Imagine you’re visiting a foreign locale where the culture and currency are very different from your native country. You hire a local guide for the day and ask him to help you navigate a large open-air market. As you wind through the crowd, merchants call out to you in an unfamiliar language, urging you to buy. Your head spins in confusion as your stomach churns with hunger.
A nearby stall is displaying an assortment of unfamiliar edibles which look fresh enough. Your guide, however, shakes his head and leads you to another vendor. After some haggling, you’re feasting on a special local delicacy of the freshest quality at a surprisingly reasonable price.
The critical role of the broker
This scenario is not very different from the challenges of purchasing a private aircraft. Yes, you can explore the market on your own, but a local guide — in this case, your broker — can help you avoid the traps and pitfalls you might never see coming.
Aoife O’Sullivan, partner at London-based Gates and Partners and author of the industry white paper The Gold Standard in Private and Corporate Jet Sales, cautions that “buying a business or private jet for the uninitiated (and, indeed, even for those familiar with the industry) is a complicated, expensive and potentially hazardous jaunt into the unknown.”
Don’t be fooled by that new-plane smell
Most private jet purchasers are surprised at how complicated the buying process can be, even for a new plane available directly from the manufacturer. Says O’Sullivan, “Manufacturers can have a soft side, and the good brokers know how to negotiate a better deal for buyers whether in the form of price, elevated delivery date, and additional perks for credits such as additional training or increased warranty periods.”
In other words, a trusted broker knows the manufacturer’s pressure points and how to leverage them to maximize every dollar spent on a new aircraft.
The pre-owned advantage
In the pre-owned market, an experienced, professional broker has the inside track on available inventory and pricing fluctuations. Plus, your broker is familiar with lesser-known sources of quality aircraft — often tapping into those channels before the product becomes widely available for sale on the Internet or through other public means.
O’Sullivan adds that “the broker who has a long-term relationship with the buyer or seller will also have an in-depth knowledge of the history of the aircraft and can be a valuable source of information when researching title, whether there has been any damage to the aircraft, etc.”
Very few decisions are as significant and weighty as choosing a private aircraft, but it doesn’t have to be daunting, frustrating or risky. Partner with the right broker and along with the thrill of owning a private aircraft, you’ll uncover the best value for every dollar you spend.
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.
Most people don’t think twice about taking a breath — but breathing is nothing to take for granted on an aircraft.
Too close for breathing comfort
The close quarters of a private jet — with limited breathing room — can increase the risk of catching an infection. In addition, pollutants such as engine fumes leaking into the cabin may pose a threat to the health of crew and passengers alike.
An aircraft cabin exposes occupants to outside and recirculated air, just like a home or office. On an aircraft, however, people are much closer together. Also, occupants can’t leave at will, and the aircraft interior must be pressurized.
Without ozone converters, elevated concentrations of ozone occur on aircraft, causing airway irritation and reduced lung function.
Technologies are available to address the issue of infections, contaminants and pollutants. AirManager, an air-sanitizing system adapted from one used in hospitals and nursing homes, can eliminate bacteria, viruses and other biohazards. It also destroys chemical pollutants and removes unpleasant smells.
Pressure rises
Pressure is also a breathing issue on aircraft. At 8,000 feet, a passenger’s oxygen intake is reduced by about 4 percent — not enough to cause harm, but enough to make passengers feel fatigue. Small children and people with cardio or pulmonary ailments may experience serious health effects.
But some aircraft manufacturers are working to combat the effects of pressurization. Some 2012 Gulfstream models, for example, will include technology that keeps cabin pressure equivalent to 2,800 feet, even when the aircraft is cruising at 41,000 feet.
If you require specific equipment or accommodations in your private aircraft, you can breathe easier with the help of a private jet broker. A professional broker can quickly locate the aircraft with just the features you need.
That’s right. As of Dec. 15, 2011, the FAA approved pilots to use iPads to replace the paper-based flight bag on American Airlines. While some joke about the possibility of pilots playing Angry Birds or updating Facebook, nearly three weeks later, we haven’t heard of any dire consequences.
