Senate to vote on FAA funding for air traffic control

On April 27, CharterX Industry Headline News reported that it was likely that the United States Senate was likely to vote on Federal Aviation Administration funding on April 28, which happened in an 88-0 vote [yes, some Senate folks were missing], to move a FAA funding bill closer to the desk of President George W. Bush, who will be forced to veto or to sign a final bill--soon. Today's vote centered on FAA reauthorization funding, long overdue, which would fund the agency through Sept. 30, 2011.

FAA funding will provide $800 million over the next three years to modernize the nation's air traffic control system. The majority of such funding, from the Senate vote, will be paid for by private general aviation in the way of increased excise jet fuel taxes increasing to 36 cents per gallon of fuel from the exiting 21.9 cents per gallon of fuel.

Next generation PC-12 jet introduced

Swiss producer of single engine aircrafts Pilatus have introduced the PC-12 NG - where the NG stands for “Next Generation”.

As the name suggests, this is the successor to the top-selling PC-12. The spacious passenger aircraft, with room for nine, has been upgraded to make this NG the largest member of the Pilatus family. A more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine allows the aircraft to climb up to 30,000 feet. It also boasts a fully integrated Honeywell Primus Apex avionics system. This is topped off by an aesthetically pleasing cockpit design by BMW Group Designworks USA.

Even its hefty $3.78 million price tag has not been a deterrent, and the PC-12 NG is already more popular than the first. In fact, demand is so high that it is already sold out till the end of 2009.

Demand remains high for private jets

According to an article on private jet travel, one expert expects 15,000 business jets to be sold over the next decade.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy may be coming in for a landing, but the demand for private jets is still flying high.

The bustling economies of China and India, and newfound oil wealth in countries such as Russia, have helped keep sales of small executive jets strong. Despite the weakening of corporate profits in the United States, North American plane makers are reporting record orders, many from overseas.

“There is a lot of demand worldwide,” said Raymond Jaworowski, an aerospace analyst with market research firm Forecast International in Newtown, Conn. “If the U.S. economy does soften and even if we go into recession, the effects will be insulated somewhat by the growing economies outside the United States.”

The overall demand for jets is expected to remain strong in the coming years, said Jaworowski, who forecasts nearly 15,000 business jets worth a total of $192 billion will be sold over the next decade industrywide. The increase will come in planes of all sizes, he said.

New planes may be in the works to satisfy companies hoping to free top brass from the hassle of commercial air travel. Some analysts expect General Dynamics Corp., owner of the Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., to announce plans as early as this week for its largest plane yet, a jet that could carry around 20 people across the Pacific Ocean on one tank of fuel.

The North American market has traditionally been the biggest consumer of private jets, but Falls Church, Va.-based General Dynamics said 2007 orders for Gulfstream jets overseas surpassed its North American totals for the first time. The company sold its first large cabin jet in China last month.

Canada’s Bombardier Inc. said earlier this year that it had a record 452 orders in its fiscal year ending Jan. 31, up from 274 in 2006. The Wichita, Kan.-based Hawker Beechcraft Corp. said the Chinese business aircraft operator Deer Jet, one of China’s largest charter companies, ordered two midsize business jets last year.

The Brazilian plane maker Embraer recently signed deals with Indian and Chinese companies, while Cessna Aircraft Co., the world’s largest manufacturer of general aviation planes, said companies outside the United States accounted for 53 percent of its total business jet orders in 2007, up from 48 percent in 2006.

Nicholas Chabraja, CEO of General Dynamics, told an investor conference on March 4 that the company is still trying to chart the long-term impact of the increase in overseas orders, but said “it looks like a structural change in the marketplace.”

Private jets have become the travel method of choice for corporate executives who can afford them, cutting down on wait times and delays that affect commercial carriers. Corporations can either buy planes outright, or buy fractional jet shares to avoid shouldering the hefty price of planes that can range from a few million dollars to $50 million.

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If you want to sidestep expected increases in commercial airline fares, as well as take advantage of all the other benefits of private jet charter travel, such as safety and convenience, visit Blue Star Jets.

Schwarzenegger criticized for using private jet

Actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger has come under criticism for commuting three hours to work each day in his private jet.

Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, lives almost 380 miles away from his office and his commute to work costs hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

Defending his means of commuting, Schwarzenegger said: "The question is how can I be with my family, because that is extremely important - to be with my kids. They are all growing up. They are in their teens. They need their father around. I felt my not being at home everyday took a toll on my family. So what I am trying to do is find that balance between the family and running the state."

Ready for the Beijing 2008 Olympics?

If you’re thinking about taking part in the excitement of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the official website has a great deal of information you’ll need, including how to buy tickets, visa info, hotel reservations, competition venues and schedules and more. Of course, the best way to get to Beijing in comfort is by chartering your own Blue Star Jet.

2007 was banner year for private jet sales

In what was a record year for private jet sales, Bombardier has emerged as the industry’s top dog. The Canadian conglomerate’s aerospace division topped over $5.2 billion on orders of 226 private jets in 2007, according to the General Aviation Manufacturer’s Association (GAMA). Bombardier’s strong showing is owed to the strong reception of the company’s Global Express XRS, which tops the group’s comprehensive range of Challenger and Learjet aircraft.

Bombardier was closely followed by General Dynamic’s Gulfstream Aerospace with billings of $4.83 billion, led by strong demand in the heavy jet category for its G550 and G500 jets. Textron’s Cessna Aircraft remained particularly strong in the light and mid-sized jet category. The Wichita, Kansas-based manufacturer, who last week unveiled plans for its long-range Citation Columbus, billed $3.91 billion. Dassault Aviation rounded out the top four with orders totaling $2.32 billion.

The banner year for private jet sales was bolstered by strong international demand, coupled with steady domestic sales. Last year saw a 28.4 percent increase in private jet sales over the 886 sold in 2006, as sales breached the one thousand mark for the first time. A record 1,138 aircraft were sold in 2007, according to the GAMA.

With an extensive backlog, and a number of new jets poised to enter the market—in particular some long awaited Very Light Jets—analysts are predicting that private jet sales should remain strong through 2008 and beyond.

If you want to sidestep expected increases in commercial airline fares, as well as take advantage of all the other benefits of private jet charter travel, such as safety and convenience, visit Blue Star Jets.

Western Aviation, Hawker BeechCraft Co. sign deal

Western Aviation's brand new Hawker 900XP Private Jet for which western aviation had signed a deal with Hawker BeechCraft Corporation - USA during the recently concluded 'Dubai Airshow 2007' has arrived in Dubai and is making commercial flights. The Hawker 900XP the best of the best-selling midsized business jets in the world is the first aircraft in the International Market was expected to arrive in Dubai by end of December 2007. After successful test flights the aircraft was opened for commercial charters and is now flying to destinations all over the world.

"The acquisition of this Hawker 900XP has given Western Aviation the runway to take off towards its vision of becoming one of the Leading Private Jet Charter Company in the Middle East" says Western Aviation's AGM Mr. Mohammed Fairoz.

Apart from this Western Aviation has opened up a new office in Dubai Airport Free Zone. "This new airport free zone office gives western aviation the strategic advantage and close proximity to the VIP terminal and other FBO's as well as places Western Aviation in the heart of business aviation community offering a lot of scope for growth and carter to our expansion plans" comments Mr. Ihsan Deeb - Business Development Manager of Western Aviation.

"The Hawker 900XP with the Largest Cabin in its class, Longer Range, Maximum Cruise Speed and equipped with advanced ProLine 21 avionics system makes it a joy to fly" says Captain Sulaiman, First Officer of the Hawker 900XP.

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If you want to sidestep expected increases in commercial airline fares, as well as take advantage of all the other benefits of private jet charter travel, such as safety and convenience, visit Blue Star Jets.

Obama's jet clips wing of 2nd plane

According to an article in the Chicago Sun-Times relating to private chartered jet travel:

Flying back home from Nevada after a long day of campaigning, presidential hopeful Barack Obama was safely on the ground when his chartered plane clipped the wing of another plane at Midway Airport.

No one was hurt in the incident early Saturday morning, but the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration want to know how it happened.
Both planes sustained minor damage.

Obama, though, apparently didn't even notice what happened -- nor did anyone else on the plane.

