Unless you saw the entire jet charter fleet
together, you would never imagine the range of choices you have. The number
of passengers traveling with you, the nature and amount of baggage or cargo
you'll be carrying, the ultimate destination of your choosing, your aircraft preferences,
and budget parameters will dictate what kinds of charter aircraft are appropriate
for your trip. Before you charter a trip, you can expect an operator or broker
to explore your travel needs with you, and what we'd like to offer the reader
is an idea of some of the information that an informed purchaser of charter will
have considered or will need to consider with an operator or broker.
The
first question asked will be how many passengers will be making the trip and where
will you be going? The number of people in your party will tell the operator what
size aircraft you'll need and your location will indicate the required range.
Some high-altitude airports like Telluride, Colorado, have limited accessibility,
or accessibility that changes seasonally depending on the aircraft.
Speed
is another factor. Cruising speeds vary widely, but a rough speed estimate
for propeller planes is about 200 mph/322kmh, while jets fly at something closer
to 500 mph/805kmh. When estimating flight-times, add 10-15% for the time necessary
to achieve cruising speed and altitude. With these figures in mind, it's fairly
easy to conclude that an 800mile/1,287km flight from Dallas to Chicago would take
four and a half hours in a propeller-driven aircraft, but less than two in a jet.
Think about your destination and how fast you need to get there.
Aircraft
performance, size and passenger capacity all determine price, and choosing
the right plane involves trade-offs. At first glance, price might make the propeller
plane more attractive, but consider that unless the aircraft has a lavatory, you
probably will need a pit stop. Also consider noise level. Jets have pressurized
passenger cabins and fly at altitudes where the noise of the engines drops off,
making conversations and meetings held at normal speaking volume possible. While
it isn't impossible to converse in a propeller plane flying at 8,000 feet, you
probably could not manage a nuanced business negotiation or romantic chat with
your sweetheart. Do you need to stand up and speak to your group, make a phone
call, have a cooked meal, watch a DVD or enjoy a few hours of uninterrupted sleep?
Be ready to talk to you operator or broker about your needs and they'll help find
the right aircraft for you.
You should also disclose any
special type or quantity of baggage or equipment you'll be bringing along. A safe
flight depends on appropriate weight and balance. You'd be surprised by some items
that cause trouble. Snow skis, for example, are too long for the baggage compartment
of many small aircraft. Operators are not allowed to lay loose items such as skis
in the aisle. Travelers with monster golf bags can encounter similar snags. Also
disclose things like the presence of heavy smokers, pets, or unusual items such
as oxygen canisters or potentially flammable material.
PISTONPROP
SINGLE-ENGINE Pistonprop single-engine aircraft are ideally suited for
short-range flights with a few passengers or light load of cargo in good to fair
weather conditions. Pistonprop aircraft are propelled by a gas combustion propeller
engine. Pistonprops are typically smaller than other aircraft categories and therefore
cannot fly as far without stopping for fuel, but they are able to access many
airports with shorter runways, thereby getting the charter passenger closer to
their ultimate destination. Pistonprop single-engine aircraft are typically flown
by a single pilot, but a charter provider should be able to supply your flight
with a co-pilot upon request.
Popular
Itineraries: Boston to Nantucket, Los Angeles to Van Nuys, Munich to Stuttgart,
Ft. Lauderdale to Ft. Myers
PISTONPROP
MULTI-ENGINE Pistonprop multi-engine aircraft are ideally suited for short-range
flights for a small group of passengers or light cargo. Pistonprop multis are
usually less expensive than turboprops or jets. Pistonprop multi-engine aircraft
are considered safer and more reliable than single-engine piston aircraft, especially
in inclement weather situations. While pistonprop multis are larger than their
single-engine counterparts and can carry more people, weight and cargo, they are
still typically smaller than turboprops and jets. Pistonprop multi-engine aircraft
are typically flown by a single pilot, but a charter provider should be able to
supply your flight with a co-pilot upon request.
Popular Itineraries: Boston
to Nantucket, Scottsdale to Las Vegas, Hamburg to Dresden, Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau
TURBOPROP Turboprop aircraft combine the low-cost
advantages of the piston aircraft while sharing some of the performance and cabin
comfort advantages of light jets. Turboprops are powered by turbine propeller
engines. With average cruising speeds of over 300 mph and an average nonstop range
above 1,000 miles, a turboprop can travel further, faster and offer more comfort
than piston aircraft while keeping charter costs below those of jet aircraft.
Popular for short to mid-range flights, turboprops can access runways that are
often too short for jet aircraft. Amenities often include: pressurized passenger
cabins for added comfort, safety and performance and a semi-private lavatory.
Baggage capacity is limited.
