Jet lag is an annoyance and even a health issue for anyone who flies across multiple time zones. For frequent flyers, such as on-the-go business executives, jet lag is more than a nuisance. It can have significant detrimental effects on well-being and productivity.
Three environmental features of an aircraft cabin aggravate jet lag: lighting, air pressure, and air quality, especially humidity. Fortunately, aircraft owners or buyers can make changes to the cabin’s interior that mitigate jet lag or look for aircraft with these specific features.
Lighting
Flying across multiple time zones can wreak havoc with the body’s internal clock. A traveler leaving Auckland, New Zealand, at 7 p.m. and arriving in Denver at 6:30 p.m. on the same day will have an internal clock that is far out of sync with the destination time zone. This is because cross-time zone travel disrupts the normal 24-hour light and dark cycle, as well as the fact that the traveler’s internal clock takes several days to sync with a new time zone.
Although you can’t eliminate time zone differences, you can modify cabin lighting to help reduce jet lag. One solution is to install an LED lighting system with a programmable zonal day-and-night mood-lighting capability. Make sure lighting complements the interior design and provides acceptable brightness, and that lighting transitions are gradual.
Air pressure
An aircraft’s environmental control system (ECS) regulates air quality and cabin pressure. A lower-pressure environment is typically more comfortable for passengers — for example, it increases their oxygen intake and can help avoid intestinal gas symptoms common in pressurized cabins.
Aircraft cabins are pressurized to a pressure that is lower than sea level — at their maximum altitude, aircraft are generally pressurized to 8,000 feet. However, a number of private jet models, such as the Gulfstream G500 and G650 and Boeing BBJ models, feature lower cabin pressurization, which in turn can mitigate jet lag symptoms by helping passengers breathe easier and feel more energized in flight.
Humidity
Dry eyes and throat are often an unpleasant part of travelers’ flying experience, but lower humidity also contributes to fatigue and lowered immune function, and can even be dangerous for passengers with respiratory concerns. Private jets tend to have the lowest humidity — typically less than 5% — because they have fewer passengers (the main contributor to cabin humidity). Dry cabin air also contributes to dehydration, aggravating jet lag.
The solution? Retrofit your aircraft cabin with a humidification system, such as CAIR Humidification from CTT Systems. This system boosts in-cabin relative humidity to 20%, helping to stave off the effects of dry filtered air.
Regular travelers frequently face jet lag, which threatens their well-being and productivity. Fortunately, the right cabin interior modifications can combat jet lag and help you arrive refreshed and ready for whatever your destination may bring.
Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet.You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at +1.305.754.3313, or visit us online.
Remember the rubber band-powered toy flying bird of your childhood? The original mechanical flying bird, called Tim, is a classic toy designed around a simple, ingenious concept. And thanks to Edwin Van Ruymbeke, descendant of Tim’s inventors, there’s a new “species” in the mechanical bird world: Bionic Bird.
Van Ruymbeke, an aeronautic engineer who worked for his family’s business, conceived the Bionic Bird concept years ago. Recent advances in technology, including electronics miniaturization, lightweight materials, and smartphones, finally made it possible for Van Ruymbeke to fabricate and produce Bionic Bird, which he launched in December 2015.
Bionic Bird includes three components: the bird itself; a standalone, egg-shaped charger; and the Flying App, a Bluetooth 4.0 app that remotely controls the bird. The app is currently available for the iPhone 4S and 5 and iPad mini; the company plans to release an Android version of the app as well.
Van Ruymbeke designed Bionic Bird to be lightweight enough to stay aloft and flap its wings like a real bird. Bionic Bird weighs only 10 grams — slightly more than one-third ounce. The device charges fully in 12 minutes, enough to power 10 eight-minute flights, the company states. Bionic Bird mimics a real bird so well, it can beguile cats and fly among actual birds.
Bionic Bird’s creator plans to enhance Bionic Bird to enable more precise control and stable flight and eventually outfit the bird with an HD video camera with live retransmission. At about $117, Bionic Bird isn’t as pricey as some gadgets — but for those who love flight, the entertainment it provides might well be priceless.
