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Record Breaking Jet Streams Give Way To Flight Reaching 801MPH

Last month a Virgin America flight from LAX to London broke the record for the fastest speed on a commercial trip. At 801 mph the Boeing 787 nearly broke the sound barrier while 35,000 feet above Pennsylvania on its way to Europe. Average speed on this aircraft range between 550-600 mph, nearing an increase of 30% in speed on this flight. The aircraft was able to reach such high speeds by flying in a highly concentrated jet stream that propelled the flight to reach its destination nearly an hour faster than projected. The almost 11-hour commercial plane was able to reach London from California in under 10 hours of flight time.

Jet streams are rivers of air currents that travel west to east across the planet and can often change direction over bodies of water and exist in higher altitude where private and commercial flights find their cruising altitudes. Over the last month, the jet streams have been reaching extreme levels due to a combination of abnormally hot air in the Southern US with unusually low temperatures in the North.

On the contrary, flights going the opposite direction from East to West have taken between 10-20% more flight time as the aircraft are taking longer to fight the high currents and reach their normal flight speed.

The Benefits Of Chartering Flights During Government Shutdowns

Though the latest government shutdown was resolved – at least temporarily – on January 25, 2019, we’re not out of the woods yet. President Trump has made it clear that he’s dedicated to building his border wall, and has implied that he’s willing to shut the government down again if Congress does not reach an agreement by February 15.

One of the areas of the government that was the most affected by the shutdown was air transport. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff were furloughed or were working without pay – and so were air traffic controllers.

These factors have made air travel difficult for most flyers – with a notable exception. Charter flyers are not experiencing ill effects due to the government shutdown, and likely will not be affected by any future shutdowns. Let’s discuss a few of the benefits of chartering flights during government shutdowns now.

1. Charter Planes Fly From Smaller, Regional Airports

Unlike traditional, large jetliners, charter planes tend to travel out of smaller, regional airports. This means that there is a lower likelihood of delays and other issues due to long security lines, and that any absences of FAA personnel or air traffic controllers are less likely to lead to serious issues with transportation.

2. The TSA Does Not Screen At Private Facilities

If you’re flying into and out of a private airport, you don’t have to worry about any long TSA lines, because the TSA does not screen passengers at private facilities. While there may be private security personnel on site, the government shutdown won’t affect them – because they are not employed by the TSA.

That means you can expect a predictable wait for security at a private facility, without worrying about TSA absences or other factors affecting the time it takes to be screened – potentially causing you to miss a flight.

3. Private Jet Charter Is More Convenient, Does Not Require Layovers/Connections

Negotiating multiple airports due to layovers or connections can be more difficult during a government shutdown, particularly if you’re exiting and re-entering the airport. If there is a work stoppage or another issue, your flight could be delayed or canceled.

In contrast, private jet charter usually does not require any kind of layover or connection, unless the plane must stop to refuel during a long, cross-country trip. This means that your schedule will be more predictable, and you will avoid any potential issues related to the government shutdown, and its effects on public airports.

Need To Fly During The Government Shutdown? Consider A Private Jet Charter!

The government shutdown is, as noted, currently over – but if things don’t go Trump’s way by February 15, things could get nasty.

If the shutdown is prolonged for too long, FAA air traffic controllers or TSA personnel could quit or go on strike – which could cause major delays and damage to our public air infrastructure.

To avoid these issues, however, those with the means can choose a private jet charter – because the small size and private nature of most regional airports mean charter flights are mostly unaffected, and a good alternative for those with the budget needed to charter a plane.

Education of Empty Legs

Empty leg’s have become a popular topic as many charter fliers are looking for a discounted way of flying private and others are surfing the web to try and fulfill that experience and cross flying private off their bucket list. Being knowledgeable about the topic can you help you in your future search.

Empty legs are flights that are scheduled to fly without passengers back to their home base or to connect to an already scheduled charter flight or aircraft owners trip. In order to entice customers to jump on board of these flights the retail price on that particular aircraft is usually discounted anywhere from 20-35%, and as much as 50-60% if the scenario presents itself to work perfectly point to point to the schedule of the customer and operator.

Many people wonder why aircraft owners or management companies wont just take a couple thousand dollars if the flight is just going to go back empty. Although that is factually true, aircraft owners can take the repositioned flight as a loss on their taxes in turn not actually taking the financial hit to their bank account.

Most empty legs are geared to those fliers who are very flexible in when and where they want to go. For instance, if you don’t care if you left on a Sunday night or a Monday morning and are able to travel to White Plains opposed to Farmingdale you might be able to save money on your next private charter. Every scenario is a little different depending on the aircraft travel schedule and how badly that aircraft needs to move from one airport to the next to fit future trips.

If you want to look at our open empty legs page on our website, we have hundreds posted each day and updated on an hourly basis. Below is a link, you can even sign up for e-mail updates if a specific routing you have in mind pops up in the future.

Jet Partners Empty Leg Flights

Game-Changing Electric Aircraft Company Zunum Aero Inks First Deal With Charter Jet Companies

The world of charter jets may have just been changed forever. We keep a close eye on the charter jet industry – and the most recent news from Zunum Aero and JetSuite, Inc will certainly have ramifications in the world of regional charter jet transport.

