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.
Wisetouch Interiors’ President Julio D. Somarriba sets the bar for dedication, customer service, self-motivation, and quality high for the company founded in 2007.
With hundreds of hours logged on different aircraft in his 20-plus years of experience, Somarriba’s caring and understanding of a client’s satisfaction is apparent with each successful service his crew performs.
Located in Opalocka, Fla., Wisetouch operates from several hangars and facilities, providing a wide range of aviation services. After many successful years of providing mobile interior and exterior detailing services, the company has expanded to include leather restoration and state-of-the art upholstery and interior refurbishments.
Wisetouch provides complete interior services, with program managers overseeing all aspects of the process. Its capabilities are vast:
- removal and re-installation
- cabinetry and galley modifications
- full upholstery care and repair
- headliners and valance panels
- complete interior detailing
- engineering consulting and flammability services
Every service is performed with integrity and commitment to the customer’s satisfaction. The fleet of Mercedes mobile detailing units provides the customer with service patterns specifically designed to support client schedules. Each unit is fully equipped with high-tech equipment, ensuring each job meets and exceeds client standards.
Wisetouch Interiors and Somarriba have been featured in several trade magazines, including Business Jet International, Aircraft Airliners, The Leather Institute and the Palm Beach Post. In his 20 years in the aviation industry, Somarriba has worked on aircraft such as Airbus, Gulfstream, Bombardier, Hawker, Cessna, and Falcon Jet. He has also supported companies such as Aircraft Modular Products, B/E Aerospace, and Decrane Aircraft, to name a few.
Somarriba’s technical background has provided him with a keen understanding of “fit, form, and function.” He has integrated craftsmanship and comfort with technology, and he keeps his fingers on the pulse of current engineering designs and designations. His peers know him as a leader and industry specialist of aircraft interiors who stands out as a trouble shooter and a deadline maker. Somarriba’s training and qualifications extend from the Leather Institute to technical support certifications for several aviation groups and carriers.
Somarriba has crafted a unique organization based on quality and out-of-the-box technology, and his company’s dedication to excellence is visible to its clients and its clients’ clients.
Next time you admire the interior and comfort of a business jet, ask yourself, “Was this a Wisetouch?”
For more information about Wisetouch Interiors, visit the company’s website.
Keeping your private plane looking polished on the inside is an important part of maintaining the overall value of your investment. Instead of replacing worn interior fixtures, consider the cost-efficient option of leather and vinyl repair.
A small business with vast experience
Colorado-based Complete Leather Solutions has been restoring leather and vinyl for more than 35 years. As a self-described perfectionist, owner Dick Fulsom believes the key to his company’s longevity is being a family-owned operation and striving for 100 percent customer satisfaction on every project, both large and small.
The company launched a car upholstery repair business in 1976, eventually moving into refurbishing office and home furniture. Today, Complete Leather Solutions caters to a diverse set of commercial clients, including moving companies, hotel and resort establishments and — you guessed it — private jet owners.
Restoration: A greener option
Complete Leather Solutions can correct a wide variety of issues including scratches, tears and ripped seams, frame and cushion damage. They can also eliminate difficult stains in many cases. Complete Leather Solutions matches the color of existing leather furnishings or gives dated leather upholstery a facelift by dying the fabric in a more contemporary color.
Leather and vinyl damage that may appear beyond repair is, in fact, the kind of challenging restoration project at which Complete Leather Solutions excels. To learn more about Complete Leather Solutions and their services, visit their website at completeleathersolutions.com.
In 1980, Taughannock Aviation Corp. began FAR 135 charter operations with a single Piper Seneca twin-engine aircraft based at TAC’s Ithaca Tomkins Regional Airport (KITH) facility.
In the more than 30 years since then, the company has added facilities, personnel, aircraft and services that allow it to meet virtually any aircraft need.
