Sponsored by
Flight LogDan Doherty, Commercial Real Estate Developer
Commercial real estate developer Dan Doherty had three specific reasons for purchasing his share in a CitationShares Citation Sovereign — all of them under the age of eight. “When you want to take your family on vacation, a major deterrent is the inconvenience of airline travel,” he says. “We’ve all experienced those airport nightmares, but [flying privately] takes the worst part of a vacation and makes it one of the highlights.”
With its simultaneous long-range and short-field capacity, the Cessna Citation Sovereign is perfect for Doherty’s needs. Equally efficient for nonstop flights between his homes in Boston and southwest Florida or for business that takes him to the West Coast, the Sovereign is also capable of landing at small airports in favorite Caribbean vacation spots. “You have no connecting flights. No juggling schedules. No layovers,” he says.
While Doherty acquired his share primarily for personal travel, he explains, “I’ve discovered new business opportunities as a result of my ability to see prospects in a much more efficient manner.” With the plane, he can hit four or five locations in one day — an impossible feat when flying commercially.
Safety is his primary concern but Doherty also appreciates the simplicity of CitationShares’ new “Citelines” program. “Pricing is very competitive and the service that I’ve received from them has been outstanding,” he adds.
CitationSharesCo-owned by Cessna Aircraft Company and TAG Aviation, Citation-Shares, with its fleet of small to midsize Cessna jets and the large-cabin, long-range Sovereign, is an economical alternative for those who normally travel less than 1,500 miles. It’s a perfect fit for Atlanta, Ga.-based Crawford Communications founder Jess Crawford and his wife Sherri Crawford. “It’s a luxury that really lets us enjoy life to the fullest,” she says.
CitationShares aimed to reinvent the fractional model with its new “Citelines” program, which combines much-needed billing simplicity with much-appreciated economy by rolling all management fees, flight-hour charges and other costs into one predictable annual payment or equal monthly installments. Owners can choose between four pricing levels based on the number of peak travel days desired, from the most economical 320-day option to the full-price 365-day plan.
Additional cost saving options include “Preferred Positioning,” which offers discounted rates for travel on repositioning flights; “Caribbean Express,” which eliminates repositioning fees for Caribbean-bound flights on select days; and “Value Plus,” which enables owners to purchase extra flight hours in any aircraft at special rates.
With only a 20-hour minimum, CitationShares “Vector JetCard” is one of the most affordable jet cards on the market. Combo cards allow users to split time between two aircraft, and a new high-value option credits extra flight time for travel at off-peak hours.
Avantair
With innovative programs and even more innovative aircraft, Avantair is arguably the most unique fractional ownership company. It is also the exclusive provider of shares in the Piaggio Avanti turboprop. The Avanti’s avant-garde design, amazing fuel efficiency, impressive speed and exceptional short-field capacity, plus ample range to fly halfway across the country, make it unlike anything in its class. In fact, the Avanti uses roughly 40% less fuel than similar-sized jets for trips of the same distance.
“I love the fuel savings,” exclaims owner Lawrence Amaturo, co-founder of Sonoma Valley-based New Generation Media, LLC, who uses his fractional share for frequent trips between his airline-starved West Coast markets. The quiet, stand-up cabin is significantly larger than that of many small jets, and with the ability to climb quickly to well above weather and airline traffic, passengers can travel in five-star comfort with economy pricing.
Avantair also pioneered the all-inclusive, single monthly billing approach, simplifying a complicated aspect of fractional ownership. Owners invariably comment about the ease of budgeting.
Recently, Avantair announced that it will be the first to offer shares in Embraer’s new light jet, the Phenom 100. With its BMW-designed cabin, the Phenom is more spacious and comfortable than other light jets in its class. And as with the Avanti, the really big news is the small price.
Flight LogMort Handel, Retired Executive
Four years ago, retired executive Mort Handel and his wife left for what they thought would be a pleasant tropical getaway. Six planes, multiple security checks, delays and two luggage mishaps later, an exasperated Handel wondered how going on vacation could possibly require so much work. He knew there must be a better way to travel, and he found it with Avantair.
Now the holiday begins the moment he steps on his Avanti. “It’s extraordinarily convenient,” says Handel, who uses the plane primarily for travel between his homes in West Hartford, Conn., and Boca Raton, Fla., and to attend frequent board meetings on the East Coast. “The ability to arrive at the airport just minutes prior to departure is a very significant benefit,” he points out.
Like many prospective buyers, Handel was intrigued by the Avanti’s unconventional design. But the real surprises were the plane’s amazing fuel efficiency, speeds faster than many small jets, a more spacious and comfortable cabin and the ability to climb above weather and commercial traffic. “It does everything they said it would,” confirms Handel. “I’m a believer.”