After years of sluggish performance and poor growth, the aviation industry is poised for a really good year in 2015. Analysts are barely hiding their glee, and jet owners and aviation pros are beyond ready for some good news and excitement. What’s spurring this particular renewal? Three big changes.
Declining oil prices
Fuel is the single biggest expense for airlines — taking as much as 45 to 58% of their total costs. The price per barrel declined in 2014 and is expected to continue its downward slide in 2015. The lower fuel price is a gift for an industry that has recently gone through hard times.
But don’t get too excited. These low prices we’re seeing at the start of 2015 may not last — fuel prices could rise as quickly as they plunged. Smart airline managers would do well to take advantage of the temporary price fluctuation and bank those profits for later.
New aircraft technology
What could be more fun than some exciting new aircraft technology? Several innovative products are set to emerge this year. After multiple delays, two new airplanes are due to enter service:
The Airbus A320NEO, aka the New Engine Option, and
The new engines are powered by the Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbo Fan (GTF) engine; the result of 20 years of research and development. The engine burns 16% less fuel and comes with 20% lower maintenance costs when compared to today’s engines.
Aerospace aficionados are also waiting breathlessly for the flight-testing of the Boeing KC-46A, a new aerial refueling tanker for the U.S. Air Force.
Signs of growth in aviation
After struggling through many sluggish years, the business aviation industry is finally showing some signs of growth. Contributing factors include the slow improvements in the U.S. economy, increased demand for pre-owned aircraft, and growing demand for business jet flight. Pre-owned jet inventories are at their lowest levels since 2008, and interest rates are at an historic low. Together, these factors provide an optimum climate for an all-round rebound for aviation.
A sustaining factor in the bright outlook for 2015 is the high number of new jet models coming out in the near-term. In the next five years, 18 new business jets are predicted to enter the market — giving waiting consumers a great reason to buy.
Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet.
You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at +1.305.754.3313, or visit us online.
This month, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will implement an important change to the federal government approved Known Crew Member (KCM) program. Starting Jan. 13, the KCM program, which expedites airport security screening for flight crew members, will no longer require authorized crew members to be in uniform when passing through KCM access points.
The KCM program was created to verify the identity and employment status of authorized crew members. Since 2012, the program has become the security screening protocol for U.S. airlines in dozens of airports around the country.
KCM grants flight crew members access to alternative security screenings, with the aim of reducing security lines and potential delays for flight crew members, including pilots and flight attendants. However, the KCM program originally required crew members to be in uniform, a burden to many who are traveling in advance of their flights or are deadheading.
Aviation professionals welcome the rule change. For example, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA), Sara Nelson, praised the change, saying that the KCM policy update provides “a lift to crews’ quality of work-life [and] puts more non-uniformed trained responders — extra ‘eyes, ears and hands’ — past the gate.”
Although authorized crew members can now pass through a KCM security point in civilian clothes, they still must abide by these KCM rules:
They cannot transport TSA-prohibited items.
They cannot carry another person’s property through a KCM portal.
They may be subject to random screening.
The rule change will apply only to crew members employed by carriers that participate in the KCM program. Even so, when you fly this year, your next seatmate could be a pilot or flight attendant traveling incognito.
Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet.
You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at +1.305.754.3313, or visit us online.
For many people, the end-of-year holiday season is a time to snuggle up with friends and family and enjoy the long evenings. This year, consider skipping the tired holiday movie marathon and enjoy an aviation-themed movie night instead. Flight films are popular because of the familiar themes — riding in or piloting a plane — and because movies that take place in airplanes can be thrilling, hair-raisingly terrifying, or even romantic.
The following are some of the most popular flight-themed movies:
The Flight of the Phoenix (1966) is a story of a cargo plane that goes down in the Sahara, only to be rebuilt from the wreckage through the efforts of one of the survivors, a German aircraft designer.
A hilarious spoof movie, Airplane! (1980), is a classic that starts out with ex-military pilot, Ted Striker, following the love of his life, a flight attendant, onto a commercial flight in an effort to win her back. The hero, who is afraid to fly, must overcome his fears and land the plane.
