Month: May 2010

A great Website to help you plan the next trip

Where to next?

Still trying to figure out where to take that jet of yours?

Well figure no more!

101 Holidays has got you covered!

The TimesOnline calls this site, “one of the top 10 best new travel websites.” With customizable options, 101 Holidays will get you off the ground before you know it!

You start by choosing how you want to choose your trip! Your options include; “type of experience,” “price per person,” and “destination.” Or you can simply click on one of the 101 colorful destination pictures selected by two of the UK’s leading travel writers David Wickers and Mark Hodson. You can even take a quiz to help your decision making.

GENIUS!

Where has this been all our lives?

They have even covered the “short breaks” and honeymoon destination decisions too! You can literally be your own travel agent.

You say that you can’t just take off on vacation tomorrow? Well playing on the website is just as fun! The pictures are beautiful, and it’s always fun to plan your dream vacation… you never know- it might just happen!

Enjoy!

Afraid to fly?

The fear of flying is pretty common…  But you can do it!

There are simple ways to overcome this phobia and take to the skies!

In an article from WebMD, the magazine shares information about the fear and easy steps to get you off the ground, and in control.

“… more than one in four people are somewhat afraid, and one in 10 considers him or herself very afraid of taking to the skies.

Despite the term, fear of flying isn’t just a fear of being in the air.

Some people are claustrophobic or afraid of being far from home. Al Forgione, PhD, a Boston psychologist, says the most common fear is not crashing, but becoming hysterical and humiliating yourself in flight. And “the underlying fear in all of these anxieties is loss of control,” he says. To create the illusion of control, some people believe that their actions — listening for odd noises, noting the slightest dip, or even staying motionless in their seats — could actually save the plane.”

All plausible reasons, but easily avoided with conscious thinking…

Many use videos of planes taking off and landing. The most popular videos are those that are shot from inside the plane or looking out the window at the wing. The sound of the roar of the engines and seeing the ground rise and fall with take off and landing enables fearful flyers to participate in a takeoff and landing without actually being on a plane. Using these techniques can condition your mind to think that these events are just normal, everyday experiences- like taking out the trash. (Which can be scary sometimes too!)

Other techniques include books, therapy, and medication. Any of these methods can ease your fear of flying, but nothing will help as much as just getting on the plane more and more. Just focus on your destination, whether it be a tropical location, snowy mountains, or a busy metropolis, because you know that when you arrive…

You did it!!

Going to Disney World? Did you know Walt had his own airfield?

Best reason to own your very own plane?

You can take it- ANYWHERE!

If your company travels regularly- then leasing or buying a private jet can help you and your business to a great extent. Whether you are concerned about privacy, safety, flexibility or time, (I hear they say time is money…) then a private jet should be at the top of your shopping list.

So – now that you’ve gotten your private jet- what are you going to do?

YOU’RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!

Disney World in Orlando, Florida was originally built with its very own private airfield. Cleverly named “Disney Airfield,” it was the official airport of Walt Disney World, and Walt Disney himself! Though As of 2004, the Disney Airfield is no longer listed as an active airfield, it has been known that company executives also land there on occasion.

So you probably spent a pretty penny on that jet…

Well “Walt Disney World Insiders” (www.wdwinsiders.com) is here to help with 10 FREE things to do at Disney!

1. Visit Downtown Disney- It costs nothing to visit Downtown Disney, and there are lots of fun shops to stroll through and plenty of people watching opportunities.

2. Watch the Magic Kingdom Fireworks- From the beach of the Grand Floridian or Polynesian. You can park at the resorts for a short time for free. (Just tell the guard you are visiting the hotel coffee shop!)

3. Take a free tour of Wilderness Lodge – Check with guest services for times and details.

4. Watch the Electrical Water Pageant- It takes place each night on Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake – times vary.

5. Nature Trails at Fort Wilderness- There are many miles of trails at Fort Wilderness, through pine and cypress woods. You can rent bikes, but to walk, costs nothing.