Taughannock Aviation Corp. has worked to become one of the Northeast’s largest and most competitive aircraft management and air charter companies. The highest levels of safety, integrity and personalized service are the foundations of its success.
Based at the Ithaca Airport, TAC employs nearly 50 full-time staffers, and it has amassed more than 40 million air miles and 100,000 flight hours without an accident or injury. TAC operates 12 business jet aircraft in charter service and maintains sales offices and aircraft bases in Teterboro, Miami and Ithaca.
TAC offers a full range of aircraft management, charter, aircraft maintenance and FBO services to a broad spectrum of aviation users. It provides long-term aircraft management and operating agreements with Fortune 100 companies as well as individual aircraft owners, offering:
- Charter marketing as required by the owner
- Clarity in accounting maintenance and all other issues
- Fully rated and qualified professional flight crews (primary or supplemental)
- All flight crew and technician training
- Competitive hull and liability insurance
- Heated hangar space at its ITH/TEB/OPF or any other aircraft base
- 24/7 dispatch and flight following, including free access to our interactive Internet-based flight scheduling system
- The highest revenue return if the aircraft is made available for third party charter with guaranteed utilization levels
TAC has delivered secure, private, comfortable and convenient air charter service for three decades, and it prides itself in providing a level of service that exceeds its customers’ expectations at a reasonable price. Two of the three company founders are full-time employees of the firm, assuring a level of service unavailable from “chain” aircraft management companies.
As the sole FBO at its airport, TAC has its own fuel supply and more than 50,000 square feet of new heated hangar space, including a fully staffed, state-of-the-art maintenance repair station. TAC currently operates a mixed fleet of jets, including Gulfstream, Dassault, Challenger and Hawker aircraft.
TAC’s Certified Repair Station provides expert maintenance and repairs of aircraft, ranging from routine inspections to major repairs and alterations. Its crew specializes in Gulfstream II, III, IV and V; Falcon 20, 50 and 2000; Hawker 700, 800a and 800xp; King Air; and various general aviation single and twin aircraft and light aircraft.
At its FBO in Ithaca, the company offers arrival e-concierge services, local information, fuel programs, hangar accommodations, aircraft aesthetics and amenities.
For more information about Taughannock Aviation Corp., visit its website or call (800) 876-1551.
Corporate jet travelers spend a lot of time sitting. Today’s aircraft interior designers and engineers are working harder than ever to perfect the business jet seat. In the January 2013 issue of Business Jet Interiors International, experts in design, manufacturing, certification, installation, and maintenance discuss the bright (and cozy) future of jet seats. The efforts to improve jet seating involve an array of considerations:
- Visual appeal — Designers are working to make seats look less like airplane chairs and more like luxury furniture.
- Comfort and ergonomics — Engineers have come up with creative solutions to adjust seating to accommodate passengers with different height and weight needs, including extendable head and leg rests for a customized and comfortable fit.
- Use — Advances in technology are making airline seats into multi-tasking marvels that allow complete reclining for rest, double seats for comfort, in-seat storage, as well as track-and-swivel mechanisms.
- Safety — Always a prime consideration, engineers are constantly improving seat safety while ensuring aircraft seating meets flammability and passageway certification requirements.
- Arrangement — Designers are looking at new ways to position seating and develop aircraft floor plans that are functional, comfortable, and attractive.
Modern advances in materials and increased user expectations mean standard seats will soon offer features similar to those you’d expect from luxury cars. Heated jet seats are currently available, but future seats could be cooled as well. And composite frames, as opposed to the standard aluminum, may eventually help designers make seats lighter-weight and more visually appealing. In addition, travelers are asking for seats with memory settings for sleeping and favorite positions, mechanical lumbar support, and massage functionality.
Are you ready to upgrade?
Is your jet ready for a seat renovation? If so, it’s a big investment that you’ll want to protect. Heed these expert tips on making a seat upgrade last:
- Choose materials capable of handling wear and tear.