When Russian terrorists take the U.S. president and his family hostage aboard Airforce One (1997), the action gets tense as the president must work to defeat his captors and save his family 30,000 feet in the air.
The fear of flying is nothing compared to sharing an aircraft with some of American’s most dangerous criminals. In Con Air (1997), a group of hardened criminals hijack an airplane and one, who is on a flight home, must step in and stop them if he is to return to his family.
In the true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a man who impersonated a Pan Am pilot in the heyday of commercial flight, Catch Me If You Can (2002) presents a fascinating drama of an expert con man and the FBI agent determined to catch him.
The title of Snakes on a Plane (2006) speaks for itself. A mob boss releases deadly, poisonous snakes on a flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles that carries a witness ready to testify against him. Viperous chaos ensues.
When the isolation of continuously flying back and forth across the country gets to be too much, the life of a jaded business traveler, who knows his way around an airport better than his own home, is exposed in the affable comedy Up in the Air (2009).
The gripping drama Flight (2012) is the story of a veteran pilot who successfully lands a commercial plane following a terrible malfunction. When a subsequent investigation reveals that the pilot, previously seen as hero, had alcohol in his blood, the story takes an interesting turn.
Which aviation-themed film is your favorite?
Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet.
You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at +1.305.754.3313, or visit us online.
Riding on the tailwind of a highly successful year, Gulfstream’s smash-hit G650 is followed by a new aircraft, the Gulfstream 500, or G500. While the G650 made use of remarkable new technologies and continuing development with customer input, Gulfstream designers are proving once again that they can deliver what business flyers really want.
High-flying debut
The G500 made its first cross-country trip at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention and Exhibition in Las Vegas in November. The Gulfstream test pilots flew from Savannah, Georgia, into 75-knot headwinds and still accomplished the 1,630 nautical-mile flight in just 4 hours, 36 minutes.
Averaging a speed of Mach 0.85 and an altitude of 45,000 feet, the G500 is proving to be the fastest- and highest-flying aircraft to come from the Gulfstream development team yet.
Practical efficiency
Some facts about the Gulfstream 500:
Maximum range is 5,000 nautical miles
Maximum operating speed (Mach) is 0.925
Maximum cruising altitude is 51,000 feet
The width and height of the aircraft give it the optimal size and shape for speed, maneuverability, and fuel efficiency, while being large enough to carry up to 19 passengers. Fresh air, 100% replenished every two minutes, keeps the cabin refreshing; and the pressurized interior (to no more than 4,850 feet) significantly reduces jet lag.
Comfortable luxury
Of course, the G500 wouldn’t be a Gulfstream if it didn’t include sublime levels of comfort.
Panoramic windows allow for captivating views and plenty of natural light.
Cabin seats are equipped with built-in storage and touch-screen entertainment.
Exceptional baggage volume includes fold-down shelving that can be individually configured.
Hand-stitched leather, silk, or cashmere carpet and wood veneers complete the look.
Two additions to the Gulfstream 500 flight-test program are now undergoing rigorous testing. Certification is expected to be complete in 2017 and the first deliveries available in 2018.
Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet. You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at +1.305.754.3313, or visit us online.
These days, we’ve become accustomed to greater levels of automation than ever before. We have cars that can parallel park themselves, we have homes that operate without our input, and the future of driverless cars is getting closer. But how would you feel about flying in an airplane thousands of feet above the earth with no human pilot at the controls?
In general, people resist the idea of pilotless commercial and private flights — even though a good portion of today’s aircraft controls are already automated. Disasters like the failed landing of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 and other recent accidents demonstrate that sometimes pilots believe in their flight control systems so completely that they lose track of where they are.
Is it time to lose human pilots altogether? The current debate swirls around whether flights should transition to full automation or if too much automation is a simply a fresh disaster waiting to happen.
Pilotless flight pros and cons
You might be surprised to learn that many in the airline industry think passengers would be safer with fewer pilots. Some of the strongest arguments for pilotless flights include:
Cost reductions — With fewer pilots, airlines could save on salaries, simulator training, healthcare, and layover costs. Reducing the flight crews on aircraft would save airlines loads of money and also potentially lower ticket prices for passengers.