The iPad is replacing paper navigational charts and manuals for the operation of the aircraft. Weighing in at 38 pounds and 12,000 sheets of paper, the flight bag is a hefty item for pilots to tote around. However, the iPad only weighs 1.5 pounds. It seems like it would much easier to find answers in an intuitive iPad app rather than rifling through 12,000 sheets of paper.
American Airlines has additional plans in mind for the tablets. Flight attendants and pilots will also use the iPads in emergency situations to communicate with professionals on the ground through the InFlight911 Services.
Less paper, less weight, quicker access to manuals, better communication with the ground — iPads on planes seem like an obvious innovation. Perhaps the naysayers are just jealous that they still have to use their iPads in airplane mode during a flight?
It’s always fun to think about the innovations and advances that will happen in the aviation industry. Especially in the design of corporate jets.
In November, Jeff Burger wrote a compelling commentary that practically begs for a reinvention of the corporate jet. He was opining about how the creativity and vision of the late Steve Jobs at Apple could do wonders for the jet industry. Instead of asking frequent travelers and industry insiders what they want, perhaps airplane designers should be proactive and show business travelers what they have been missing.
So much is made about the incredibly luxurious, world-class flying castles. Transparent floors, in-flight concerts, spiral staircases and fern-lined walls are simply not typical (or feasible) for the vast majority of private and corporate aircraft.
Instead of concentrating on over-the-top interiors that only a handful of billionaires will enjoy, remember how the simple things are often better. Steve Jobs planned his airplane to the most minute detail — famously replacing separate open and close buttons with a single toggle switch. It’s that attention to detail on the typical corporate jets that will be truly innovative.
November has been an important month in business aviation. Growing markets in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) as well as changes to U.S. appropriations affect the industry significantly. Also, the private jet community pays homage to an incredible leader, Teddy Forstmann.
New Association to Support Growth in Chinese Private Aircraft Market
The National Chinese Business Aviation Association (NCBAA) launched its website Nov. 28, 2011. China is a fast-growing market for private aircraft, and the newly formed NCBAA plans to offer a powerful association to support the burgeoning growth. The two main objectives of NCBAA are to provide an informational platform for all players in the industry and to promote the growth of business aviation in China.
Former CEO of Gulfstream, Teddy Forstmann, Died Nov. 20, 2011
Teddy Forstmann was known for many things, especially his incredible philanthropy and love of sports. To the aviation world, Forstmann will be remembered for his leadership of Gulfstream from 1990-1999. During his tenure, research and development were well funded, and Gulfstream became a great innovator of aircraft.
Congress Adjusts the BARR
Since the August changes to the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has worked diligently to reverse course. From 2000 until Aug. 2, 2011, BARR protected the privacy of aircraft’s flight plans, until the August change required operators to prove a security concern in order to be blocked from public, online tracking databases. However, Nov. 22, 2011, saw the passage of an appropriations bill in Congress that keeps the FAA from continuing with its changes to the BARR program that were initiated three months ago.
The FAA launched a new campaign on Nov. 8, 2011, asking the entire GA community to increase its reporting of wildlife collisions with aircraft. The main outreach component of the effort includes the printing and distribution of 12,000 posters to the GA community. The poster, “Report Wildlife Strikes,” is designed for frequently used areas, like training and break rooms.
The Wright Brothers documented the first aircraft-wildlife collision in 1905 in Dayton, Ohio. Obviously, aircraft and birds have endured a tenuous relationship since the beginning of air travel.
The FAA has had a wildlife hazard management program in effect for more than 50 years. From 1990-2010, more than 121,000 strikes were reported, but only 6 percent of these instances were from GA. The FAA is trying to change that. The factsheet released Nov. 8 explains innovations the agency has made to make wildlife hazard reporting easier.
- The poster contains a QR code, so anyone with a smartphone that is QR-code equipped can report a wildlife strike.
- The FAA set up a new website that easily allows users to report an incident.
Wildlife strikes endanger human and animal lives, and they cause significant damage to private property. You can see the aftermath of these collisions at a gallery on the wildlife mitigation website. Access to comprehensive data about the number of incidents, localities and the species involved allows researchers and officials to improve safety at airports and in the air.