Flying close to 100 hours a year and enjoying every minute, Handel is completely satisfied that the benefits of private travel far outweigh the costs. “You have to measure the value to you as an individual. If you travel with some measure of frequency and want significantly greater pleasure with the traveling experience, this is a wonderful way to achieve it.”
Big News — Small JetsNew small jets are creating tremendous opportunity. Whether adding small-field capability and short-range efficiency to a company’s long-range fleet, helping small businesses get off the ground or enabling entrepreneurs to be their own corporate pilots, small light jets are the next big thing in the world of business aviation.
While Eclipse heralded the new era of very light jets (VLJs) with recent deliveries of the Eclipse 500, new technology and new players are fast descending on the field.
Affordable Mobility
With its maverick over-the-wing engine configuration, giving an otherwise small jet a generously sized cabin, HondaJet proves that even an aviation newcomer can bring extraordinary vision to the industry. This new jet, currently the hottest entrant into the small jet market, came to life as a sketch on the back of a calendar by Michimasa Fujino, now Honda Aircraft’s company president and chief executive officer. The young, soft-spoken designer defied all conventional wisdom and engineering logic with the breakthrough HondaJet, which can achieve maximum speeds of 480 mph and climb to an astonishing 43,000 feet, well above the worst weather and commercial traffic.
Although this is the motorcar company’s first foray into aviation, this pioneering effort on this advanced light jet is already living up to the Honda name with a focus on comfort, styling and efficiency. HondaJet’s generous interior cabin (including a fully enclosed lavatory — unusual for a small jet) was designed with ergonomic efficiency, safety and luxury car comfort. The cockpit configuration is equally well thought out, and it benefits from extensive human factor studies that result in optimal safety and crew efficiency.
Efficiency, Economy and Comfort Take Wing
Beyond the unique aircraft, the HondaJet also takes advantage of a highly innovative engine design created from a new GE-Honda manufacturing collaboration. The result is a highly fuel-efficient power plant with significantly increased engine life limits and operating economy 30% better than that of similar-size business jets. “I saw great potential in the small business market for a low-cost, short-range, small airplane,” says Fujino. But while the cutting-edge designer was intent on lowering operating cost, “I worked to create an airplane which has superior performance and comfort, as well as an affordable price. From the beginning, it has been our goal to bring new value to the field of aviation,” he says.
“This is something new and people are really excited about it,” says Stephen Keeney, HondaJet senior manager, corporate affairs. “Honda is bringing the same commitment to the HondaJet that we have in all our other products.” Hundreds are already committed to purchasing the new aircraft, for which full production will begin in just over two years.
“It’s a wonderful way to travel, and while the business need certainly makes it compelling,
it also gives you a lot of personal enjoyment and satisfaction. If you’re going to do
multiple things, you have to be able to move quickly.”
- Liz Calvert, Attorney/Entrepreneur
Birds of a Feather
Meanwhile, Cessna, with its new Mustang light jet, and Eclipse are filling orders as these new jets roll off the production line. But the small-jet revolution is only beginning. The impending debut of the Adam 700 and Embraer’s new Phenom 100 with its spacious, luxury-car-like cabin, plus new entrants such as Epic, Grob and Spectrum, underscore the swelling demand for safe, fast, efficient and affordable jet travel. And these twin-jet models, plus several new single-engine offerings designed for the owner-flown market from Cirrus, Piper and Diamond, are placing this new world of jet travel within the reach of more and more people.
Buy It and Fly It Yourself
New single-engine piston aircraft, with cutting-edge technology both inside and out, are an extremely popular choice with pilots and nonpilots alike, who are discovering that great benefits really can come in small packages.
With its unique safety features including a whole-airplane parachute, sophisticated technology, jet-like instrumentation, impressive range and a luxurious interior, it’s no wonder Cirrus has been manufacturing the world’s best-selling aircraft for five years running. Ease of use and the innovative “Cirrus Access” program, which assigns each new owner a highly qualified private instructor who will act as both personal pilot and teacher for the first year of ownership, make it easy for even fledgling fliers to get aboard.
“I have three young grandchildren, and to be able to go see them
whenever I want to or send [my own plane] to bring them back here is a gift.”
- Elizabeth Rice Grossman, Retired Investment Fund Manager
Safety, Performance, Practicality“Cirrus cleverly built a strong bond among owners,” comments Cirrus owner Bill Frank. “They developed not only initial but also ongoing training programs for pilots who purchase their aircraft, either new or used.” For Frank, Cirrus’s built-in safety features and great performance make it a practical personal and business travel tool. Taking advantage of smaller local airfields and shaving hours off travel time on frequent flights from the Midwest to the East Coast, he says, “I can handily beat a commercial airline flight with my airplane.”
And it keeps getting better: Cirrus’s new turbocharged piston-powered models are enhancing flexibility with faster speeds and high-altitude weather-topping capability. But the company took a giant leap forward by announcing its newest development: a uniquely designed, highly practical single-engine jet called “The Jet.” This new Cirrus promises amazing capability and efficiency and is poised to introduce a new world of affordable personal jet travel to a vast new audience.
