After an eight-month delay in engine certification, Honda Aircraft’s first jet is back on track for release.
The company recently announced that the jet’s GE Honda Aero HF120 engine is certified and it has received the FAA-issued Type Inspection Authorization (TIA). The certification process, which will ensure that the jet meets certain type design requirements before it is available for purchase, is almost complete.
Over the past few years, HondaJet flight test engineers have flown hundreds of hours in certification to test the aircraft, and the jet looks to be meeting promised levels of performance.
The jet carries six passengers and costs about $4.5 million. Upon certification, this light jet will be the fastest in its segment by about 15 knots and have a top cruising speed of 420 knots.
The HondaJet has a variety of other innovative features:
- A unique over-the-wing engine mount configuration that dramatically improves performance and fuel efficiency by reducing drag
- Two GE Honda HG120 turbofan jet engines, which are highly fuel-efficient
- A sophisticated ergonic flight deck with Honda-customized Garmin® G3000 next-generation avionics and 14-inch landscape-formatted displays and dual touch-screen controllers
- Nonstop flight for up to 1,180 nautical miles (for reference, it is 2,127 nautical miles from NYC to Los Angeles.)
There is just one final step necessary in the certification: FAA pilots must perform onboard flight testing.
And that’s not all the news for Honda Aircraft: Their customer service facility at Piedmont Triad International Airport (KGSO) in Greensboro, N.C., also recently received FAA Part 145 approval.
Honda Aircraft expects to begin delivering the first HondaJets in early 2015.
Aviation may seem like an industry that’s too large and too specific for the latest e-commerce techniques to work, but don’t ignore these technologies when you’re trying to sell an aircraft; they could help you more than you think!
Aircraft sales are typically business-to-business transactions, and B2B buyers make their decisions based on some predictable factors:
- 50% of B2B buyers regularly use social media/peer reviews to make buying decisions.
- 78% of B2B buyers go directly to vendors’ websites.
While these may seem to be the actions related solely to new jet buying, these tendencies also carry over into jet resale.
Smart jet brokers are leveraging all of the latest technologies to create a relationship between the buyer and the broker. Your jet is unique — maintenance information, recent upgrades, and distinctive features can all be lost in traditional listings that set it alongside thousands of other aircraft. Tech-savvy buyers can easily miss out on seeing what makes your jet special — or seeing your jet at all.
When selling, take advantage of today’s most advantageous avenues for enticing buyers:
- Blog posts and articles — If people see the seller as a trusted resource for industry news and information, they will also trust that source to recommend the right aircraft.
- Google+ and Facebook — According to a study by Gallup, users of these sites tend to be young, affluent, and educated — the target audience for jet sales.
- Email Newsletters — Specific analytics and click reports now let brokers follow up with people who demonstrated interest in certain types of aircraft, even if they didn’t get in touch.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) — Getting the right eyes on the jets you are selling is ultimately the key to getting the sale. SEO can help tie your listings to relevant keywords and search terms, bringing the buyers you’re looking for to your website.
While implementing all these high-tech selling techniques can be intimidating, the power of that technology can often mean a faster aircraft sale. Partnering with a broker who leverages all these technologies and more (like L&L International) can give your aircraft the best representation and promotion.
Traditionally, China has not made private jet flight easy for its citizens. China remains a country where the military controls 80% of the airspace, and there are formidable obstacles to obtaining a private jet license. Even the approval for a three-hour trip on a private jet takes at least two weeks to obtain — and it’s never a guarantee.
On top of all this, China has a significant lack of facilities where small planes can take off, land, and refuel, and there are few low-altitude aviation maps available. This means hopping on a private plane to see the other side of the country generally remains a dream — even for the country’s wealthiest people.
Recent shifts, however, indicate that China is preparing to open its airspace to private pilots. More and more people have begun to buy private aircraft and apply for flight certifications for business and recreational purposes. China recently eased the requirements for trainee pilots by changing the standards for theoretical exams, flight tests, and even the physical conditions for flight students.
More importantly, a little-noticed guideline issued in 2010 by the China State Council and Central Military Commission will likely lift the ceiling for low-flying aircraft by 2020.
