Business Jet Review

Best of Private Jet Charter

Learjet 60 - Quietest Midsize Aircraft

2009-12-29T16:50:00.000+08:00

Learjet 60 – top choice if you are targeting to charter a midsize private aircraft.

Learjet 60 outperforms its peers in the following ways:
· Quietest
· Strongest climb gradient – from sea level to 41,000 feet in 19 minutes
· Superior internal and external baggage volume capacity

The Bombardier Learjet 60 is the first in a new line of midsize business jets developed by Learjet of Wichita, Kansas. An extension of the Learjet 45 and 55, it offers on time performance and a new redesigned cabin for comfort and control. With an extended range of 2,510 nautical miles, Learjet 60 is also one of the quietest midsize aircraft, offering unrestricted access in noise sensitive airports with the strongest climb gradient in its class, from sea level to 41,000 feet in 19 minutes with maximum takeoff weight.

Inside the 17-foot-long stand-up cabin, business executives forget that they’re on a jet and take advantage of the special amenities in the jet that Bombardier refers to as “the office in the sky.”

The Lear 60 is still in production today and is now called the Lear 60 XR. Configuration of this midsized jet will typically provide seating for six passengers and two crew members. Learjet 60 is ideal for executives who travel from New York to Dallas on a private charter jet or anywhere in between.

The Bombardier Learjet 60 has more than 30 percent market share since its introduction in 1993. Its proven systems, superior airliner-style and modern powerplants, combined with its stand-up cabin, spacious aft lavatory and superior internal and external baggage volume capacity, make it a top performer in its class.

Similar Aircrafts

Hawker 800, Citation Excel, Citation III,VI,VII

Private Aircraft Models for Jet Charters

2009-12-23T17:56:00.000+08:00

If you are researching about the private jet aircraft types, I have here some information for your quick reference. The number of flight hours and passengers are usually the determining factor in choosing a private aircraft. In any case, a private jet charter broker will be able to explore the best options for you.

Very Light Jets

An entry-level, brand new range of jet, the VLJs offer great rates in quiet, modern cabins. This type of aircraft is ideal for flights of up to 2 hours. Popular models include Leer Jet 25D – Leer Jet 40.

Super Mid Size

A new category in the charter market, these aircrafts offer many benefits of the large jets but at more competitive rates. Full standing headroom, great luggage capacity and spacious cabins make this category a popular choice. Seating varies from eight to 10 and the range of these aircraft is 5 to 6.5 hours. Popular models include Leer Jet 45 – Leer Jet 60.

Large Jets
Perfect for international trips, such as London to New York.

These aircrafts have spacious cabins, offering six to nine hours range and seating for eight to 16 in first-class executive style. Full standing headroom, galley and in-flight service are standard. The luggage hold can accommodate 15 to 20 assorted-sized pieces. Popular models include Falcon 2000 and Falcon 900.

Private Aircraft Charter

Private Jet Charter - Top Benefits

2009-12-18T16:29:00.001+08:00

Top 10 Reasons for Private Jet Charter

1. Fast – shorter flight time - A private jet has smaller shape than conventional airplanes. Many private jets, such as Cessna can fly over 1,000 kilometers per hour vs Boeing 747 that only reach about 850 kilometers per hour, the difference of almost 150 kilometers per hour, can make busy people save more of their time traveling for business.

2. Comfortable - Charter a private jet enables you to streamline the conventional airport formality. You don't need to stand in line for up to hours to check your baggage as they can check in at a separate area. When people are paying extra to ensure more leg room, this is completely not a problem for private jet charter.

3. Security - Flying by a private jet charter can be much tighter in security. Every passenger already screened by the owners. And because of its smaller capacity, it is easier to check and control all of the passengers. So if you are busy people, only have a limited time and need to be more comfort and secure, it is the time to consider flying with a private jet.

4. Flexibility – Have you been frustrated in looking for connection flights? Connection time not ideal, ideal flight is fully booking, your wanted class is fully booked, your favourable seat is occupied by another passenger…etc. Well, you don’t have to deal with these hassles any more if you charter a private jet. You just plan your own itinerary and fly.

5. Jet selection – wide choice of aircrafts – if you use charter brokers, you would have a premier network of more than 2,000 jets to select from.

6. On demand - 24/7/365, no black-out dates - charter brokers can provide flight quotes in as little as one hour to 15 minutes and jets can be made ready within four hours. You can travel any time as you wish.

7. Streamlined airport process - If you choose traveling by a conventional plane, you need to spend more time in queuing at the airport. Checking your tickets and baggage, going through security and waiting for the airplane. While some security screening is still required if you charter a flight, your greatest comfort is that time is minimized for all these procedures. You don’t even have to arrive at the airport two hours ahead for an international flight, hence saving a lot of your precious time.

8. Wide choice of airports – Take US as an example, even though commercial carriers service some 500 airports, their “hub-and-spoke” routing means that over 90 percent of flights pass through fewer than 50 hub airports. This results in unpredictable delays, fewer direct flights, misrouted luggage and more. Private jet travel allows direct access to over 5,000 airports in the US alone, putting you much closer to your departure and destination.

9. Timing saving - By eliminating airplane changes/connections and minimizing driving to and from distant airports, private air travel can often cut overall travel time in half or better. The privacy and comfort of the cabin allows you to make the most of your time while in the air. Whether you choose to work on a laptop, catch up on your reading or just relax and watch a favorite movie, distractions will be at a minimum. You’ll arrive at your destination refreshed instead of exhausted and irritable.

10. Five-Star Service - By private air travel, you are treated as honored guests by well-trained attendants, providing a premium level of courtesy and professionalism, from in-flight catering, ground travel and accommodations to supplying complete concierge services. Commercial airlines in no way can be comparable. You are treated as a VVIP passenger, everything you want it, they will do it.

Private Jet Charater

2009-12-15T17:03:00.001+08:00

Private jet charter is becoming more and more popular. Have you ever chartered or plan to charter a private jet? My blog is here to provide you with information about private jet charter and hope you enjoy the fun and advantages of flying private.

You might not aware that chartering a private jet, might in some cases, cost the same as flying commercial airline first class. According to NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) - Charter versus fractional or prepayment options: on a light jet, charter costs as little as $1,800 per flight hour, $2,100 for prepaid and $2,800 for fractional ownership.

Apart from the money factor, there are many reasons travelers choose to charter a private jet. See if any of the following top 10 reasons will lure you to be the next one to charter a flight.

Top 10 Reasons for Private Jet Charter
1. Fast
2. Comfortable
3. Security
4. Flexible in destination
5. Jet selection – wide choice of aircrafts
6. On Demand, 24/7/365, no black-out dates
7. Streamlined airport process
8. Wide choice of airports
9. Time saving – no need to check in two hours ahead
10. Five-star services

We shall go into more details about each of these reasons.

Private Jet Charter