The VLJs is just one of a new breed of small, powerful — and, yes, easy to fly — civilian jet planes poised to take off. Very Light Jets (VLJs) are loosely defined as jets with a gross weight below 10,000 pounds. They typically carry three to four passengers (in addition to two pilots) and cost from $1.5 million to $3 million, roughly half the price of current entry-level jets. Fuel and operating costs are also substantially lower. Yet these minijets don’t cut corners on performance, Some reach speeds of up to 450 mph at jetliner altitudes of 41,000 ft.

The VLJs are expected to open up jet flight to a whole new tier of private pilots, small businesses, fractional-ownership groups and regional air-taxi services. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) anticipates some 5000 VLJs in the air by 2017. “This is a real game changer for our industry,” FAA chief Marion Blakey told an enthusiastic crowd of plane buffs at the Oshkosh air show in Wisconsin last year.

A number of designs are currently in development, and will feature advanced avionics.

VLJs are intended to have lower operating costs than conventional jets, and will be able to operate from runways as short as . In the United States where the majority of these jets are being designed, NASA and the FAA have encouraged their development and foresee their widespread use in point-to-point air taxi service. The Small Aircraft Transportation System would provide air service to areas ignored by airlines.

These “on-demand” air taxi services depend on low cost projections and high demand to become a reality. The viability of these services is the subject of much debate among industry experts. Richard Aboulafia, an aviation industry expert and a self-described “VLJ agnostic”, believes that the VLJ phenomenon may turn out to be one of the greatest disappointments in the aviation industry, due to the hype and economic infeasibility of large-scale air-taxi operations.

In total, over 3,000 VLJs have been ordered from three manufacturers. Cessna Aircraft Company, based in Wichita, Kansas, delivered the first ever production VLJ, the six-seater Citation Mustang, to Mustang Management Group of Fresno, California on November 23, 2006. Cessna has over 500 orders for the Mustang, mainly from owner-operators. Cessna received full certification for the Mustang on September 8, 2006. Cessna received FAA certification to fly into “known icing conditions” on November 9, 2006. Cessna received its FAA Production Certificate for the Mustang on November 23, 2006.

The order for 25 jets from each group is a boost for both aircraft makers during the worst aviation downturn since the one that followed the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US in 2001.

United said it ordered 25 of Boeing’s long-awaited 787 widebody jetliners and 25 of the Airbus A350. Delivery is expected between 2016 and 2019, around the same time the airline will retire Boeing 747 and 767 aircraft. At list prices the planes would be worth roughly $10 billion, with about $4 billion for Boeing’s 787-8 and about $6 billion for the Airbus plane.

The order comes just under four years after United emerged from bankruptcy protection, which it sought in 2002.However, analysts said the broader significance of the airline’s announcement on Tuesday was its statement about the health of the airline financing market.

United’s balance sheet is not as robust as that of some other airlines and yet it has been able to go out there and place a 50-aircraft wide-body order.

The order is particularly noteworthy for Airbus because it is the first time United has bought long-range wide-body jets from the European group.

This deal comes as a huge relief to Airbus, This is probably their worst year in terms of sales in many years.

Airplane manufacturers have been particularly hard hit by the global financial crisis, which has seen travel rates drop, particularly in developed markets such as the US. This in turn has driven down airline demand for new planes.

Airbus sold only 194 planes in the first 11 months of this year. The 14 aircraft it sold to Air New Zealand on the eve of the Dubai air show have yet to show up on their order book.

United Airlines is the number three US airline by traffic. The US stalwart emerged from a bankruptcy-court reorganisation in 2006 to turn itself into a market leader in capacity reduction in a crisis-hit travel market.

The Learjet 35 began as the Learjet 25BGF (with GF referring to “Garrett Fan”), with a then-new TFE731 turbofan engine mounted on the left side replacing the Lear 25’s GE CJ610 engine.

This test bed aircraft first flew in May, 1971 with the full prototype featuring a larger wing (and the additional window) in January 1973. Deliveries began the following year. Production of the 35/36 series ended in 1994.