Passenger protections — On a pilotless flight, a terrorist has no one to threaten nor the ability to hijack a plane midflight. Disasters like the 9/11 plane hijackings could not occur, and passengers would arguably be safer.
Another argument is related to flight safety. Proponents of pilotless flights claim that pilots and copilots rely “too much” on autopilot systems and are ill-equipped to override the systems even when they believe they should.
Those against full automation have plenty of counter arguments, of course, and claim that no automation is completely foolproof. A pilot’s experienced judgment is important in ensuring the safety of the aircraft and its passengers. Case in point: Chesley Sullenberger’s skill in landing US Airways Flight 1549 in 2009.
Another argument against pilotless flights is the fact that pilots spend less time flying manually than they used to. Thus, using less automation in the cockpit may be more sensible because it will force pilots to hone their manual-flying skills. A final argument is this: Automation could add greater complexity to flight emergency response procedures, which are critical to passenger safety.
Despite the public’s resistance to the idea of traveling in a pilotless aircraft, that resistance could erode as unmanned aerial vehicles become more mainstream. Like many new technology concepts, once pilotless flying has a chance to prove itself, the public will likely accept it sooner or later. Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet.
You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at +1.305.754.3313, or visit us online.
Would you pay a $10,000 deposit for a car that currently isn’t allowed on the road? What if that car could also fly? More than 100 people have already paid such a deposit in hopes of owning what could be the first viable combination car and aircraft: the Terrafugia Transition.
Carl Dietrich, the aeronautical engineer behind the successfully tested Transition, originally began working on its plans while he was a doctoral candidate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2006. Years later, the Transition has gotten closer to reaching the mass market than any previous flying-car concept.
The Transition’s development has been aided in part by the FAA’s “light-sport aircraft” (LSA) designation for planes that weigh less than 1,320 pounds and seat up to two passengers. The FAA rules have spurred product development in the LSA segment, making flying cars much more plausible than they were before the LSA regulations.
The Transition will be capable of speeds up to 70 mph on the road and 100 mph in the sky, and will run on regular unleaded gasoline rather than more expensive jet fuel. Dietrich anticipates that the aircraft vehicle will come to market within the next three years.
However, the dream of a road-to-sky vehicle may not be as glorious as it’s hyped up to be. As a very light and small aircraft, the Transition is dangerous to fly in any kind of inclement weather. The Transition also requires access to hundreds of yards of clear road in order to take off or land, presenting problems of access in cities or residential areas. Critics also say that a flying car as it exists today is likely to be neither a great car nor a great airplane, because of its limited capabilities. And with a price tag around $280,000, the Transition will not be affordable for many customers.
But for personal aviation enthusiasts, these hurdles are far from daunting. For those who believe the flying car’s time has come, the Transition marks the start of a new era.
Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet.
You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at +1.305.754.3313, or visit us online.
Green practices, including sustainability, aren’t only for aircraft. Airports today have an important role to play in mitigating their ecological impacts. To date, many airports have begun undertaking sustainability projects in not only in response to mandatory regulations, but also to conserve energy, reduce operating costs, and be better corporate citizens in their communities.
Airport sustainability practices
According to the Sustainable Aviation Guidance Alliance (SAGA), which has identified a set of well-defined measures and guidelines for airport sustainability, some of the practices airports are implementing include:
Participating in LEED programs
Using metrics to assess sustainability
Implementing recycling programs
Improving water efficiency and stormwater management
Using electric vehicles (EV) for ground transportation
Adhering to sustainable construction practices
Activating noise reduction programs
Improving indoor air quality
FAA’s green incentives
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has outlined several programs that are meant to encourage airports to become more sustainable. One of these is the Voluntary Airport Low Emission (VALE) program, which is intended to reduce many types of airport ground emissions. Another is the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which provides grants to public and private entities for airport infrastructure improvement — including airport sustainability planning.
The FAA recently awarded $10.2 million in VALE grants to six major airports. The airports can use these funds for air-quality improvement and emissions-reduction projects, such as acquiring low-emission vehicles, adding EV recharging stations, and automating gates.