In late May, Zunum Aero – a pioneering electric aviation company – and JetSuite, Inc., one of the largest private aviation companies, revealed a deal that would provide JetSuite with up to 100 of Zunum Aero’s hybrid-to-electric aircraft, slated for delivery in 2022.

Is Zunum Aero The “Tesla” Of The Private Aerospace Industry?

In many ways, this seems to be the case. Zunum Aero is using existing technology in novel ways, in order to disrupt the age-old industry of private aviation. There has not really been a revolution in the world of aviation for years – only a gradual evolution, as companies focus on more streamlined, economical, and comfortable private aircraft, and novel business models.

But Zunum Aero could change all of that. The Zunum aircraft is designed to seat up to 12 passengers, and uses a unique hybrid-electric model that dramatically drops fuel consumption, allowing for more inexpensive and economical service to regional hubs within 1000 miles of home airports.

In addition, § has said that the carbon footprint of the jet will be 80% lower than comparable chartered jets. Low emissions and noise will also allow the jets to cruise along more than 5,000 underused airports that are typically off-limits to charter craft, due to their proximity to residential areas.

Recently, Zunum Aero also revealed that their jets will have a maximum cruising speed of 340 mph, as well as a very low runway requirement of 2,200 feet for operation – ensuring that the craft can easily take off and land at smaller regional airports.

Ideally, airline companies using Zunum Aero flights will be able to offer both charter jets for regional routes, and may also be able to open up faster, regular service between popular regions of the country that are currently not accessed by air – such as flights from San Francisco to L.A.,

The First Zunum Aero Test Flights Begin In 2019 – Be On The Lookout For The Results

Zunum Aero is continuing to innovate, and is slated to begin test flights and other such tests in 2019. It remains to be seen how the technology will function in a real-world environment, but charter jet companies like JetSuite seem to be highly confident in Zunum Aero’s ability to deliver – and to refresh the aging, $1 trillion market for private and charter aircraft.

So keep an eye out for future developments, and information about Zunum Aero. The “Tesla of Aviation” is sure to make exciting moves in the future, and will continue to revolutionize the world of regional and charter air travel.

The Gulfstream G650 – And The Companies Who Own Them

The Gulfstream G650 is one of the most luxurious private aircraft available on the market today. This business jet can carry 11-18 passengers, and costs around $65 million.

Interested in learning more about the companies and people who own a G650? Read on!

Starbucks – Howard Schultz

Starbucks is one of the most successful companies in America, so it’s no wonder that CEO Howard Schultz has access to a Gulfstream G650. When you run a company with a market capitalization of more than $82 billion, you’ve earned the right to a few luxuries!

Mr. Schultz, in particular, has been instrumental to the growth of the company, and is worth more than $2.9 billion. He was responsible for the founding and growth of Starbucks since the early ‘80s.

While he has recently resigned as the CEO of the company, and now only serves as an executive chairman alongside newly-named CEO Kevin Johnson, he is still essential to Starbucks and their continued operations.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals – Joseph Papa

Valeant Pharmaceuticals has been the subject of some controversy recently. There were allegations that Valeant, as well as hedge fund Pershing Square, run by Bill Ackman, were responsible for insider trading – and over the 2017 winter holidays, Valeant worked out a deal to pay $290 million in restitution to groups of shareholders. Pershing Square Will have to pay more than $190 million for their part of the insider trading settlement.

While the company may still be struggling, they are still lucky enough to hold onto their Gulfstream G650. At least their corporate lawyers will be traveling in style!

Below you can see pictures of Valeant G650 interior courtesy of JetNet

Apple – Laurene Powell Jobs

Laurene Powell Jobs, the wife of the late Steve Jobs, still has a Gulfstream G650. Apple, and Steve Jobs in particular, had a profound influence on our world. From the way we take photos, to how we interact with each other using smartphones and computers, it’s hard to overstate how revolutionary Mr. Jobs was to our modern world.

Though Mr. Jobs departed from us too soon, his private jet still remains with his wife, who can now use it as part of her philanthropic work, which primarily concerns environmentalism and immigration reform, among other social issues.

SpaceX/Tesla – Elon Musk

It should come as no surprise that the gadget-loving Elon Musk, head of both Tesla and SpaceX, has a pricey toy in the G650 Gulfstream private jet. But unfortunately, both SpaceX and Tesla are undergoing some major budget issues.

There are doubts that SpaceX will ever be profitable, and Tesla recently announced a recall of more than 123,000 Model S vehicles due to faulty steering components. So, it’s perhaps ironic that Musk can spare such a large sum for a private jet – while his companies struggle to forge a path into the future. For now, maybe he should consider a smaller plane, chartering his next flight – or even just flying first class!

Chartering A G650 Is Much Cheaper Than Owning It!

While owning a private jet is out of the question for most companies, chartering a G650 is quite a bit cheaper than owning one. In some cases, companies can charter one of these craft for less than $10,000/hour. So if you’re not quite on the level of Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, or the Starbucks CEO, you can still get into a Gulfstream – just don’t expect it to be cheap!