The Lear 35 features the straight wing with tapered leading edge and distinctive tip tanks at either end. It has five windows on the right hand side of the cabin and four on the left (fewer than the Lear 31 series). The engines are rear fuselage mounted behind which is the T-tail with swept fin and tailplane.

Despite its mild manners and good looks, the Learjet 35 is a superman among light business aircraft. Load it up and fly it high! The Learjet 35 is ready to transport you and your colleagues anywhere, anytime. From the Rocky Mountains to the Namibian Plains, no aircraft will compare in the speed, agility and sheer ability of the Learjet 35. There are few light jets in the world today that are as rugged as the Learjet 35. It offers design features and cabin amenities that are seen only in midsize jets.

The Learjet 35 will transport you across the United States at altitudes almost 10 miles above the ground, well above the weather – and the competition. The Learjet fleet has amassed more than four billion flight miles. Reliability is the primary reason these aircraft are routinely chosen for charter use.

One of its key features is that of its incredibly large diameter in regards to the size of the engine intakes. This feature greatly reduces the noise from the engines as well as improves fuel efficiency.

The design objectives behind the Citation X included transcontinental USA and trans Atlantic range in a mid size package that cruises faster than any other business jet available. This high speed cruise capability, which Cessna says is 105 to 210km/h (55 to 113kt) faster than other mid size corporate jet, means the X can save up to one hour’s flight time on transcontinental US flights, flying from Los Angeles to New York with normal wind conditions in 4 hours 10 minutes. Because of its ability to cruise at high speed at high altitudes, Cessna also says the Citation X will consume less fuel than current jets on such a transcontinental flight.

Other design features of the Citation X include the fuselage cross section of the Citation III, VI and VII but with more efficient use of internal space that allows greater head and shoulder room, an area ruled, waisted rear fuselage, trailing link main undercarriage units and a modern Honeywell Primus 2000 EFIS avionics suite with five colour CRT displays

The Citation X cabin has created its own category – with one of the widest, most spacious and stunningly attractive interiors ever crafted for a Citation. Densely pillowed seats beckon you to sink deeply into the wide-body-jet-size cushions. Generous head and shoulder room gives each passenger his or her own ample space. And, if anyone needs some horizontal time, the seats recline completely to accommodate a nap. The full-length, stand-up center aisle stretches on for almost 24 feet (7.3 meters). There’s also an abundance of space in the private dressing room. Here, you’ll find a vanity with washbasin and wide countertop, a flushing toilet and a large closet.

It’s among life’s little ironies that one of the most beautiful and luxurious places on Earth is often several miles above the Earth. It’s even more ironic that, as desirable as the place is, inhabitants rarely get to spend much time there. In the whisper-quiet cabin of the world’s fastest business aircraft, passengers get where they’re going in an extraordinarily short amount of time.

Zurich based Swiss Private Aviation AG is a fully-owned subsidiary of Swiss International Air Lines providing executive jet services as well as aircraft management and commercial charter services on behalf of its parent company. Swiss Private is also the new platform for operation of the Lufthansa Private Jet fleet, formerly operated by Swiss European Air Lines.

This Swiss private jet charter company is in business since 1981and offers a variety of types of aircraft. Since the acquisition, it has become a fully owned subsidiary of Swiss International Air Lines AG. Depending on aircraft availability, short-haul flights within Europe can normally leave within an hour. Long-haul flights to North America, North Africa and the Middle East take two to three hours time for the crew to get ready. It is a fast expanding company, which customizes the services to their clients’ needs, almost without restrictions of their fleet and possibilities.

Aircraft management, in which SWISS PrivateAviation specialises, covers a wide range of services and activities, from managing flight operations and maintaining aircraft fleets to arranging insurance and continuously training crews. In this connection, SWISS PrivateAviation will also be training and assessing the pilots of Mathys Aviation AG, who will continue to fly the company’s two aircraft.

