Tired of turning off your electronic devices at the beginning and end of a long flight? You might not have to for much longer. A government-industry group formed by the FAA is expected to recommend relaxing the ban.
Currently, flyers are asked to shut off their devices while the plane is below 10,000 feet for fear the devices will interfere with the plane’s instruments. The rule that forces eReaders, iPods, and laptops into off mode was actually written in 1966. At the time, there was concern about electromagnetic interference from devices. But no one could have predicted the proliferation of consumer electronics. So the FAA asked the panel to look into whether it is, in fact, okay to keep electronics on for the duration of a flight.
The panel found that today’s aircraft are much more resilient to interference than their 1966 predecessors. Today’s devices are less of a concern, too. They emit much weaker signals and stay in a tighter frequency range. That makes them less of a concern to the safety of the aircraft. The combination of hardier aircraft instruments and more sophisticated consumer electronics persuaded the panel to give electronics use a thumbs up.
The rules won’t change immediately, however. The final report won’t come out until the end of September, and the FAA won’t change standards until that happens. Commercial airlines are already looking to capitalize on the potential new rules. Consumer demand for in-flight WiFi on both commercial and corporate jets is huge. This opens up new revenue opportunities for commercial carriers.
One popular gadget hasn’t been granted amnesty on board, however. Cellphones use a much stronger radio frequency, so there is still concern that they could interfere with the plane’s instruments. The panel didn’t examine cellphone safety, so for now, taking calls in-flight will continue to be banned—much to the relief of fellow passengers.
This is all good news for future commercial flights. Passengers will be happy to stay connected to what’s happening on the ground. Of course, it will also be nice to watch your favorite TV show while waiting for take off.
The new Gulfstream Aerospace G650 has more than 200 people lining up to pay $65 million, and they’re willing to wait until 2017 to get it. Why? Well, it’s simple. Gulfstream is the ultimate in luxury business jets.
- Capacity — The G650 can comfortably carry eight passengers and four crew members on long-leg trips from Dubai to New York, for example.
- Design — With 12 floor plans to choose from, the G650 interior is longer, wider, and taller than any other cabin in its class.
- Flight distance — Cited as the most technologically advanced business aircraft available, the G650 can travel non-stop legs of 7,000 nautical miles.
- Speed — This new jet can nearly reach the speed of sound, making it arguably the fastest civilian jet in the world.
- Safety — The G650 offers next-generation advanced safety features, including the Enhanced Vision System (EVS) II™, the Head-Up Display (HUD) II, the Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display (SV-PFD), and a PlaneView II™ cockpit.
However, if you’re not interested in waiting for the new G650 (or its hefty price tag), there are equally impressive Gulfstream models available. But they’re hard to come by. Gulfstream jets don’t stay on the market for very long — even in this economy. In fact, some older Gulfstream aircraft have appreciated in value.
But finding, financing, and insuring the perfect Gulfstream for you is made easier with an experienced broker. L & L International has the knowledge and experience to procure a new or used Gulfstream, taking care of the details so that you can hit the skies sooner.
Drones are an unavoidable news topic right now. There are massive privacy concerns involved with the flight and use of these unmanned vehicles. There is also plenty of good that can come from UMVs in the private sector. Because of this, there are numerous groups, including the Federal Aviation Administration, that are dedicated to trying to figure out policies, rules, and procedures for drones of all types. Integrating drones into established American aviation policies and infrastructure will be challenging—but necessary.
The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 took on the challenge of integrating drones into current FAA policy. They have a target date of September 2015 to complete the task. The main issue will be safety, but other issues will be addressed including the legal gray area that drones are currently operating in.
One of those legal issues is the flight of drones over private property and whether that will that be considered a violation of privacy. Manned commercial and private flights can currently fly over private property, but government and civilian drones may require a separate rule. It could even be seen as a violation of constitutional rights, depending on the purpose and capabilities of the drone.
