Business Jet Traveler

BMW M6 Convertible
June 1, 2007
Chris Bangle’s reinterpretations of the classic BMW form in recent years have
Convertibles get a bad rap from some diehard sports-car purists who dismiss them as semi-serious boulevard cruisers a notch down from where they should be with the rigidity of a hardtop. When the man from BMW said the M6 to be delivered for this evaluation would be a convertible, my sense of anticipation encountered a mild downdraft.
Three Highland Asia adventures
June 1, 2007
Smoke rises from burning incense at the Hua Ting Buddhist Temple in the Weste
Thanks at least partly to Asia's explosive economic growth, its once-mysterious lands are now jet-close and high-rise-familiar. That's good news if you want to do business there, but it makes your search a bit tougher if you're in the market for an exotic getaway.
Senior citizen of the sky
April 1, 2007
Edwards’ and May’s 1971 Cessna Citation 500 boasts terrain-warning and global
While the average car winds up on the junk heap after about 13 years, the typical business jet has a much longer lifespan. In fact, at least a few are still flying after more than 40 years (see box below). One vintage jet we found is owned by Rick Edwards and Louis May of Little Rock, Ark., who are business partners and have been friends since childhood.
Airbus Corporate Jet
April 1, 2007
"I haven’t seen a bowling alley in an ACJ yet, but I’m sure the day is coming
Airbus followed Boeing into the prepackaged "bizliner" market in 1997. That's when it announced the Airbus Corporate Jet (ACJ), a then $35 million executive version of its A319 airliner. At first, ACJ sales were sluggish, while Boeing initially did well with its 737 airliner variant. Today, Boeing has sold more than 100 of its Boeing Business Jets (BBJs).
Bombardier Revamps Block Charter Program
April 1, 2007
Bombardier has revamped its Skyjet International block charter program, unveiling the new Jet Member card. The company claims its terms make the program the most flexible block charter offering in the market.
Editor's Desk: Will gain follow pain at Eclipse?
April 1, 2007
Eclipse Aviation is going through painful times. In March, the builder of the $1.6 million Eclipse 500 very light jet announced it had to change avionics suppliers. Separately, Eclipse Aviation and United Airlines "mutually agreed to terminate their pilot training program," according to the manager of training development for United's flight training division.
Boeing Proposes Cabin Designs for Executive 787
April 1, 2007
Boeing Business Jets has introduced design proposals for an executive/VIP version of its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The size of the cabin-nearly 19 feet wide and 118 feet long-makes it possible to create "a beautiful environment...whether you are looking for a flying palace or a business office in the sky," said Boeing Business Jets president Steven Hill.
Passports in a Hurry
April 1, 2007
Those business negotiations have taken an unexpected twist and you need to be in some far-off country as soon as possible. Arranging a flight? No problem. Packing? Piece of cake. Renewing your passport or getting a visa from a foreign government in a hurry? Here you might need help. This is where the services of a passport expediter can be invaluable.
Buying and selling jets with a checkered past
April 1, 2007
They don't come to market wearing a scarlet "A." But some business jets have a past that can make potential buyers view them as damaged goods-and greatly reduce their resale value. Their flaws, in the eyes of shoppers, may include relatively high airframe time, corrosion, foreign ownership, missing or incomplete logs and damage history.
Al Kroontje
April 1, 2007
-Canadian businessman Al Kroontje, on his first flight in his Sierra Stallion, a converted Citation 501SP with enhanced range and speed.

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Quote/Unquote

“When you get into the larger aircraft it becomes like a hotel, with dozens of staff supporting the plane based in a galley area down below. You have very comprehensive cooking facilities, and on larger aircraft we have looked at theatres, with spiral staircases and a Steinway grand piano. The limitations for what you can put inside a plane are pretty much the limits of physics, and even money cannot always overcome that. Even so, people are still always trying to push [the limits]. ”

-Howard Guy of Design Q, a UK-based consultancy