Business jet manufacturers are hoping to cash in on the demand for smaller planes in China and have begun making plans, if not deliveries:
- Bombardier reports the sale of 100 business jets and indicates deliveries between 2013 and 2032 will be around 2,420.
- Dassault has sold 30 jets in China and has 20 scheduled for delivery in 2014-2015.
- U.S.-based Gulfstream reported that China accounts for about 6% of its worldwide delivery of 2,150 jets.
- Cessna has already started delivering its Grand Caravan EX jet, which is manufactured in China.
“There is a beautiful potential in this market,” says Beijing-based Jean Michel Jacob, senior VP of international sales with France’s Dassault Falcon.
Keep an eye on what is sure to be a rapidly growing and changing industry over the upcoming years.
Even the most seasoned traveler likely hasn’t traveled around the entire world. But a new exclusive world journey designed by a world leader in luxury travel, Abercrombie & Kent, in partnership with the private aviation experts at Flexjet, is about to provide the ultimate luxury world travel experience.
Abercrombie & Kent was founded in 1962 by Geoffrey Kent, who still runs the company. It remains a highly respected travel company and frequent award winner, and was recently named the World’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator at the World Travel Awards.
The custom journey, called Passport to the World, includes a variety of extravagant features:
- Up to 8 guests will travel to the most alluring destinations, including Japan, China, Hong Kong, India, Turkey, and France — the path is customized by you.
- Travel in a Challenger 605 business jet with large windows, the latest audio and video systems, global Wi-Fi, and leather seats that transform into beds that lay flat.
- Attentive service and insider access to the sites you want to see to ensure every encounter is unforgettable and inspiring.
“Traveling by private jet makes it possible to visit some of the most inspiring World Heritage sites in just two weeks, which under ordinary circumstances would be difficult — perhaps impossible — to see on a single trip,” said Geoffrey Kent in the recent press release.
The UNESCO World Heritage sites spotlight the most fascinating (and sometimes the most threatened) places and customs around the globe. It includes such places as the Kremlin and Red Square, Phoenix Islands, Cappadocia, the Borobudur Temple Compounds, and many others.
The 14-day Passport to the World starts at $1.5 million. The route is completely customized to the traveler who also chooses when to take their trip. It is being talked about as the ideal gift for weddings, anniversaries, and graduations.
For pilots of all skill levels, hypoxia is a serious concern. That’s why so many high-flying pilots keep an oximeter in the cabin to keep track of their oxygen levels. But sometimes these tools can be cumbersome, complex, or inaccurate — that is, until recently!
Now you can read your oxygen levels on the fly with Masimo’s new iSpO2 Pulse Oximeters. Just attach the reader to your fingertip, plug it into your iPhone, iPod, or iPad, and voila! You get a graphic readout that displays key data:
The iSpO2 has a special fingertip reader that works by shining LED lights through your fingertip. Sensors on the other side read a variety of light wavelengths to calculate your health stats.
The impressive app also tracks your readings and displays trends over time. The software keeps measurement histories second-by-second, which you can transfer via e-mail to your computer or anywhere else for graphing, analysis, or long-term storage.
The iSPO2 was introduced at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show and is now available for purchase — and at $249, it’s a great gift idea for the pilot in your life!
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 877-453-8276 (+1.305.754.3313), or visit us online.
There’s more than one reason to travel — the list of reasons is as long and varied as the travelers on the road — but some reasons may be more motivational than others. Interestingly, one reason to travel has to do with the effect it has on a traveler’s physical and mental state.
That’s right: Travel has a positive impact on your overall health.
Travel for the heart
One of the major areas travel tends to offer health benefits is the heart. According to the Global Commission on Aging (among other contributors), women who vacation only every six years or so experience a significantly higher risk of having a heart attack or a coronary-related death when compared with women who vacation at least twice a year.
And men, don’t worry, travel is good news for you, too: Men who did not take an annual vacation were shown to have a 20% higher risk of death and a 30% greater risk of death from heart disease.
Travel for the mind
According to experts, the health benefits of travel are almost immediate, too — just a day or two of travel equates to respondents reporting an 89% drop in how affected they are by stress. Furthermore, 86% of people who travel report being satisfied with their outlook on life, compared to just 75% of those who do not travel.
