Industry News

Winter weather and holiday traffic jams aren’t the only things causing delays for air travelers. The current pilot shortage has hit regional airlines and their passengers particularly hard. What’s causing this shortage of qualified pilots? A few things:

• In 2013 the FAA increased first-officer qualification requirements — from 250 to 1,500 hours of flight time.
• Many pilots are reaching the mandatory retirement age (as many as 25% of the total pilot force are expected to retire within the next six years).
• Fewer students are entering and completing pilot training programs.

Many airline industry experts worry that dwindling pilot numbers will hamper air travel. The airlines, particularly the smaller regional airlines where most new pilots start their careers, are finding it increasingly difficult to fill their first-officer vacancies. The low salaries for these entry-level positions also discourage newcomers.

Where the pilot shortage hurts most

Although the FAA ruling to increase first-officer qualification requirements was designed to combat the alarming trend of deadly crashes, seemingly caused by inexperienced pilots, the change is impacting the aviation industry at all levels. Because it can take a pilot several years to accumulate the required 1,500 flight hours, new pilots find it difficult to qualify for even a regional job.

Small airports, especially, are suffering from the pilot shortage, as they must service 10,000 passengers a year to qualify for FAA infrastructure funding.

Pilot-shortage solutions

The aviation industry is investigating possible solutions to the pilot shortage. For example, NASA is exploring the possibility of single-pilot commercial flights. This solution would employ a copilot to monitor the flight from the ground and remote-assist when necessary.

Other researchers are looking into ways to reduce crew size, including studying innovative ground support technology, increasing automation on board airliners, and improving crew resource management and physiological monitoring.

Still, the hurdles of overcoming public fear, persuading politicians, retraining pilots to fly solo, and reconfiguring jetliners are high. Aviation key players will need to collaborate to overcome these barriers and find ways to bring more new pilots into the industry.

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.

National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) recently added four names to its prestigious roster of 225 men and women — each recognized as a pioneer in air and space technology. Since the Hall of Fame’s founding in 1962, it has honored the greatest contributors to U.S. aviation. The four new members are:

1. Robert N. Hartzell (deceased) — Hartzell, a neighbor of Orville Wright, began making wooden propellers for the Wright brothers in 1917. He supplied the propellers used on U.S. aircraft in both world wars. Postwar, his company created the lightweight, controllable propellers that spurred development in general aviation across the world.

2. Gen. Robert L. Cardenas, USAF (Ret) — Cardenas graduated from test pilot school in 1945 after flying World War II combat as a B-24 pilot in Europe. He played an instrumental role in the supersonic, record-breaking X-1 program and was chief pilot in the XB-49 flying wing program. He was commander of both the combat wing of F-105s in Southeast Asia and Air Force Special Operations Force.

3. Eugene “Gene” Kranz — Kranz was a fighter pilot in Korea and an Air Force flight-test engineer before joining NASA’s Space Flight Group in 1960. There, he rose through the ranks of flight operations with the progression of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs. In his 37 years of service, he served as Flight Director during the Apollo 13 mission and as NASA Director of Mission Operations, with the responsibility of managing 6,000 employees and a $700 million budget.

4. Abe Silverstein (deceased) — Silverstein was a mechanical engineer and aerodynamicist whose work contributed to improvements in World War II and early supersonic aircraft. In 1958 he transitioned from the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) to NASA, serving as the agency’s first Director of the Office of Space Flight Programs. Known as the Father of Apollo, and credited with architecting the space program, his vision led to human exploration of the moon and beyond.

Each of these individuals played a groundbreaking role in the advancement of air and/or space technology.

The NAHF announced its “class of 2015” on December 16, 2014 — the eve of the anniversary of the Wright brothers’ first flight over Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903.

Facts about the NAHF

NAHF started as a nonprofit organization in Dayton, Ohio — also the home of the Wright brothers and said to be the “birthplace of aviation.” After achieving national charter status by the 88th U.S. Congress and President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, the organization become a public foundation, reporting annually to Congress (a role it continues to serve today).

The purpose of the NAHF is to preserve and memorialize the accomplishments of its honored inductees. Air and space veterans such as Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, and Neil Armstrong are all NAHF members.

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.

The surprising plunge in oil and fuel prices made news in late 2014 and has continued to make headlines into the new year. Prices for fuel, including jet fuel, have been on the decline and are anticipated to continue to drop in 2015. With crude oil prices dropping 40% since June — from more than $115 a barrel to less than $50 a barrel — the resulting reduction in jet fuel costs is good news for private jet owners and business aviation.

Older jets get a boost

Fuel prices can make up 30 to 40% of total operating costs. As a result, many businesses favor newer, more fuel-efficient (and more expensive) aircraft models during times of higher oil prices. Current fuel prices give owners of older jets more incentive to keep flying their aircraft longer, rather than replace their planes with newer fuel-efficient aircraft.

