PROMOTION // BUSINESS AVIATION
The Enlightened
Business Traveler
Competing in a Global Market
Written and Produced by Mark Patiky
W
h en Walter Cur t founded Shenandoah
Electronic Intelligence Inc. in his basement, he
didn’t consider how his rural Virginia location,
two and a half hours from the nearest airline terminal,
would affect the company’s growth. “We just couldn’t get
there from here,” he says, recalling daylong drives to reach
customers that took less time than an airline flight.
Then Curt turned to a business aircraft, and a whole new
world of opportunity unfolded. Tens of thousands of other
companies have had a similar epiphany. With a business
aircraft, they are finding that travel has never been quicker,
easier or more productive. And, with more-affordable access
than ever, even the smallest companies can compete on a
level playing field with much larger business rivals.
FLIGHT LOGS REAL-LIFE BUSINESS AVIATION SUCCESS STORIES
STEELCASE
BURGERFI
CHRISTENSEN
INDUSTRIES
THE RICHARDS
GROUP
PINCHAL
& COMPANY
SABIN METALS
CORPORATION
SALESFORCE.COM
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2 PROMOTION // BUSINESS AVIATION
A
ccording to the National Business Aviation Association,
more than 80% of firms using business aircraft are small
and midsize businesses. A NEXA Advisors report concludes that among those companies listed as the best places to
work, more than 90% use business aircraft. The truth is, the top
places to live and work in this country are not always those best
served by commercial airline service. These companies understand that when time is critical, business is at stake—and missed
opportunities have a financial consequence. They also know that
a business aircraft can deliver you with amazing speed and efficiency to the 5,000 local communities, towns and cities across
the nation where airlines don’t go. It’s not just top executives
that are flying, either: A Harris Interactive poll shows that more
than 70% of business aircraft travelers are middle managers,
researchers, technicians and customers.
Furthermore, time spent in a business aircraft cabin, free of
interruptions, is an opportunity to work, collaborate with colleagues or simply relax. And with a business aircraft, you fly on
your schedule, not an airline’s.
Perhaps best of all, you don’t have to own an aircraft to gain
all of the benefits. In addition to the more than 30,000 jet- and
piston-powered business aircraft in use, new flexible options
with added features and value such as fractional ownership,
jet cards and charter are available. And innovative alternatives
that are even more economical continue to emerge.
Find the Perfect Fit
An ever-growing selection of aircraft provides the perfect
choice to accommodate virtually any trip across the state or
around the world. Choose from small jets designed for speed,
comfort and economy for regional flights; midsize jets with
larger, more comfortable cabins and coast-to-coast range;
or intercontinental jets that can take you around the world at
unprecedented speed.
Dassault
As business travel across the globe heats up, Dassault is on
track for a stellar year. Its three-engine Falcon 7X with 6,600-sm.
range can fly nonstop between Chicago and Tokyo or London
and Taiwan, yet it is an adept performer on short and challenging runways such as that at London City Airport. The Falcon
7X offers the latest advanced technology, including fly-by-wire
digital flight controls, heads-up displays, and enhanced and
synthetic vision that enables safe landings in the worst weather.
The 7X and its sibling, the Falcon 900, further offer impressive
fuel economy and three-engine safety margins that allow fullfuel takeoffs for maximum range from smaller local airfields.
Dassault’s very spacious super-midsize twin-jet Falcon
2000 boasts transatlantic range and is equally adept at
shorter runways.
FLIGHT LOG STEELCASE
Steelcase Inc., the world’s foremost designer and manufacturer of office furnishings, is headquartered in Grand Rapids,
Mich. For more than 40 years, Steelcase has attributed its
overwhelming industry-leading success to its company planes.
It uses its Dassault Falcon 2000 LX and Falcon 900 EX to bring
customers to its facilities, which is a major boost to profits and
shareholder value, according to Glenn Jones, Steelcase’s director of aviation. “This is a relationship business. When prospective customers are here, they get a picture of the total quality
of the company,” he says.
It isn’t easy to get to Grand Rapids any other way. Airline
flights to the city are infrequent, inconvenient and time consuming, and the typical trip from nearly anywhere can eat up almost
a full day. Most customers can’t spare the time. Fortunately,
the company jets reduce the journey to a pleasant and productive one- or two-hour flight.
“Our aircraft give us a significant business advantage,” says
Steelcase CEO Jim Hackett. “During the period around the
banking crisis, when it seemed that those companies that were
using corporate aircraft were deemed irresponsible, our team
stepped up to prove that these are irreplaceable tools for our
business model.”