The skies are soon going to be fully connected. I have talked before about how commercial airlines are slowly adopting the idea that they want to make Internet access available to their customers. Many commercial carriers are talking about equipping all of their planes with that ability. Gogo and Internet company that specializes in making it possible to access the Internet boasts of having 1166 aircraft that are equipped with their service. It is important that we have access to the Internet to help us stay connected in a fast moving world.
Private jets already have that ability and are easily equipped with Interact access. I have talked about Aircell, a company that equips aircraft with the ability to access the Internet. With technology traveling at the speed of light these days in order to stay connected we are also relying on mobile phones and smart phones that are connected. It stands to reason that we will be seeing more and more Internet access and phone access. Many of my friends are in a constant state of connectivity and must always be within reach of a way to communicate. They are chatting to business associates on airlines equipped with WiFi using Google+ and Skype and other technologies. Private jets are a great way to stay connected and the privacy that is afforded is priceless for those looking to stay connected and still not give away company secrets. You can also update your Facebook status and update everyone on Twitter!
Stay connected with Corporate Jet Insider while you are in the air by following us on Twitter and on Facebook. We would love to talk with you while you are in the sky.
I interested is always peaked when watching movies that have cameo appearances of private jets. Most of them are quick shots to set the scene of the stage or in this case screen. I have talked about this in previous posts when we see private jets. The latest occurred last week as I was watching Transformers, Dark of the Moon. In that particular movie we see a quick cameo shot of a private jet of a character Charlotte Mearing, the United States Director of National Security. The irony of having a private jet being used by a public employee won’t be discussed. Charlotte Mearing is played in the movie by Francis McDormand.
The jet itself is a Gulfstream and is owned by the movie’s director Michael Bay. The Gulfstream Aerospace G-1159A jet (registration number N4500X) makes a quick appearance and it is one of my favorite manufacturers in the private jet industry. I have included a picture here of the jet and of interest is the picture of the autobot on the tail. My thanks to Airport-Data.com for the image. The film itself show the jet flying which makes me wonder how they actually filmed the shot. Was it from another jet or from a commercial jet? I suppose we’ll have to get deeper into this but thanks to Michael bay for a great cameo of his private jet. Now we need to wonder what type of robot this plane will turn into.
The world is mourning the loss of a visionary and leader of the world of technology in Apple’s founder, Steve Jobs. He died yesterday after a battle of health issues including the ultimate loss due to pancreatic cancer. We here at Corporate Jet Insider also share in the loss as we respected Steve Jobs and his role in the world of technology and how it impacted business aviation.
We wrote about Mr. Jobs and his own corporate jet use and his choice of Gulfstream as his own private jet. Not only was he a leader using corporate jets in his day to day travel, his inventions and technology has changed the way we do business. We are preparing this article on an Apple computer while, listening to music played on an iPod, glancing at the iPhone for updated texts from business associates, and we also know that accessories like the iPad are changing our word in the cockpit.
Many cockpits are using the iPad and the applications contained thereon to file reports, to map flights and to keep clutter from occurring while flying. Steve Jobs has changed how some companies are doing business in the world of corporate jets and we thank him for his vision, the innovation he created and the impact he has had on our business and the industry as a whole. We mourn his loss and wish his Apple family the best in their time of loss.
We have talked a number of times about the event in Europe but the latest convention in the business aviation industry is in Latin America. The 8th annual Labace event kicks off today in São Paulo – Brazil. It is our understanding that this event will be the largest of its kind in Latin America. We will be at the event in and hope to provide some of our thoughts of the conference as they unfold.
Labace expects to have more than 13,000 visitors from around the world at this event and many of the top aviation executives will be in attendance, as well as most of the manufacturers. From its beginning in 2003, attendance was less than 5,000 people and last year they produced more 15,000 attendees each year eclipsing the mark set the year before. There were a record number of exhibitor last year at the event and conference organizers are looking forward to that type of return in 2011. Labace had more than 50 aircraft on the grounds last year and we hope to see that many or more at this event.
Once we have had an opportunity to sift through the news and get some images of the event we will try to get them up here or we will update the Facebook page with the information. Stay tuned!