The decline of oil prices is also making used aircraft more attractive to buyers. In addition to their considerably lower cost, used jets can be delivered and put into service much more quickly than new models can — especially considering enormously backlogged orders for new jets.

A good time for pre-owned aircraft buyers

Aircraft buyers may find good deals on jets owned by oil industry execs whose net worth is falling in the wake of low oil prices. Such is the case particularly in Russia, where many private jet owners are motivated to sell their aircraft to pocket on-the-rise U.S. dollars.

And for first-time jet buyers in particular, the fuel-price decline makes private jet ownership more of a bargain than ever compared with the cost of commercial airlines for business travel. Lower fuel costs have not been reflected in the price of commercial flights. Some airlines are pocketing the profits rather than passing along cost savings to customers, either to avoid having to raise ticket prices again when fuel costs increase or because they have little incentive to cut ticket prices given the high demand for business travel. Other airlines are actually losing money as an unforeseen consequence of agreeing upon set jet fuel prices with suppliers before the cost of fuel dropped so significantly.

Although the lower fuel prices are having a mixed effect on the aviation market as a whole, as long as prices remain suppressed, owners of older jets or those in the market for a pre-owned plane will continue to reap the blessings of the worldwide oil glut.

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 Bombardier CSeries

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.

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.

Maybe you knew your company is ready for a private jet, but you’re not sure if the budget is ready. Your reluctance could vanish after you take a look at today’s used jet market. It’s an exceptional time for first-time buyers to own a jet, with more affordable options than ever before.

Prices are falling for many models

As cited in the recent Robb Report (October 2014), prices of pre-owned aircraft plunged during the recession (starting in 2008), triggered largely by a glut of planes from owners who could no longer afford them or justify their cost. Jetnet reports the average asking price for a pre-owned aircraft only 15 years old or newer was $8.7 million in 2013 — 20% less than it was in 2009.

While used aircraft values continue to trend downward, prices are falling less drastically than they were during the worst part of the recent recession, reports aviation website Globalair.com. The continuing low prices make the pre-owned market especially welcoming for first-time buyers as well as bizjet and private jet owners who want to trade up. Buyers looking to acquire larger aircraft may also add to the used-jet supply by selling their current jets as the market achieves some equilibrium and as the stigma of owning a business jet wears off.

Best aircraft values

A large selection of reasonably priced models is available — especially older, pre-2000 aircraft. Prices have fallen considerably for some late-model midsize jets, too, such as the Bombardier Challenger 300, Challenger 605, and Gulfstream G150. The entry of the Gulfstream G650 means that prices for older Gulfstream models — the G550, G450, GV, and GIV — have all been pushed down. For example, the average price for a G550 over the last six months (based on 10 transactions) is $36.1 million used, and a GIV can be as low as $3 million.

As more buyers enter the used jet market and soak up the available supply, reduced inventory levels could drive up prices and create a seller’s market. For the foreseeable future, however, the pre-owned aircraft market is ripe for the picking.

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.

Private jets save money and time for businesses whose executives travel frequently. Recent research shows that a private jet could even boost your company’s performance, providing a competitive advantage over companies that don’t use business aircraft.

Bizjet users are top performers

A 2013 study of Business Aviation by NEXA Advisors reviewed the link between private aircraft and the world’s top-performing companies. The study found “ample proof” that business aviation creates significant value for businesses and can “materially improve” a company’s ability to create value and increase returns for shareholders. The report showed that growth in business aviation activity around the world has also benefited international companies and shareholders in a similar manner to those in the U.S.

Most would agree that private jets save time and money for businesses whose executives have to travel frequently, but it’s validating to learn that private jet ownership significantly boosts company financial performance as well.

The advantages that private aircraft offer businesses can be summed up with this statement: Private jets make it easier and faster for executives to conduct business in person with their customers and partners.

Private aircraft advantages

If you still need convincing, consider these specific advantages of private aircraft:

• Skipping the hassle and delays of the TSA.
• Scheduling flights around your needs — If your meeting runs late, you fly on your time, and the plane waits for you.
• Departing on request — You can book several meetings in a day, make every meeting on time, and still be home for dinner.
• Using smaller airports to get to your destination faster — More than 5,000 airports can accommodate smaller aircraft, compared to only 550 larger airports that are available for larger commercial aircraft.
• Trust and privacy — Owning your jet means hiring a pilot and crew you trust. It also allows you to conduct business in private without worrying about compromising sensitive information.

The upfront cost of a private jet may seem sizable, but compare that to the cost of flying to multiple locations using commercial airlines, the price of overnight hotel stays, time lost in delays and ground travel, and reduced productivity. An investment in a bizjet pays for itself pretty quickly and gives you “more bang for your buck.” Plus, private aircraft costs may be tax deductible — so the jet investment gives your business a tax advantage as well as the ability to conduct business on your terms.