Despite the potential for abuse, civilian drones are presenting an opportunity for some industries to run safer, more efficient operations. Some creative uses for UMVs are already in the works:
- Farmers monitoring crops, quickly responding to disease or other conditions
- Conductors easily completing mandated safety checks
- Detectives investigating crime scenes with no risk for contamination or interference
The FAA is expecting 30,000 operational drones by 2020, and the drone industry could be an $11.3 billion industry by 2021. There is no doubt more drones are coming to our airspace. Staying informed about the rules of drones will be important, especially for the general aviation industry.
In just the past five years, the Chinese aviation market has really taken off. Bloomberg notes that there are now more than 330 private planes in China, and buyers are expected to purchase 40 private jets in 2013, compared with 27 ordered in 2012. Business jet buyers in China have very specific tastes: large and new.
Going the distance
They prefer large, long-range aircraft; trips of 3,000 to 4,500-plus miles are common for regional users. In fact, according to an April article in Aviation Week, 61% of mainland China’s business aircraft are large, super-large, or ultra-long-range jets, or they’re corporate adaptations of airliners. The main aircraft in Chinese business fleets are the big ones, including larger Gulfstreams, Dassaults, and adapted Airbuses and Boeings.
A major influence on this market is a cultural factor: Owning a private jet has become a symbol of wealth for Chinese owners, and preowned aircraft simply won’t do. This market is interested in custom interiors that reflect the buyers’ affinity for luxury.
Global influence
Exactly how will Chinese taste in aircraft affect the global market? It’s too early to tell for certain. The Chinese government has permitted private jet ownership only since 2003. Complicating forecasts is the difficulty in predicting how quickly Chinese buyers will upgrade their aircraft. The market is too new to reveal turnover times, but it is likely that owners will not want to be seen flying around in the same jet for more than six or seven years.
With this in mind, many industry insiders expect that Chinese buyers’ preferences will likely create a large supply of secondhand aircraft. These jets could be exported to other countries, such as the U.S., that have more robust and established preowned jet markets. Another possibility is that used aircraft may become more appealing to Chinese purchasers. As more Chinese businesses begin acquiring business jets, the considerably shorter wait time, smaller price tag, and value of a preowned aircraft could boost the market.
Without a crystal ball, predicting the influence of the vigorous Chinese private jet market is a difficult task. However, with China forecasted to become the world’s third-biggest private jet market by as early as 2022, one thing is certain: This is a market to watch.
Father’s Day is Sunday and it can be tough to try to buy for the dad who has everything. But since the man gave you everything, you’ll want to find him the perfect gift. Instead of another tie he won’t wear or another gadget he won’t use, why not really wow him this year? Get him his own private jet! The bizav industry is full of private jet options that are perfect for dad.
Here are 10 reasons you should buy dad his own jet this year:
- Easy to travel to see his grandkids. He won’t have to find a cheap flight or enough time to drive across the country. Now he can jump in his plane and see his grandkids whenever he wants!
- He bought you your first car, so it’s only fair that you buy him his first jet.
- He can visit all the places he’s talked about seeing all these years. He can jet around to Wrigley Field, the Grand Canyon, and Disneyland and still make it home for the weekend.
- He won’t have to worry about baggage overage fees for his tackle box, golf clubs, and hunting gear like he would on a commercial flight.
- You know he’ll get you awesome souvenirs from his travels, so you’re winning in this deal, too.
- Remember when he got you that pony you always wanted when you were 7? This is the perfect way to pay him back.
- The guy is worn out from teaching you all those sweet football moves, and he deserves to travel in luxury.
- When he falls asleep during the flight, his snoring won’t disturb other passengers (just the crew).
- Great bragging rights to his buddies. Oh, their kids got them a juicer? His kid got him a jet. He wins.
- He deserves it. He’s been an awesome dad, and you’d do anything to pay him back for everything he’s done for you.