Each of the two Falcon jets averages an astounding 900
hours annually, most of which are dedicated to transporting
customer groups on frequent visits. “The aircraft can pick passengers up in the morning and have them home that same
evening,” says Jones, and that allows for a facility tour and
a full day of discussions. Typically all ten seats are filled with
architects, interior designers, the customer’s own team and
key decision makers who gain the value of seeing the product
firsthand. But most important is the opportunity for meeting
company executives and discussing customer needs in person.
Interaction with the customer actually begins the moment they
board the jet, not after they arrive, says Jones, who notes,
“Travel time in a comfortable, relaxed setting can become
some of the most valuable time to build relationships.”
FANATICAL. PASSIONATE. ACCOMPLISHED. DRIVEN.
YOU’LL FIND THESE QUALITIES IN THE COCKPIT. AND IN THE CABIN.
There’s a difference between a fractional jet business run by the bottom line and one
run by people who are passionate about aviation. From our executive team to our crew
members, owner services to operations, we are relentlessly focused on the details, which
you’ll appreciate whether you’re trying to book a team on a multi-state road show or
making a snowy approach on a family getaway. Experience Flight Options for yourself.
Call to book a demonstration flight today.
Flight Options and the Flight Options logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Flight Options LLC.
Fractional
Membership
Jet Card
877.703.2348 t flightoptions.com
4 PROMOTION // BUSINESS AVIATION
Gulfstream
Able to travel at over nine-tenths the speed of sound, the 610mph Gulfstream G650 is arguably the world’s fastest civilian jet.
Its colossal 8,050-sm. range—greater than that of any other
business aircraft today—easily links New York with Beijing or
London with Buenos Aires. Traveling aboard the G650, one can
cut an hour off many long-haul trips, and nowhere on Earth is
more than a single refueling stop away.
At the Gulfstream’s stratospheric 51,000-foot maximum cruising altitude, a uniquely designed pressurization system maintains an amazingly low 4,850-foot cabin altitude. That means
up to 18 passengers in the multiple-area cabin will be relaxed
and comfortable for the entire flight. And thanks to the 100%
fresh air circulation system and 16 of the largest windows in any
business jet, which allow in much more natural light, passengers
will arrive alert and refreshed.
On the flight deck, pilots can take advantage of digital fly-bywire flight controls that smooth the ride and enhance safety. They
also are equipped with the latest enhanced and synthetic vision
systems, which give pilots access to airports around the globe
under the most challenging circumstances. In one recent example, after a 13.5-hour flight from Shanghai to New York, the G650
landed in very foggy conditions with uncompromised safety.
Also in the fleet are the super-midsize Gulfstream G280,
which can easily travel nonstop from London to New York; and
the Gulfstream G150, which has a smaller cabin and transcontinental range, yet boasts many of the performance attributes
that distinguish Gulfstream aircraft from among the competition.
FLIGHT LOG BURGERFI
From Anchorage, Alaska, to Key West, Fla., John Rosatti is on
a mission to “BurgerFi” America—and he’s winning. Rosatti is
the founder of multiple highly successful businesses, the latest of which is North Palm Beach, Fla.-based BurgerFi, recently
named “the best new burger joint in town” by CBS Miami.
Two years ago, Rosatti launched BurgerFi. Now he’s on a
roll to take the world’s best burger nationwide. Currently 28
BurgerFi stores are open, and they are a big hit in small college
towns and high-growth areas from coast to coast. While fresh,
all-natural ingredients make this burger a winner, Rosatti will
tell you his Gulfstream GIV business jet has been a key component in BurgerFi’s success.
“We have 25 people in our corporate office, and I can take
12 or 13 people with me on our jet,” says Rosatti, who plans to
have 50 stores in operation by year-end. With marketing, sales,
legal and engineering people aboard, his spacious Gulfstream
becomes an airborne headquarters. “We’re flying all over the
country. We can look at new sites, go to every store opening
and land close by. We have our lawyers and our executives on
the plane. We have meetings while we’re flying, and whether
the trip is two, five or nine hours, we’re constantly talking.”
The time savings for a dozen people traveling is a phenomenal benefit—but with Wi-Fi aboard, they also remain in constant
contact with the outside world. “It is essential to be out in the
marketplace exploring new opportunities,” says Rosatti. “The
Gulfstream allows us to move quickly and easily without losing
days to travel, and we run our business from the time we take
off until the time we land. Business-wise, this is my biggest
tool. This is the right way to do business.”