- Avoid extremely light colors.
- Arm rests and seat cushions are the most replaced items, so choose these components wisely.
- To maintain resale appeal and value, keep colors and aesthetics in mind; sometimes funky or custom designs are more difficult to sell.
- Make sure replacement parts are available.
- Use seat covers when seats are not in use and have seats cleaned and protected regularly.
With thoughtful consideration and consistent care, your seating investment can look and feel great for a long time — or at least until those air-conditioned seats come along!
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.
With locations around the globe and customer service that’s second to none, Signature Flight Support is a fixed-based operator you can count on no matter where you fly.
Signature Flight Support has the world’s largest FBO and distribution network for business aviation services, but it also works to make personal connections with every person who crosses its tarmac. Its service representatives are highly trained and focused on customer service, so you’re sure to feel at home wherever you land at a Signature Flight FBO.
With more than 100 prime locations in the United States, Europe, South America, Africa and Asia, Signature offers a full range of FBO services, including fueling, hangar and office rentals, ground handling, and crew and passenger amenities.
To ensure that customers receive the best service, Signature hires only employees who are passionately committed and personally invested in creating a delightful, safe, warm, and inclusive environment for its employees and customers.
As the company has grown, it has focused on its core values of integrity, responsibility, safety, service, people and performance. The company creates an environment where individuals are encouraged to share ideas, embrace differences, and grow both professionally and personally. Being an employer of choice and empowering individuals in a safe and sustainable environment is what makes Signature a global leader in flight support services.
For its loyal customers, Signature offers a reward program, Signature Status™, which rewards customers based on their frequency of visits to Signature locations and is not dependent on fuel uplift volumes or purchases at its U.S. FBOs. From silver status to platinum, customers receive value-added services depending on their status level at reduced or even no cost, and priority for services such as preferred ramp parking and hangar availability.
Signature is based in Orlando, Fla. Besides offering FBOs at airports throughout the United States and one in Canada, it also has locations throughout Europe — including France, Italy, Ireland and Greece — as well as several in South America and one each in Africa (Cape Town, South Africa) and Asia (Hong Kong, China).
Signature handles more than a million aircraft movements in a year, sells 160 million gallons of Jet A fuel a year and houses one in every 10 business jets in its hangars. It employs 2,300 people through its network of fixed-base operations. The company also operates four overhaul facilities and 12 regional turbine centers.
To contact Signature Flight Support, call (407) 648-7200 or visit Signature Flight Support online.
Taughannock Aviation Corporation(TAC) excels at providing aircraft management and air charter services to the Northeast. From its humble beginnings as a charter operator with a single Piper Seneca twin-engine aircraft, TAC has worked to become a true full-service provider. With sales offices and aircraft bases in Teterboro, Miami, and Ithaca, TAC has been in business more than 30 years. It has amassed more than 40 million air miles and 100,000 flight hours without an accident or injury.
TAC offers complete aircraft management services, including aircraft maintenance with their Part 145 repair station and pilot training at and above FAA standards. It also offers custom plans that allow you to tailor a management program to your aircraft usage and the level of involvement you would like to have. In addition, the company provides expert repairs and aircraft maintenance.
Working with aircraft ranging from Gulfstream business jets to Cessna trainers, TAC technicians employ a wealth of experience in the latest technology. Their maintenance capabilities are extensive, from routine inspections to major repairs and alterations. The company ensures that each avionics repair or installation goes smoothly, on budget, and on schedule.
TAC offers a full range of aircraft management, charter, and aircraft maintenance services to a broad spectrum of aviation users. Plus, as the sole fixed-base operator (FBO) at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (KITH), TAC provides hangar accommodations, fuel services, parking, concierge services, and other amenities.
Incredibly, even as the company has grown to become one of the Northeast’s largest and most competitive aircraft management and air charter companies, TAC still maintains the highest levels of safety, integrity, and personalized service for each client.