With demand for executive charter flights currently showing sizeable growth, SWISS has decided to enter this segment through SWISS Private, and will use its new subsidiary to offer aircraft management services to private clients and companies. The new activities envisaged include providing assistance and advice on procuring and introducing new executive jets, planning and performing flight operations, recruiting and supplying crews, handling, catering and arranging the requisite maintenance, repair and overhaul services on the customer’s behalf.

Aerion has been around for quiet a few years and continues to take deposits for the 8- to 12-seat aircraft it says will be capable of flying more than one and a half times faster than the speed of sound. The company has already received more than 50 deposits totaling more than $4 million. But it hasn’t found a manufacturing partner yet to help build the aircraft.

With the Concorde relegated to museums, there isn’t a supersonic aircraft available for anybody outside of the military who feels the need for speed.The Aerion jet is designed to cruise at speeds up to 1.15 Mach overland without producing a boom on the ground, and at speeds up to 1.6 Mach in other areas. Over the continental U.S., where regulations require speeds below Mach 1, the aircraft can cruise efficiently just below the speed of sound, offering economies comparable to today’s large business jets. The aircraft seats eight to 12 passengers in stand-up comfort and has a range in excess of 4,000 nautical miles.

Aerion continues active development of the jet, expecting to certify the airplane by 2015. Recent wind-tunnel tests have bolstered the wing design critical to making the aircraft efficient at speeds above and below the speed of sound.

The rigidity and the durability of the Aerion supersonic business jet are due to the use of materials of latest technologies. For instance, the wings of the aircraft are made of carbon epoxy that enables the controlling power of the aircraft. The aircraft contains a coated metal that will support its erosion resistance power.

This supersonic jet will fly from coast to coast within a short span of time and the speed is responsible for its straight wing design. The aircraft will take off from various business airports that will have runways measuring within six thousand feet. The cabin size of the Aerion supersonic business jet is quite comfortable and will fit about twelve passengers.

Unlike the Concorde, which could only fly to certain airports through the world because of its operative requirements, this supersonic jet is designed to comply with environmental, sound and airport regulations everywhere. It use the Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 engines feature take 4,600 miles range over 45,400 pounds of fuel. It will be delivered in 2014, at $80,000,000 price tag for rich guy. The first unit has just been purchased by Sheikh Rashid, the ruler of Dubai.

The South African Police Services bought a R150-million top-of-the-range business private jet so that their top brass can fly to the opening of new police stations and other functions.

The luxury aircraft will be used to usher cabinet ministers and senior officials around South Africa. However, the purchase of the jet has already resulted in serious problems as there have been complaints. Some are speculating why the government has used such a large amount of money for the plane.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa revealed his department’s extravagant spending in a written reply in Parliament.

He confirmed that his department had bought a Cessna Citation Sovereign private business jet in February last year to fly senior cops and Cabinet ministers around the country and abroad. Mthethwa, his deputy, Fikile Mbalula, and a number of high-ranking police officials use the aircraft regularly.

Firstly, in a written reply to Parliament the Minister stated that the jet was purchased in February 2008. Now this was long before he was appointed to the police portfolio. Whether the decision was approved under his predecessor, the Minister will not shy away from responding to any financial decision that might have taken place before he assumed office.

For the record, this is not Minister Mthethwa’s private jet, but a South African Police (SAPS) jet and government property. In the written reply, he outlined that the jet’s transportation were all official and operational duties and at no certain point was the jet used for private purposes. The national commissioner has also made a provision that this aircraft can be utilised by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for specific missions where necessary.

The jet has been effectively used for amongst other purposes: transportation of members of the special task force to hostage situations, for example in Eastern Cape; transportation of police leadership and management; transportation of joint operation and intelligence structure to provinces to evaluate the state of readiness of security personnel regarding the national and provincial elections in 2009; as well as various events such as the FIFA 2009 Confederations Cup and planning for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Replacing existing aircraft with solar powered planes is a long-term strategy to reduce carbon emissions. Achieving zero carbon passenger flights will not happen overnight. And no single initiative can provide all the answers. But the airline industry was born by realising a dream that people could fly.