6. Visit The Boardwalk- Best in the evening. Just stroll and take in the atmosphere. There’s usually lots of “street entertainment.”

7. Visit the The petting farm at Fort Wilderness- The petting farm is open 7 AM to dusk. There is free day parking at Ft. Wilderness.

8.Take the free garden tour at the Yacht & Beach Club Resort- Call guest services for times

9.Take the free lobby tour at Animal Kingdom Lodge

10. Take a boat ride- from Dixie Landings to Downtown Disney – it’s especially nice at night. Take a stroll round Downtown Disney and catch the boat back to your car at Dixie Landings.

So what are you waiting for?

Jump in that jet and get going already!

ICON A5, For $139,000 is sleek, chic, and how could anyone not want one?

The Website calls it “JET SKI FOR THE SKY.”

The cockpit looks like the one in your Ferrari.

The wings retract so you can pull it up on a trailer and take it with you on vacation.

The bottom of it lets you land on water with the landing gear retracted.

It’s the Icon A5.  It’s what the FAA now calls a “Light Sport” aircraft and if’ you’ve not heard of this, well, you will.

At a $139,00 a pop and full-scale production to begin next year, this is just as the designers describe it–“Bad Ass.”

Designed by a former fighter pilot and one of his college design pals, the Icon A5 is leading the way into this new category of aircraft and it just looks like a hell of a lot of fun.

No, this aircraft doesn’t fall into the description of a jet aircraft, but after the work week is over, after the contracts are signed, after the stress of racing from one corner of the earth to the next, doesn’t it make sense to keep one of these on the side for those get aways?

From the Icon Web site comes the pronouncement that “The sport is back in flying…”

ICON claims it’s number one focus is to “bring the freedom, fun, and adventure of flying to all who have dreamed of flight.”  That’s a pretty tall order, but it doesn’t take more than a second or two to look at the pictures of the plane to realize, they’re doing just that.

Want that version of the fast car and sport boat for the air?  This is your plane.

ICON was founded in 2005 by Kirk Hawkins. Hawkins, a graduate from the Stanford Business School, is an accomplished engineer, former U.S. Air Force F-16 pilot, and long-time motorsport enthusiast. With its world-class team of engineers, designers, advisors, and investors, ICON is located in Southern California – home of the world’s largest concentration of both aerospace and automobile design resources. ICON’s engineering and development team came from Burt Rutan’s famed Scaled Composites, which created such record setting projects as Voyager, Global Flyer, the X-Prize winning SpaceShipOne, and Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo.

The mindset of a top-rated jet sales company

There are all kinds of sales executives in the world.  Some over promise and under deliver.  Some are pushy.  Some work the techniques.  Some just focus on what’s most important, and that’s what matters most to the prospective customer.

L & L International specializes in private jet sales and acquisitions.

The focus is squarely set on providing the highest level of customer service throughout the entire process of acquiring or selling an aircraft.  Let’s face it. Buying a jet is a big deal.  It’s a game changer.  It’s a financial investment.  It’s a time saver.  It’s a form of security.  It’s a tool of someone who is serious about what they’re doing in life.

The process of buying a jet at first may seem like an overwhelming experience.  There are a variety of business jets and jet aircrafts including Gulfstream Aerospace, Raytheon Hawker, Bombardier Challenger, Bombardier Global Express, Cessna Citation, Dassault Falcon, Learjet, Embraer Legacy, Airbus, and Boeing Business Jets.  Each plane has a different range and set of unique features.

What you need most when buying a plane is the comfort that comes from having access to the highest level of service and professionalism. That means having highly trained and motivated staff who have a worldwide reputation for knowing how to take care of customers.  There’s a science to understanding of the business jet marketplace.  This isn’t like buying a used car off a small car lot.

That goes for selling a plane, too.  When you find a company that possesses the perfect blend of experience, financial strength, integrity and resourcefulness you’re on the road to success.  Quite simply, there are only a handful of aviation companies that offer these strengths, and L & L International is one of them.