Private and corporate jets are a great way to get more done in your personal and professional life. If you are ready to get Dad a jet for Father’s Day, we’ll help you find the right one. But if you aren’t ready to make that purchase for dad, don’t worry. We know he’ll love you no matter what (even if you do get him another tie).
Wouldn’t it be nice if, on those especially long trips, your private jet had a four-poster bed so that you could lay your head down and get a great night’s sleep, like you do at home?
Although your aircraft may not be a flying palace like the Turkish jet recently built for a Middle Eastern prince (it has king-size beds, a sauna, a board room and a concert hall, among other amenities), it is possible to get a good night’s sleep — or just a great power nap — with the mattresses and bedding available today for private jets.
From bedding packages complete with mattress, sheets, blanket and pillow in easy-to-store bags, to custom-designed memory-foam mattresses that fit over your jet’s furnishings, you’re sure to find a comfortable solution for overnight trips.
Private jet bedding businesses:
- In-Flight Bedding by Simone
Wouldn’t it be cool to build a jet from parts you produced in your hangar? 3D printing just might make that dream a reality.
3D printing technology has been around for nearly 30 years, with the first 3D printers developed in 1984. The technology has only improved. The printers use materials like plastic to print instead of ink, and they were originally adopted by manufacturers to efficiently create prototypes. Later, the medical community began printing pieces to repair organs. Scientists even “printed” a working, miniature kidney. 3D printing is becoming more affordable, too, and more 3D printers are becoming available to consumers for at-home use.
Opportunities for aviation
This has the potential of having a big impact on bizav. 3D printing is capable of creating large pieces needed for the manufacturing of aircraft, and the pieces meet the strict manufacturing requirements of aircraft parts. They also have advantages over traditionally manufactured pieces, including being lighter and stronger. One such piece created through 3D printing technology was a 3-meter wing span. The piece will be used in manufacturing a passenger plane in 2014 and enter commercial service in 2016.
GE is working to increase 3D printing speeds, and is hoping to use the technology to speed up the production rates for their LEAP fuel nozzles and jet engine components. The fuel nozzles created on a 3D printer are lighter and more efficient than their manufactured counterparts. These advances could lead to quicker turnaround time for finished corporate jets, and increase their safety and performance.
Future applications
Where is 3D printing technology headed? NASA is sending a 3D printer to the International Space Station. Over 30% of the ISS’ parts can be made by a 3D printer, which means astronauts will be able to manufacture tools and parts they need. They won’t have to wait for something to be launched from Earth.
The potential for inexpensive, reliable manufacturing with 3D printers is exciting. It will be interesting to see how larger manufacturers begin integrating 3D printed pieces into corporate jets and how that affects the industry. With quicker production times and stronger, more efficient pieces being produced, it definitely seems like a win for both manufacturers and buyers.
Business never stops — not even when you’re in the air. With ViaSat Yonder®, Internet access in the air is as seamless as that on the ground.
Satellites make continuous connectivity possible. Users on the aircraft simply connect to your aircraft’s local area network through the standard WiFi hotspot or Ethernet jack; ViaSat Yonder® connects the local area network on your aircraft to the Internet through its communications network.
The entire system is managed by the Yonder network operations center, so aircraft connected to it see it as a single, seamless coverage area. Yonder service is always on whenever the aircraft is powered up. Once online, the user experience is identical to any standard Internet session.
Yonder service delivers cable-like performance, plus seamless connections around the globe, in-flight and on the ground, without the worry of being disconnected or over-charged if usage exceeds your service plan.
Business aircraft passengers can use their laptops, smartphones, tablets and PDAs as much and as often as they want for a fixed monthly fee. They get unlimited Web surfing, real-time email with attachments, Internet streaming video, large-file transfers and access to corporate VPNs.
Yonder service resellers commission airborne service. Contact AIRINC, Satcom Direct, and Satcom 1 for details. For more information about Yonder, visit www.viasat.com