"No one on board even felt it," said Ben LaBolt, an Obama campaign spokesman.
In advance of the Nevada caucus Jan. 19, Obama on Friday made two appearances in Nevada -- a rally with Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and an event with a culinary workers union.
He left late Friday on a Gulfstream II jet, along with 12 other people, including the plane's crew.
LaBolt declined to identify the flight crew but said the campaign had flown with them before.
Back to Nevada today

The plane landed around 2:30 a.m., "safely, without incident," said city Aviation Department spokesman Gregg Cunningham.

It was taxiing to a general aviation parking area for private planes near the south end of the airport, off 63rd Street. At that point, the plane's crew was under its own direction and no longer under the FAA's air traffic control, FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham-Cory said.

The plane's left wing then hit the right wing of a parked Cessna 208. No one was aboard the Cessna at the time.

Cunningham said neither plane was allowed to move from the spot of the collision until 9:15 a.m. Saturday.

The investigation could take weeks or months, Cory said.

Obama heads back to Nevada today.

Forbes.com: priciest private jets in the world

In an article on private jet aircraft, Forbes.com gives us a glimpse into the priciest private jets in the world:

What does a billionaire do when having a private jet becomes so affordable that mere millionaires can swing the cost?

He trades up--to a Boeing 747-8, say, or to a Airbus 380--costing $280 million and $300 million, respectively.

Back in 1996, when Boeing introduced the first "personal use" version of one of its commercial airliners, the $30 million Boeing Business Jet (a reconfigured 737) was treated as the last word in spaciousness and luxury. Now, compared with competing luxe lifts, a 737 looks like mashed potatoes.

In Pictures: Priciest Private Jets

Boeing's far larger 747-8 won't be ready for flight until 2010, and Airbus' 380 has been pushed back to the middle of the next decade. But these two giants should be worth billionaires' wait. Just outfitting their cavernous interiors with the little touches that make a plane a home--mahogany paneling, gold-plated fixtures and maybe a Jacuzzi or a screening room--could cost an owner $20 million.

Buyers kicking the tires of these behemoths probably own several other planes, says Steven Hill, president of Boeing Business Jet. Out of the four customers who have pre-purchased the 747-8, two were previous owners of smaller Boeing Business Jets, and their main motivation is to "get the latest and greatest," says Hill. "These people are fleet planning--they're planning their future."

Reported owners of Boeing aircrafts include Russian oil tycoon Roman Abromavich as well as Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) guys Larry Page and Serge Brin. Other private jet-owning billionaires include Sergio Mantegazza (Falcon 900), Philip Green and Lakshmi Mittal (who both own Gulfstream G550s).

But perhaps the most luxe jet out there is the Airbus 380. What do you get for $300 million? For starters, plenty of room.

Jennifer Clay, principal of J. Clay Consulting, a New York City firm that advises major players in the airline industry, says a big, yacht-like reconfiguration of what was once a 180-person commercial jet allows an owner do something he perhaps could not in smaller private plane: stand up.

Lack of headroom on smaller jets, says Clay, is a cause of concern for many owners.
Greg Thomas, CEO of Privatair, an aviation company controlled by billionaire Spiro Latsis' group Paneuropean Oil and Industrial Holdings, agrees that the reason for these planes' appeal has everything to do with their interior potential.

An owner willing to restrict use of his plane to his own travel (not allowing it to be rented out to third parties) can, according to regulation, outfit the cabin with amenities to suit his every whim.
"There are two different standards [for cabin design]," explains Thomas. "If you're flying it commercial, you have to apply all sorts of stringent safely standards. It really limits the type of materials and configuration you can have. If you have a private design, you can more or less do what you like on board."

Two thirds of Privatair's jet owners have decided to do just that.

"There are some extraordinary VIP interiors around," says Thomas, particularly those on aircraft belonging to Gulf States royalty. Monarchs, he notes, "really go to town on their airplanes." One royal family mounted a Webcam on its plane's exterior, the better to enjoy clouds and rainbows, whose images were projected onto an interior 8-by-4-foot screen.
With that kind of technology, who needs the window seat?

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If you want to sidestep expected increases in commercial airline fares, as well as take advantage of all the other benefits of private jet charter travel, such as safety and convenience, visit Blue Star Jets.