It’s understood that buying or selling an aircraft is an important financial decision, and a reflection on the company or individuals involved. When helping clients with an acquisition, we have all the tools to define a mission profile and find the most appropriate aircraft—one the client will be pleased with long after the transaction is over. When selling, we have the respect and global relationships necessary to find the right buyer at the right price.  At L & L International, you will find decades of experience—the kind of leadership and expertise that can help you seize great opportunities. As aircraft transactions and operations become more complex, turn to L & L International for proven sales and acquisition strategies, sophisticated research tools and global reach.

The splendor of air travel

Let’s face it.  Working in an office all the time typically leaves most wanting to be somewhere else at one time or another.  Well, maybe more often than not.

And in anticipation of that upcoming vacation, the fact that the school year is winding down and the kids soon will be out for summer, it’s really time to be thinking of some cool destinations in which to travel.

For most, that means calling a travel agent or getting on one of a dozen travel booking Web sites and finding the best deals on airfares.  There’s even adventure in that for some obsessive compulsive types who can or will spend as much time shopping for the lowest rates and most perks as they will actually spend enjoying the trip.

But this is where the value of owning one’s own jet really comes in.  The hassles are reduced. The plane is at the hangar. The pilots are ready.  Lodging and accommodations are easy to arrange.  The question then becomes domestic or foreign? Once you decide on that, then the whole mental conversation with yourself changes.

We all know the joy of anticipation that comes from preparing for a trip with the family or with friends.  With children, there comes the teachable moments of trying to help them understand the concept of traveling light.  The whole teddy bear or Barbie collection isn’t going to be needed at Disney World or when you’re hiking the Grand Canyon.  While packing the Wii, PlayStation or the Nintendo DS with a case of games can be fun for the boys, too, bringing 20 games is unrealistic and stands to defy the whole purpose for getting away.

We humans love the sense of adventure.   And just like high school seniors facing “senioritis” at this time of the year, there is nothing like the mental countdown and preparation for going on the next cool trip that causes us to really wish that the work week is fast coming to an end so that the trip can begin.

Think back to the last time you walked out of the office just before your last trip.  There’s that feeling of elation.  You’ve said goodbyes and the receptionist tells you to forget about work.  “We’ve got it handled.  Enjoy your trip!”  How many times have you heard that said? You get home.  There’s last evening packing.  The excitement keeps brewing. If you have kids, there’s those just-before-lights out questions about what the trip will be like.  You go to bed late that night.  You dream of what the trip will be like, too.

The next morning, travel day, you awake.  If you have kids, even if it’s a 5 a.m. crew call, they all spring to life as though they’ve slept for two days.  It’s so easy to get people dressed, suitcases finally packed, loaded into the car.  HVAC turned up/down depending on your whereabouts. Lights on timers to make it look like your home.  Kids in the car.  Alarm triggered.  Doors locked.  It’s time to go.

Now at this point, isn’t it easier to be thinking about going to your own terminal to get on your own plane instead of going to the airlines?

More benefits to flying on a private, corporate jet v. flying on an airline

We’ve said before that there are incredible benefits to flying on a private corporate jet.  Without question, such an opportunity has multiple advantages including concerns about time, flexibility, safety and privacy.   One need not forget they also can be leased for personal travel as well.

With a private jet one gets to miss out on the lengthy mandatory TSA security screening lines.  How many times have you heard to arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight time when traveling on an airline?  With a private aircraft, the relationship is reversed.  The plane is waiting on you, not you waiting for the plane.