Flight LogLiz Calvert, Attorney/Entrepreneur
Two years ago Liz Calvert’s husband literally swept her off her feet with an anniversary gift of flying lessons. It was something she had always dreamed of doing, and with a growing business interest in Hilton Head, S.C., a time-consuming commute by car or airline from Calvert’s Atlanta home, plus a demanding day job as chief counsel for UPS, it was the perfect opportunity to marry her passion for flight with a desire for fast, efficient travel.
Taking off from a nearby local airport and piloting her own Cirrus SR20, Calvert is making the frequent trips to Hilton Head in a pleasant two hours and finding personal fulfillment along the way. “It’s a wonderful way to travel,” she says. “It’s a whole new experience, and while the business needs certainly make it compelling, it also gives you a lot of personal enjoyment and satisfaction.”
Calvert raves about her plane’s sophisticated instrumentation, including onboard weather, moving maps and traffic information. “That high level of situational awareness gives you a tremendous sense of confidence,” she says.
Commuting in her own plane from Atlanta to her new position at a law firm in Savannah and still pursuing personal business opportunities across coastal Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas, Calvert credits her Cirrus for the ability to stay on top of it all. “That’s the only way all of this works,” she says. “If you’re going to do multiple things, you have to be able to move quickly.”
The Gift That Keeps on Giving
This season, you can make a promise to be home for more than just the holidays. “When you use business aircraft, you’re essentially buying hours and, in some cases, days of your life back,” says TAG’s Wolin. “That’s time that can be reallocated to more important things like family,” he adds. The price tag is certainly higher than that of a commercial flight, but for one Midwest insurance broker, “Being able to spend quality time with anybody, whether it’s your family or your client, has immeasurable value.”
Change Is in the Air
The trend toward personal aviation is likely to accelerate as growing inconvenience and frustration with commercial air travel continue on their inexorable path. But over at the General Aviation terminal, or at your local airport, the picture will be far different. A new era is dawning. Affordable pricing and the need for mobility is drawing a vast new audience, including small businesses and individuals who in the past could only dream about buying or flying their own private aircraft.
Very light jets and a new class of even simpler variants called personal jets, which are on the way, will open up personal aviation to thousands. These new aircraft designs are also spawning a burgeoning air taxi market where travelers pay by the seat, not by the airplane, allowing connections between local communities long forsaken by commercial airlines.
Whether used for business, personal use or both, private aviation is poised to transform the lives of growing numbers of travelers. As one property developer sums up, “It’s given me the opportunity to run my business the way I need to and still spend as much quality time as possible with my family. To me, that’s huge.”
Enjoy Life, Celebrate Your Success
Now, more than ever, people are realizing that the value accrued from a business or personal aircraft can’t be measured in dollars. “I think the freedom that’s involved with having a personal aircraft is much beyond any material possession,” comments Northwest Harley-Davidson’s Steve Boone. “It’s a great way to celebrate your success … and it’s the best way I know to really enjoy life.”
The future of personal travel is waiting at an airfield near you. Welcome aboard.
Flight LogBo Van Pelt, Professional Golfer
Bo Van Pelt was living his dream as a professional golfer. But as his family started growing, he realized his travel situation was not up to par. With tournament play beginning on Thursdays and only the top scorers making the cut to play through the weekend — plus the potential for a delayed Monday finish — efficiently scheduling commercial travel was virtually impossible. The wear and tear was debilitating, and an exhausted Van Pelt would return home Monday night only to head back to the airport a day later.
Then he discovered the Skyjet Card, which was like hitting a hole-in-one. “There’s no stress. I have complete control over my schedule so I can concentrate on playing golf, not on traveling,” he says. It’s now possible to bring family members with him, too. The Learjet Card gives Van Pelt guaranteed access to the eight-seat Learjet 45 with plenty of room for his wife, three children, their nanny and others. “And if we have to make changes, there are no worries,” he says. “We just call for the jet and it’s there. We can get everyone on the plane and fly direct.”
PGA courses, often far from airline destinations, are easily accessible via small local airfields, so Van Pelt can be making long drives on the course minutes after landing, rather than long drives on the road. Whenever he’s ready to leave, his plane is waiting. “I save a day of travel,” he says, remarking about flexibility with short-notice schedule changes while avoiding security lines, delayed flights and plane changes.
Van Pelt’s Skyjet Card has been a game-changing experience that’s enabled new business opportunities. “It’s a necessary part of what I do, and it enables me to get home to spend time with my family,” he says. “That’s very important. So while the jet may be expensive, it’s definitely worth it.”
Written and Produced by
Mark Patiky
markpatiky@cox.net
Associate Writer:
Shawna Gale
Principal Photography:
Paul Bowen
Editor: Allison Lurker
Designer: Jon Prinsky