BUSINESS AVIATION // PROMOTION 5
Embraer
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, well known for its excellent
airliners, introduced its first business aircraft a decade ago
and has added top performers ever since. Rugged airliner
construction, performance, economy, reliability and maintainability are all hallmarks of the Embraer line.
Embraer’s newest light jets—the Phenom 100 and the
slightly larger Phenom 300—are no exception. Widely used
by fleet operators such as JetSuite, Flight Options and NetJets, which depend on reliability and maintainability in a highutilization environment, both aircraft combine capability, styling and functionality with outstanding fuel efficiency, speed,
range and airfield performance.
The new super-midsize Legacy 500 is in final testing and
slated for customer delivery in mid-2014; the slightly smaller
Legacy 450 will follow in 2015. Each will bring next-generation
sophistication and safety to the market at very competitive
prices. These latest designs, incorporating highly fuel-efficient
engines, auto-throttle and fly-by-wire flight controls for
enhanced safety, efficiency and in-flight comfort, will set
a new standard for midsize aircraft. They’ll also come with
options more typically found on ultra-long-range jets, including enhanced vision systems and heads-up displays.
Among those companies
listed as the best places
to work, more than
90%
are business
aircraft users.
Source: NEXA Advisors
FLIGHT LOG CHRISTENSEN INDUSTRIES
Christensen Industries, a small Utah-based company, supplies
precision sheet metal and machined parts and products to the
aerospace industry and the world’s airlines. With customers
ranging from the West Coast to the Midwest, President and
Owner Keith Christensen learned early on that having his own
airplane could gain him quick and easy access to them.
After trying several less-capable aircraft, Christensen
became one of the first Embraer Phenom 100 jet owners. “The
Phenom makes a lot of sense for us because it’s fast and flies
high above most weather,” he says. “It’s very fuel-efficient,
and when you look at cost per mile, there’s just nothing that
compares. Its systems redundancy is incredible, and the technology is simply as good as it gets.” If any technical issue
arises, Christensen uploads data from the built-in maintenance
diagnostics computer directly to Embraer, and he can simultaneously speak with a technician who will help analyze the
problem. “I didn’t think this kind of service existed,” he says.
“Having the plane has helped us grow the business and
enabled us to solve customers’ problems. There isn’t anything
that can replace the value of being in front of your customer.
The aircraft encourages me to do that. It allows us to have
fewer people and do a great deal more work,” Christensen
explains. “I can’t afford to have two or three engineers out
of the office two or three days at a time. Now I can take my
quality-control, engineering and salespeople with me, meet
with customers anywhere mid-continent or on the West Coast,
and get back the same day. The employees love it and the customers are delighted with our availability,” he says. “When you
consider the time, energy and personnel savings, our plane is
really inexpensive.”
6 PROMOTION // BUSINESS AVIATION
Bombardier
Latest-technology materials are enabling more fuel-efficient
designs and improving safety. Bombardier’s new supermidsize Learjet 85 is the world’s first all-composite business
aircraft and offers the latest-technology flight deck and
cabin features. It will begin service in 2014.
In addition, the nine-passenger Learjet 75 and the sevenpassenger Learjet 70, which replace the Learjet 45XR and
40XR, respectively, will begin delivery later this year. The two
new models take advantage of the Learjet 85’s advancedcabin technology as well as Bombardier’s Vision Flight Deck,
which includes the latest Garmin flat-panel touch-screen
G5000 avionics with synthetic vision.
This year Bombardier introduced the Challenger 350, a
significantly upgraded version of the highly popular Challenger 300. The new jet has a redesigned interior, larger
windows, more-powerful engines and 3,700-sm. range. NetJets is the launch customer, and first deliveries are slated
for 2014.
Two new globe-spanning jets also are in development at
Bombardier: The Global 7000, with a projected 8,400-sm.
range, will be delivered to customers in 2016; and the Global
8000, with an unprecedented 9,000-sm. range, is slated for
2017 delivery. NetJets already has placed large orders for
both aircraft.
“With our own plane, we can leave early in the
morning, spend quality time with our clients
and return the same day. We have a great
deal more control over our business. From a
productivity standpoint, it’s unmatched.”
—Stan Richards, Founder, The Richards Group
FLIGHT LOG THE RICHARDS GROUP
Stan Richards launched his one-person advertising business
in a garage apartment in Dallas in 1955. Today The Richards
Group—with 700 employees, clients from coast to coast and
$1.3 billion in annual billings—is the largest independently
owned, full-service advertising agency in the country.