There have been a handful of past solar aircraft, but most have relied on first storing energy in batteries, then flying (one example is the Sunseeker from the 1990s). The HB-SIA, as the new aircraft is called gets enough charge directly from the panels to take off during the day. It does utilize charge stored in batteries to power night time flight. It flies at a relatively slow speed of 28 mph to maximize energy efficiency. The design is intended to be able to fly for multiple days without stopping. 

Last year, A solar-powered aircraft developed by the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich has flown from Zurich to London, setting a world record.The 2.6-kilogram autonomously controlled Sky-Sailor flew more than 27 hours to complete the 874.4 kilometre journey at an altitude of between 200 and 400 metres.It was not the first aircraft of its kind to fly more than 24 hours, researchers said, but was the first to do so without using thermal winds or altitude gain before nightfall. On the craft’s 3.2-metre wingspan are 216 silicone solar cells able to deliver up to 90 watts of power during peak sunlight. The power consumption of the aeroplane is 16 watts at level flight.

 
We can already see the potential building blocks for a carbon-free future: along with solar power, other exciting initiatives include progress in fuel cell technology, and fuel made from biomass. By working together with a common vision, an even greener industry is absolutely achievable.

If successful, the aircraft is expected to prove popular among global carriers, including Middle East airlines. But it’s unclear when the plane would become operational in this region.

Each year, a large number of individuals consider chartering a private jet. While many wish to do so, there are many who end up booking reservations aboard a traditional commercial airline. One of the many reasons for this is the cost of chartering a private jet. It is no secret that chartering a private jet is expensive. You could easily spend anywhere from one thousand dollars to ten thousand dollars for a round trip. But, did you know that there may be a cheaper way for you to charter a private jet? There is and that way involves a term that is referred to as ride sharing. 

The private jet industry has introduced the “Share a Jet” concept, which allows passengers to cut costs and avoid PR problems whenever they board private jets.

When you log on to sites like shareajetexchange.com and plug in your desired destination along with the other details, including times and number of fellow passengers. At the opposite end of the exchange are private jet charter companies or jet owners who log in an offer shares of the flights for sale. The website matches the jet companies / jet owners with the passengers.

Although one of the main reasons why private jets are chartered is because of privacy, the other reason is for ease of use. Chartering a private jet allows you to bypass long airport lines. That is why many private jet chartering passengers are more than willing to allow to strangers to share a ride with them, because it is still convenient. Even if ride sharing involves sharing a privately chartered jet with five people, it is still better than a commercial plane full of people, which could include anywhere from fifty to two hundred other passengers.

Despite being able to save you a considerable amount of money, there is a disadvantage to ride sharing. That disadvantage is that your privately chartered jet really isn’t considered so private anymore. While not everyone minds giving up a little bit of their privacy, you need to examine whether or not you really want to. To do this, it is advised that you examine your trip.

Although privately chartered jets come highly rated and recommended, there are still a few issues that you need to examine, such as safety. It is no secret that flying the friendly skies can be dangerous. That is why it is advised that you keep safety in mind, when arranging the chartering of a privately owned jet.

When it comes to examining safety, there are many travelers, who wonder how it is possible to go about doing so. While examining private jet chartering safety may seem like a long and complicated task, it doesn’t have to be. There are a number of different ways that you can go about examining safety, without having to make it a large hassle or have it take up a large amount of your time.  

When examining the safety history or track record of a private jet chartering company, you are also urged to perform a standard internet search. When doing this search, you will want to search with the name of the jet chartering company that you would like more information on. Your search will not only provide you with links to that company’s online website, but it should also give you access to other valuable information. This information may include news reports or accident summaries, if and only if the jet chartering company in question was involved in an air travel incident. If you do not find any accident reports, there is a good chance that the jet chartering company in question has a clean safety record.

If possible, meet the pilot in advance to gauge your reaction to his competence. Ask for and verify personal references for the company and the pilot and never hesitate to investigate the company and any complaints which may have been logged with the Better Business Bureau, FAA, or other entity. Time permitting, search the internet for personal reviews and testimonies of the company or aircraft, but be sure to read these accounts with caution due to their personal and possibly fraudulent nature.