Give your tired jet a refreshing nose-to-tail detail. Wisetouch Interiors of Opalocka, Fla., offers the services you need. This company has multiple hangars to accommodate the full spectrum of aircraft refurbishment options.
Wisetouch Interiors does exteriors
Maintaining the exterior of the aircraft is important for more reasons than just the appearance of the plane from the runway. Corrosion and other damage reduce the value of the plane and diminish the overall integrity of the exterior. In addition to cleaning, Wisetouch technicians remove scratches and other forms of damage even on the most complex aircraft exteriors.
Inside the aircraft, the Wisetouch team cleans and restores every material including wood, marble, leather, carpets, mirrors, and more. The professional attention to detail means each surface is carefully inspected before treatments are applied.
Remodeling the cabin
Wisetouch even provides design consultations to help its clients plan modifications to the aircraft’s interior. The company’s designers assist with every phase of the project, from concept to installation of custom galleys, credenzas, and seating. Wisetouch installers are experienced with both hardwoods and composite materials, and they make careful recommendations about the best material for each project.
Getting your pre-owned aircraft serviced by Wisetouch Interiors is much more than just taking it through a wash and wax. The experienced team transforms outdated interiors and exteriors into sleek, modern aircraft. Without question, the Wisetouch suite of services improves the value of your plane. Take your refurbished investment to the skies, and the results may improve your mood, as well.
When selling or purchasing a private jet, the appraisal process is the point at which an independent party is brought in to estimate the true value of the aircraft. Most banks and lending institutions now require a certified appraisal before proceeding with a loan, and most insurance companies will insist on an appraisal before issuing a policy for the aircraft.
Certified appraisal = peace of mind
Uncertainty about the appraisal process may be a source of worry. In fact, the due diligence reduces the risk that the buyer will pay more for the plane than it’s actually worth. The appraisal also prevents the seller from setting the asking price too low.
The appraisal examines all aspects of the aircraft to set a fair value. The age of the aircraft, as well as the interior and exterior condition, are factors. The appraiser inspects the avionics, airframe, and other components. An inspection will also reveal unreported damage or gaps in recordkeeping or log books, all of which can negatively affect the value of the plane.
The impartial opinion
The National Aircraft Appraisers Association (NAAA) is an independent body that conducts the certified inspections required by most lenders and insurers. An NAAA appraisal includes the physical inspection and further refines the estimate by using sophisticated software that compares the aircraft against recent sales of similar planes.
Involving an NAAA certified appraiser from the beginning of the process will ensure the inspection is accurate, objective, and meets the standards of all parties. Whether you’re buying or selling, this is no time to skimp on costs. Determining the true market value of the aircraft will pay dividends down the road.
Whenever and wherever your aircraft is on the ground (AOG), First Support is available in real time to get it back in the air.
First Support’s global command center — a first for an independent engine service provider — uses satellite-based technologies to deliver pinpoint tracking of people, aircraft and engine assets. This enables ultra-fast and efficient scheduling of resources in response to your AOG needs.
Not only does First Support find the nearest technician, but it also tracks weather and provides videoconferencing so that the technician can get further instructions from First Support specialists. First Support’s instant response and global tracking and scheduling cut your AOG time by hours or even days.
Located at Dallas Airmotive’s facility in Grapevine, Texas, adjacent to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the First Support command center is an integrated real-time system that instantly locates and schedules field service technicians, rental engines and mobile response vehicles any time of the day, anywhere in the world.
Every job in progress, availability of all assets and personnel, air and land traffic and any resource conceivable to address your AOG situation are tracked second by second. First Support routes around weather and airport delays.
First Support headquarters in Dallas coordinates its strategically placed Regional Turbine Centers (RTCs) and international Mobile Response Teams (MRTs), which offer emergency response 24/7. Mobile repair vehicles are available to provide on-site engine services within a reasonable radius of their locations.