Sure, we get it: A private business jet is an incredibly luxurious way to travel. But owning a jet provides a host of other benefits. The end result is a more direct route, less time spent traveling, and the all-important bottom line. If your business growth depends on meeting clients and partners in person, investing in a private jet is a no-brainer.

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.

Thirteen years ago, the tragedy of September 11, 2001, took the lives of nearly 3,000 people and caused a wave of consequences throughout our nation and the world. Now, we honor September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, a nationwide movement of charitable service in remembrance of the 9/11 victims, the survivors, and their families. On the anniversary of the terrorist attacks, Americans unite in service the same way that so many came together to help on that tragic day.

Jet owners and pilots who want to commemorate the day through service have several unique options for doing so. Here’s a look at three ways you can put your jet into service for a worthwhile cause.

Flying for Air Charity Network

Many people around the world lack convenient access to quality medical care, medicines, and treatment. Often, those who have health problems and live in remote areas also lack the funds to travel to places where they can receive the needed treatment. To help address these problems, nonprofit organization Air Charity Network facilitates access to health care for needy people by coordinating free air transportation on private aircraft.

Through Air Charity Network, jet owners and volunteer pilots fly people with health problems long distances to and from the medical facilities where they can receive the treatment they need. For example, Air Charity Network carries cancer patients for chemotherapy, people with kidney problems to dialysis or surgical transplants, and children to and from hospitals to receive treatment for life-threatening illnesses.

Delivering hope with Sky Hope Network

Sky Hope Network‘s mission is to engage the dynamic business aviation network to solve critical problems in emergency and urgent situations. For disaster relief, the organization coordinates bizav flights to deliver supplies, volunteers, and medical teams and also coordinates rescues of the critically injured.

Sky Hope Network also synchronizes flight requests for urgent situations where some lead time is available — for example, an urgent flight request for a young father battling cancer who needs a stem cell treatment in Panama City while he lives in Atlanta.

Lending your jet to Angel Flight West

The all-volunteer organization Angel Flight West arranges free non-emergency air travel for those who have serious medical conditions and other critical needs. This organization relies on the donation of aircraft, pilot skills, time, and flying costs to help individuals and families in need get the help that would otherwise be inaccessible to them. You can lend your jet or an empty return flight to Angel Flight West and help someone in need.

You can find more ways to use your private jet to give back to the community in this post. While honoring this year’s National Day of Service and Remembrance, consider using your private jet to assist Americans and others in need across the world and change the story September 11 left behind.

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.

Aviation is slowly going green: Plane travel is becoming more fuel efficient, the use of biofuels is on the rise, and even aircraft interiors are becoming more eco-friendly. The task of making aircraft interiors friendlier to the environment incorporates a dual approach: using greener materials in the production of aircraft as well as reusing and recycling interior and exterior aircraft components.

Eco-friendly materials

The array of eco-conscious materials available for aircraft interiors continues to grow, ranging from recyclable carpeting that’s also carbon neutral to LED lighting that uses less energy than incandescent lamps. Seats are getting a green overhaul, with more seat choices available in non-toxic and natural materials. Southwest Airlines is leading the way with its Evolve interior lightweight E-leather, an eco-friendly alternative to traditional leather.

Cabinets and veneer made from fast-growing renewable wood sources and LEED-certified interior materials are rounding out the eco-interior offerings. Boeing has even researched and patented green “sandwich” panels, made of flax-thermoset composite with a foam core.

Aircraft owners looking to refurbish jet interiors in an eco-friendly way have more options than ever before. When consulting with an aircraft interior design firm or refurbishment specialist, ask about the use of green materials in the firm’s practice, and how it can be incorporated into your designs.

Recycling opportunities

The other side of aviation’s green trend is recycling. Interest in reusing and recycling aircraft interior and exterior parts is growing. A study supported by Airbus found that as much as 85% of an aircraft’s parts can be “reused, recovered, or recycled.”

“Green” might as well refer to cash too. An industry study conducted by the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA — an organization that promotes aircraft recycling best practices) and TeamSAI Consulting reports that the aircraft dismantling market could reach $80 million in 2014. Companies in this arena recover parts for the aftermarket and recycle parts removed from dismantled aircraft.

Seats can be removed and either dismantled for recycling or sold for reuse in other aircraft, and thermoplastics from interiors can be shredded and formed into pellets that can be made into new products. And more companies are getting in on the action, including the U.K.’s SD Aviation, which has set a goal of being able to recycle 100% of aircraft cabin materials within the next two years.

With help from the forward-looking approach that industry eco-leaders are taking, aviation’s huge carbon footprint could slowly start to shrink.