Developing good advertising strategy means working closely
with clients. “You can’t do that with e-mail, fax and videoconferencing alone,” says Richards. “There is no substitute for sitting
across the table from your client. Whether we are showing work
or getting direction or learning about some aspect of the client’s
business, there is no way to do it as effectively and efficiently.”
So The Richards Group travels often; its Bombardier Challenger
300 makes it possible.
While airlines are suitable some of the time, Richards has
been a longtime believer in business aviation for accessing
clients whom it can be difficult and time-consuming to reach
commercially. “To retain clients, we need to provide service. If
someone asks, ‘Can you be here Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.?’ we can
always say yes.”
The Richards Group’s Challenger 300 averages about two
trips a week, typically with seven to nine people representing multiple agency disciplines. “It doesn’t make any difference whether we are going to Connecticut or California,”
says Richards. “With our own plane, we can leave early in
the morning, spend quality time with our clients and return
the same day. We have a great deal more control over
our business and our transportation. From a productivity
standpoint, it is unmatched. We can collaborate on the airplane, prepare, rehearse presentations or design an ad
in a nice, quiet environment. En route time is invaluable,”
he says, even if it’s just spent relaxing in order to stimulate
creative thinking.
8 PROMOTION // BUSINESS AVIATION
Fractional Ownership
and Jet Cards
Fractional ownership brings business aviation advantages to
thousands of companies and individuals that never dreamed
it possible. For a fraction of the price of a whole aircraft, you
eliminate the operational obligations and gain tax benefits and
all the ownership advantages, plus a great deal more. NetJets,
owned by Berkshire Hathaway, formulated the original fractional
ownership model. It, and others like Flight Options, operate the
major programs. Each company’s program is defined by different options, enhancements and varied aircraft choices.
Fractional ownership requires an up-front capital investment
and a minimum 50-hour annual commitment, typically for five
years, yet many customers have lesser requirements. For them,
jet cards may be the answer. One can purchase flight time in
25-hour increments and, unlike fractional ownership, jet cards
don’t require any capital investments, long-term contracts or
monthly management fees. Travel is based on one-way flights.
However, jet card owners pay higher hourly rates than do fractional owners in lieu of an ownership investment.
NetJets
NetJets, remains the world’s largest, most experienced fractional
provider, with more than 7,000 owners and 700 aircraft worldwide. In the U.S., NetJets Share and NetJets Lease offer owners
a wide choice of 13 aircraft types, ranging from fuel-efficient
small-cabin jets to large-cabin ultra-long-range aircraft. In addition, NetJets is the only fractional provider with operations in
Europe. Both domestic and international owners receive the full
benefits of their NetJets share on either continent.
The Marquis Jet Card offers full NetJets benefits in 25-hour
increments and provides guaranteed access to any of nine NetJets aircraft in the U.S. In Europe, the NetJets Private Jet Card
offers similar benefits.
“We are seeing more people migrate to the benefits of fractional ownership than we have in a long time,” says Adam Johnson, senior vice president of global sales, marketing and service
for NetJets. “Economies are becoming more global, which has
really created greater demand for our ultra-long-range aircraft,
particularly the new Signature Series Global 6000.”
NetJets recently ordered up to 670 new aircraft—a $17.6
billion investment—which include Bombardier ultra-long-range
Global 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 models as well as the Embraer
Phenom 300. Part of this new aircraft investment, which is the
largest business aircraft order in history, includes transoceanic
wide-body Challenger 605s and the new transcontinental
Challenger 350 series. “The new Signature Series aircraft are
equipped with the most advanced avionics and cabin technology,” says Johnson. Key features include custom interior
designs, enhanced sound-dampening systems and a proprietary
in-flight entertainment system that will extend beyond Wi-Fi.
In anticipation of strong economic recovery in the Far East,
the company recently announced a NetJets China program,
which will begin operations next year.
FLIGHT LOG PINCHAL & COMPANY
Houston-based Pinchal & Company is a private investment firm
and a leader in the acquisition and management of institutionalgrade industrial properties across the nation. With transactions that can exceed hundreds of millions of dollars, company
Founder and Chairman Mace Pinchal can’t afford to lose time
in airline terminals. That’s why a NetJets fractional share is an
essential element in his company’s portfolio.
With NetJets, Pinchal can focus on business and not worry
about travel. “Cost-wise, it’s a fraction of what my capital cost
would be to have my own aircraft, and I have all the benefits.”
One big advantage is the ability to select the best aircraft for
the mission. “For a short trip with a couple of people, we can
use a Hawker 400. On a trip that requires more range and more
people, we’ll use a Falcon 2000; and with NetJets, you know
what you’re getting in the way of highly qualified pilots and
maintenance.”