There are a limited number of places in the world where an airlines aircraft is permitted to land.  It’s expanded greatly over the past 50 years, however, there are several thousand more landing opportunities with a private aircraft than there are with airlines.  Again, this saves time.  Lots of time in either waiting for an airlines puddle jumper or drive time and back for not landing where you wanted to go in the first place.
And then there are the many amenities of flying on a private aircraft.  No more crammed leg room.  You don’t have to worry about the mysterious person who sits down in the seat next to you who smells funny, acts funny or worse, is a non-stop talker and you’re worn out by their life story before they close the cabin door and ask for everyone to turn off their cell phones.
No, the private jet goes beyond such.  There are an array of FAA approved electronics that are being installed on private planes from stereo systems, arm chair televisions, even WiFi computer access.
When was the last time you tried to spread out on a commercial airline and get some serious work done when you flew?  Unless you’re in first class, that’s not real easy in coach.  If fact, in coach, it’s darn near impossible.  Ever sit a couple rows back of someone working on a laptop on a flight and read what they’re working on? That sort of thing doesn’t happen on a private aircraft.
These are just a few of the benefits of private air travel.  They also can be vitally important.  What are some of the added benefits you see in flying this way over flying on an airline?

Thinking of buying your own jet? What to ask yourself first

They say one of the first things one should ask themselves prior to buying their own corporate aircraft is probably one of the simplest questions of all.

You ready for it?  How much time are you spending flying a year already?

Suggestions hold that if you’re going to do more than 350 – 400 hours of flying each year, then it’s pretty well justified as an expense.  Few are going to take a plane up for an hour a day, but you can quickly get the idea.  There’s a fair amount of flying in the future and we’ve already spelled out the benefits in time savings from having one’s own plane.  If you’re not flying this much but still want the benefits of a private aircraft, there are an array of options out there, including partial ownership.

Just like in owning a car, there are up keep costs to owning one’s own aircraft.  Insurance, pilots’ costs, fuel, etc. all add on to the cost of owning an aircraft.  The costs depend on location and which company used to help manage this end of operations.  While most who are actually in the market for owning an aircraft are less concerned as others might be about these additional costs, they are there and something to be aware of when it comes time to purchasing such an investment.

Like everything else, there is an array of options when it comes to purchasing a jet.  Are most of your trips short domestic hops with a relatively short rage–say 2,000 miles and just as few as five or eight people, or are you planning on more passengers, say 12 or so, and the ability to fly as far as 4,000 miles?  There are different planes and different levels in costs to keep in mind as well.

No matter what level one considers the options to owning ones own aircraft are many and over time quickly balance out the value of the investment.

The dream private plane …. Mysterious Airbus A380

Last June The Daily Mail in the UK ran a story about what is projected to be the world’s largest, most luxurious private aircraft in the world–it’s a converted Airbus A380 and due for delivery sometime within the next two years.  In some ways, from the descriptions, this makes riding on Air Force One look like riding in coach on your least favorite carrier.

Here, we won’t leave you to your imagination about what will be on this fabled plane, which according to the Daily Mail, the owner has yet to be identified but is presumed to be a Saudi prince.

The plane comes with a pull up garage, a large window on the bottom so you can look out at the ground immediately below your feet.  There’s five suites, a prayer room that has mats that always rotate toward Mecca.  Oh, and don’t forget the private concert hall, Turkish marble tub, and a board room with holographic projecting screens for conference calls with those back on the ground.  There are even 20 sleepers for guests.  And did we mention the suites also have king-sized beds?

This is an amazing design and the features are incredible.

But we all know from having ridden in coach at one time or another, that not all private aircraft are like this one.  Still, what this aircraft will offer that other private jets offer that you can’t get in coach, is convenience, privacy and the ability to go when necessary.  And that’s so critical to executives in this day of 24/365 motion around the world.  Business deals can be secured and closed with an in-person meeting.  Few things matter more than the genuine warmth of a handshake and a look in the eye of another to help ensure trust in a deal.

So now that you’ve seen pie in the sky (you know there’s a bakery in this plane) what features would you prefer in your own private plane?  Obviously, we’re talking about the more practical features, but surely some day, some of the features on the Airbus A380 pictured above might make their way into the standard features category.  If that were the case, would you be hoping for the glass flooring or the bath with Turkish marble to come first?