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.