The mental health benefits of travel indicate that it’s not only rejuvenating and age-proofing, it’s also intellectually stimulating — and not merely because the traveler is temporarily out of their workplace.
Travel offers the opportunity to
- engage in new activities,
- hear and speak different languages.
All of these things help travelers view the world from a different perspective and even view their own world differently when they return home.
Travel is also reported to be a great way to strengthen relationships with those you already know. A study conducted by the U.S. Travel Association found that a vacation with a friend or loved one can help deepen the travelers’ bonds.
So what are you waiting for? It sounds like travel is just what the doctor ordered.
It’s never too early to plan your next adventure, and 2014’s unique luxury travel trends are full of great ideas to spice up your itinerary. Take a look at what this year’s luxury globetrotters are pursuing.
Foodie Travel
One of the more popular and growing trends is to focus your trip around authentic foods and wines in often what were previously considered to be unglamorous regions of the world.
Luxury travelers are no longer content with a simple Michelin-starred meal, but are looking for culinary adventures that include farm visits and interactive involvement in the production, such as grape stomping.
Also popping up are gastronomic pilgrimages to regions snagging international attention due to the World Cup.
River Cruises
With 25 new vessels hitting the European waterways, river cruises are gaining popularity as a more exploratory alternative to a traditional ocean cruise.
Luxury travelers can meander down a river and enjoy land and countryside views, as well as the ability to hop on and off the ship often in order to explore towns and villages before catching up with the cruise again at the next port.
Tack-on Destinations
As business travel starts to heat up again, individuals, couples, and families are tacking on destinations at either end of business trips or fitting them into longer layovers.
These mini-vacations allow the traveler to maximize airline ticket costs while fitting in a bit of fun to spruce up a week or weekend of work.
Fancy RVs
The old retirement standby no more, recreational vehicles (RVs) have had a major makeover and luxury travelers can expect to see mobile camping get glamorous (hence the term ‘glamping’).
Amenities now include entertainment systems, WiFi, instant hot water, high thread count sheets, and luxurious bath products. It’s 5-star comfort in a mobile package for travelers who want to cover a little more terrain.
Forget Western Europe
Many travelers are starting to find the whole western European scene a little “been there, done that.” Eastern Europe — Lithuania, Croatia, Estonia, Albania, and the like — are where the globetrotters will be in the coming year.
With beautifully preserved medieval towns and castles and bustling cosmopolitan centers, the mix of street life and the seaside make Eastern Europe more like the Mediterranean.
It’s never too early to think about your next adventure. Where will you go in 2014?
In a recent Forbes article, Eight Trends in Private Jet Travel, customizing jet interior design is listed as one of this year’s biggest trends in the jet industry.
As the article points out, “The recent Business Jet Interiors World Expo attracted hundreds of designers scouting for design options and ideas, including showers and full dining tables. Private jet interiors have been enhanced by top fashion designers, like Donatella Versace.” Even carpet is getting the designer treatment, with custom-made patterns in wool and silk that complement designs in other parts of the interior.
Why are these interior makeovers becoming such a popular trend? Interior upgrades are a cost-effective way to meet changing needs and boost a jet’s value. After all, it’s faster and costs less to refurbish your existing jet than it does to buy a new plane. And, of course, you want your pre-owned jet’s interior to reflect your tastes and your company’s branding.
Making your old jet new
Whether you’re looking for 24k-gold-plated seatbelt buckles a la Donald Trump, simple improvements in seat upholstery, or changing the overall design, interior designs are limited only by your imagination — and budget. With the help of an experienced and knowledgeable provider such as Wisetouch Interiors you can take advantage of this trend.
Wisetouch Interiors, located in Opalocka, Fla., offers mobile interior and exterior detailing, leather restoration, and interior refurbishment. Its refurbishment and fabrication services support entire seat build-up, which includes ordering materials and creating patterns pleasing to each specific cabin’s interior. It can technically modify and/or repair mechanical seats, and it offers free inspections on all completed projects.
To ensure cost-effective quality services, the company’s on-site upholstery shop consists of a large staff of highly trained pattern makers, designers, upholsterers, seamstresses, foam makers, and builders. With more than 100 years of combined aviation experience, Wisetouch Interiors can help you create a jet interior that meets your needs, tastes, and budget.