While airport sustainability efforts may be less visible than other green initiatives in the aviation industry, small and large airports across the U.S. are jumping on the green wagon. Incentives, government climate mandates, and greater public support mean we should see more airports adopting sustainability initiatives in the coming months.
Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet.
You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at +1.305.754.3313, or visit us online.
Much as electric vehicles (EVs) once were in the automotive industry, electric planes have long been on the fringe of aviation. But recent developments are drawing new attention to electric aircraft and their potential for mainstream adoption.
Recent electric flights
Electric aviation trailblazers around the world have announced recent successful — and even record-breaking — flights.
Last spring, an Airbus electric plane called the E-Fan took its first public test flight. The E-Fan is a composite two-seater plane that has two 250-volt lithium-ion polymer batteries in its wings. The batteries deliver 60 kilowatts of power to the plane’s electric motors, giving the plant about 45 minutes of flying time.
In October, China’s first electric aircraft passed airworthiness tests and flew its initial test flight. The aircraft, a two-seater, is expected to be used in training and sightseeing.
Last year, in the U.S., Chip Yates set world speed records for his electric aircraft, the Long-ESA, and even surpassed the recorded speeds of the gas-powered Cessna 172 and 182 and Cirrus SR22-G2 (both of which are much more expensive).
Sustainability spurs electric research
Perhaps not surprisingly, environmental concerns are a key driver of electric aircraft research. Airbus’s investment in electric flight, for example, is part of an initiative to meet the EU’s Flightpath 2050 emissions and noise-reduction goals. Electric planes such as the E-Fan are quieter on takeoff and landing and emit no carbon dioxide during flight. They also vibrate far less than standard fossil fuel-powered airplanes.
The E-Fan is only the first in a series of aircraft that Airbus plans to develop. Airbus hopes to begin selling the E-Fan 2.0 in late 2017, targeting the pilot training market. That plane is expected to have a two-hour flight range, two to four seats, and in-flight battery recharging.
While electric aviation pioneers still have a few hurdles to overcome, they are working toward making electric flight mainstream. Just as EVs have gained a degree of consumer and business acceptance, electric planes should be able to find their niche, especially among private owners who are drawn to their cost savings and environmental benefits.
Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet.
You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at +1.305.754.3313, or visit us online.
Jet lag is an annoyance and even a health issue for anyone who flies across multiple time zones. For frequent flyers, such as on-the-go business executives, jet lag is more than a nuisance. It can have significant detrimental effects on well-being and productivity.
After years of sluggish performance and poor growth, the aviation industry is poised for a really good year in 2015. Analysts are barely hiding their glee, and jet owners and aviation pros are beyond ready for some good news and excitement. What’s spurring this particular renewal? Three big changes.
This month, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will implement an important change to the federal government approved Known Crew Member (KCM) program. Starting Jan. 13, the KCM program, which expedites airport security screening for flight crew members, will no longer require authorized crew members to be in uniform when passing through KCM access points.
For many people, the end-of-year holiday season is a time to snuggle up with friends and family and enjoy the long evenings. This year, consider skipping the tired holiday movie marathon and enjoy an aviation-themed movie night instead. Flight films are popular because of the familiar themes — riding in or piloting a plane — and because movies that take place in airplanes can be thrilling, hair-raisingly terrifying, or even romantic.
Riding on the tailwind of a 
Would you pay a $10,000 deposit for a car that currently isn’t allowed on the road? What if that car could also fly? More than 100 people have already paid such a deposit in hopes of owning what could be the first viable combination car and aircraft: the 
Green practices, including sustainability, aren’t only for aircraft. Airports today have an important role to play in mitigating their ecological impacts. To date, many airports have begun undertaking sustainability projects in not only in response to mandatory regulations, but also to conserve energy, reduce operating costs, and be better corporate citizens in their communities.
Much as electric vehicles (EVs) once were in the automotive industry, electric planes have long been on the fringe of aviation. But recent developments are drawing new attention to electric aircraft and their potential for mainstream adoption.