Average Passenger Capacity:
4-8
Representative Aircraft: King Air 90, 100, 200, 300,
Cheyenne I, II, III, IV, Merlin, Beech Starship, Pilatus PC-12, Commander
Popular
Itineraries: Toronto to Chicago, San Diego to Los Angeles, Boston to New York
or Washington D.C., Geneva to Paris, Vienna to Prague and Seattle to Reno
LIGHT EXECUTIVE JET Light jets are the entry-level
jet class in the charter industry. Light jets are the most economical choice for
short to mid-range trips. With average cruising speeds of 440 mph and an average
nonstop range of about 1,500 miles, a light jet can travel further and faster
than non-jet aircraft while operating in and out of airports not accessible by
the major airlines. Amenities often include: pressurized passenger cabins for
added comfort, safety and performance and a semi-private lavatory. Light jets
have limited baggage capacity and often cannot accommodate skis or large golf
bags.
Popular
Itineraries: Chicago to Dallas, Paris to Hamburg, Los Angeles to San Francisco
and Boston to Altanta
MIDSIZE EXECUTIVE
JET Midsize Jet aircraft optimally blend comfort, performance and economy
for medium length flights. With average cruising speeds over 500 mph and a nonstop
range of about 2,100 miles, a midsize jet can travel further, faster and with
more comfort then light jets while operating in and out of airports not accessible
by the major airlines. Most of the midsize jet aircraft have external baggage
storage and can accommodate a reasonable amount of baggage. However, some aircraft
such as the Hawker line of private jets only have internal baggage storage and
can pose problems for skis or other bulky items. Most midsize jets offer a private
lavatory.
Average Passenger Capacity: 5-9
Representative
Aircraft: Learjet 55, Falcon 20, Hawker 800, Citation VII
Popular
Itineraries: New York to West Palm Beach, London to Milan, and Van Nuys to Seattle
AIRLINER - TURBOPROP Turboprops airliners
combine a larger passenger cabin with turboprop performance. Popular for short
to mid-range flights, they can often land at airports with runways too short for
jet aircraft and are typically more economical than jet airliners. Turboprop airliners
are powered by two to four turbine propeller engines. Compared to regular turboprop
aircraft they usually have more powerful engines and a longer nonstop range. Turboprop
airliners feature pressurized passenger cabins for added comfort, safety and performance.
Some turboprop airliners feature executive configurations with multiple amenities
while others have commercial airliner configurations to maximize passenger capacity.
While the majority of turboprop airliners are used for scheduled service, many
are available for charter through charter companies, brokers and charter divisions
of airlines.
Average Passenger Capacity: 19-65
Representative
Aircraft: Beech Commuter 1900, Jetstream 31, Swearingen Metro
Popular
Itineraries: Newark to Charlotte, Sacramento to San Francisco, New York to Washington
D.C., LeBourget to Bordeaux
AIRLINER
- JET Jet airliners are capable of carrying large groups of people or
heavy cargos on medium to long-range flights. The wide variety of jet airliner
types encompass diverse performance characteristics. Smaller jet airliners are
designated "regional" and are best suited for mid-range domestic transport,
while the largest jet airliners can carry hundreds of passengers over thousands
of non-stop miles. Jet airliners are powered by two to four jet engines and typically
feature pressurized passenger cabins for added comfort, safety and performance.
Jet airliners can be either executive configured, featuring multiple berths, lavatories,
a gym, shower, meeting room or study, and other luxurious appointments; or economy-configured
like a commercial airliner to maximize passenger capacity. While the majority
of jet airliners are used for scheduled service, many are available for charter
through charter companies, brokers and charter divisions of major airlines.
Average
Passenger Capacity: 25 - 500+
Representative Aircraft:
Airbus 300, Boeing 727, McDonnell-Douglas DC-10
Popular
Itineraries: New York to Aruba, Chicago to Tokyo, Moscow to Capetown, and Sydney
to Venice
HELICOPTERS Helicopters
can move into and out of difficult to reach places like big-city congestion or
remote wilderness locations. They are perfect for small groups of people that
need to travel a short distance in good weather conditions. Today's modern charter
helicopters are typically powered by a single jet engine or dual jet engines and
fly at speeds up to 175 mph for average ranges of 100-350 miles. Helicopter charter
enables passengers to hover to take photos of a real estate site, carry the injured
to area hospitals, land in locations where there are no available airports and
generally get in and out of places faster and easier than with fixed-wing aircraft.
Average
Passenger Capacity: 3-10
Representative Aircraft: Bell
Jetranger, Eurocopter Twinstar, Sikorsky S76, and Agusta 109
Popular
Itineraries: East Hampton NY to Manhattan, Zurich to Geneva, Las Vegas to the
Grand Canyon, and Whidbey Island to Tacoma
Many
of the airports available to general aviation are private, although nearly
all are available for public use. They have been selected on the basis of runway
length or services that may make them practical for the purpose of charter travel.
The Jet Charter operator you select will be able to assist in choosing an airport,
since determining the suitability of the airport becomes their responsibility
once they have filed an actual flight plan.
And
that's only part of the timesaving. General aviation terminals are designed
for the comfort and convenience of a small number of travelers. They take security
as seriously as big terminals, but you'll never find a line of 100 passengers
waiting at a metal detector in a fixed based operator (FBO). Chances are
you'll be the only person in line. You may or may not find a lounge with comfortable
chairs, a TV and magazines while you wait for your flight crew to pick you up.
Chances are they'll be waiting for you.