Jet interiors are as diverse as the companies that own them. Look to a trusted service such as Wisetouch Interiors to ensure your plane reflects your character.
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 877-453-8276 (+1.305.754.3313), or visit us online.
There is no shortage of people on the web claiming to have “expert” advice about travel: How to manage it, how to avoid problems, on and on. Like anything else you read on the Internet, it’s important to take travel advice with a grain of salt.
As examples, we found some of the most egregious and outdated tips:
- Book hotel reservations as far ahead as possible. — This tip is an unfortunate leftover from another time. These days, hotel rates and other travel costs change constantly. Making your reservations many months in advance could mean paying some obscene prices. However, wait until the last minute (especially for a destination that is hosting a particular event) and you could pay even more obscene prices. To find a happy medium, do some research on prices ahead of time, so you have a gauge. Then book when you see the prices are good.
- Exchange money in the U.S. before you leave. — This is another leftover that should have gone the same way as “carry traveler’s checks.” Exchange rates vary often, and the best rates are usually at the ATMs in the country where you are traveling. Plus, credit cards that waive foreign transaction fees are readily available.
- Carry lots of U.S. dollars. — While the word’s political troubles ebb and flow, and you will need some U.S. cash on hand, don’t bring more than you need to get yourself out of a jam. Unless all the ATMs and every single one of your credit cards fails or is stolen (hardly likely), the risk of losing all your cash in a mugging or robbery is a far greater concern.
- Travel when you’re young, rest when you’re older. — For some reason, this particular myth reappears every decade or so. On top of not being founded in any sort of fact, this idea can leave a bad taste in the mouths of older travelers. Anyone can travel at any age in their life, and that’s all that needs to be said about that.
- This is the real way to travel. — This tip assumes that every person should travel in a particular way, when it’s really more important to travel the way that you feel is right for you. Like the excitement and energy you find in hostels? Nothing wrong with that. Prefer the experience of a hotel? That’s your prerogative.
Every trip is important to each traveler for different reasons. Even the most mundane trip is an opportunity for an experience, a bit of adventure, and a lesson in something we’ve never experienced.
One of the most common issues in buying used aircraft is identifying incorrect pricing. And it’s easy to understand why: Aircraft pricing is a complex process that involves a lot of different factors. Many buyers fall into one of two common traps:
- The “but-Joe-said” scenario — When buyers base their cost expectations on the recommendations of friends, coworkers, or industry professionals such as pilots, they can end up overpaying or over- or under-buying for their needs. The problem is that most people, even if they’re familiar with aircraft, aren’t well-researched in the entire market and all of the nuances that affect a jet’s fair market value.
- Caveat emptor — Is the price too good to be true? Buyers might not know what’s hidden behind a low price: damage history, missing records, big inspections almost due, the need for engine repairs, or more. Unknown factors can shoot up future expenses in a jiffy.
However, buyers aren’t always completely in the dark — there are ways to get educated on fair market pricing. You can look at resources such as the Aircraft Bluebook and VREF values as well as cross-reference N numbers. You can review an aircraft’s logs and talk to the current mechanic. However, research can’t make up for experience, and these resources don’t account for other, harder-to-spot variables that influence cost:
- Avionics — If a plane needs a new and updated radio, you could be looking at an additional cost of $20,000 or more.
- Engine time — Engines have a limited life expectancy, which is defined by the Time Before Overhaul (TBO). This value is set based on when the average engine needs to be overhauled. If you buy a plane that is nearing its TBO limit, you need to factor in the cost to overhaul the engine.
- Exterior and interior condition — Considerations such as exterior paint condition and corrosion or the need for an interior update can influence the price of a pre-owned aircraft by thousands of dollars.
- Location transfer — Remember to figure in the cost of transporting your newly purchased jet to its new home.
All in all, the best way to get the best price is to have an expert’s assistance in the purchase process. Experience, knowledge, and working with a jet broker you can trust are the keys to avoiding pitfalls and making sure you don’t pay more than you should for the right plane.
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 877-453-8276 (+1.305.754.3313), or visit us online.