For a ground breaking on a building 60 miles south of
Indianapolis, he relates, “We landed at a county airport less
than two miles from the site and we were back in the office by
midafternoon. There’s absolutely no question about the value.
It’s given me accessibility to a lot of places that are very hard
to reach. If I had to go commercially, I wouldn't have made half
those trips. There is nothing like a face-to-face meeting, particularly with someone that you haven’t done business with
before. This is not just about convenience. I can’t tell you how
many times this tool has worked for us,” he says.
BUSINESS AVIATION // PROMOTION 9
Flight Options
As the economic recovery continues, Flight Options CEO Mike
Silvestro believes companies and individuals are increasingly
turning to business aviation to maintain a competitive edge.
“It’s a very attractive time to buy fractional,” he says. “Values
are excellent and barriers to entry are significantly reduced.”
That’s why Flight Options’ new planes, performance improvements in the existing fleet and innovative programs are grabbing buyers’ attention.
Flight Options is the exclusive fractional supplier of Embraer’s
large-cabin, coast-to-coast-range Legacy 600. It was also the
first to introduce the Embraer Phenom 300. The small-cabin jet
offers fuel economy that tops any jet in its class, nonstop range
across three-quarters of the country and attractive amenities
such as a spacious Wi-Fi-equipped cabin.
Flight Options’ latest fleet addition is the Nextant Aerospace
Nextant 400XT, which is a completely “remanufactured” (not
upgraded) Hawker 400. The transformed jet features new fuelefficient Williams engines, a latest-technology cockpit, a completely redesigned interior, a 50% range increase (to 2,020 sm.)
and a 25% reduction in operating cost over the original model,
says Silvestro.
Also, Flight Options’ ultrafast, super-midsize Cessna Citation Xs are receiving makeovers. New-technology winglets
and latest-generation avionics will translate to increased performance, greater fuel efficiency and enhanced capability at
a much lower cost.
80%
More than
of firms using
business aircraft
are small and
midsize businesses.
Source: NBAA
JetPASS 25-hour jet cards work like a prepaid debit card,
and they are available for four aircraft models in the Flight
Options fleet. However, through Flight Options’ Jet Membership Club, Phenom 300 and Nextant 400XT benefits are even
more attractive. The program, resembling a lease, combines
fractional benefits and JetPASS flexibility. After a one-time
fee, members can purchase up to three 25- or 50-hour time
blocks over a three-year period. There are no monthly management charges, and flight-hour pricing is similar to that paid by
fractional owners.
FLIGHT LOG SABIN METALS CORPORATION
East Hampton, N.Y., located on the southern tip of Long Island,
is more than a two-hour drive to the New York-area airports. But
that didn’t deter Andrew Sabin, owner of Sabin Metal Corporation, the largest privately owned precious-metal refiner in the
U.S., from establishing his head office there. With two business
aviation airports close by, Flight Options helps him run his global
company from a rural location with ease.
Sabin Metal has production facilities in Rochester, N.Y., and
Williston, N.D. “Unless you have a private plane, you’re going to
lose two days getting there,” says Sabin. For the past 15 years,
he has used Flight Options to gain unparalleled access to his
own plants, customers and suppliers across the nation. “They
have been vital to our growth,” Sabin says. Currently, he has
shares in a Cessna Citation X and an Embraer Phenom 300.
Departing from East Hampton’s relatively short runway in the
Phenom 300, he can arrive at his Rochester plant just over an
hour later. In the afternoon, he can visit a nature conservation
project in Glens Falls, N.Y., and finally land back in East Hampton for dinner. “Because I have the jet, travel is not only easy,
it’s a pleasure.”
For the trip to Williston in the northeast corner of North
Dakota, he’ll use the Flight Options Citation X, take off from the
longer runway at Westhampton airport, fly nonstop and touch
down minutes from his plant. “I can spend four or five hours and
come back the same day,” he says. “It has made my business
much more efficient; and because it’s easy to get there, I can
visit much more often.” With high-speed Internet available during
the flight, he says, “I e-mail and I have access to all the news. I
can do all my work.”
It’s clear that Sabin doesn’t miss a beat in business, but more
important, he lives his life well. What better return on an investment could one get?
10 PROMOTION // BUSINESS AVIATION
A New Way to Fly
JetSuite is breaking the price barrier for private air travel for
more companies and individuals than ever before. By combining the safety, consistency, reliability and quality of fractional
ownership with all the advantages of jet cards, JetSuite pioneered a new class of service for people who value both their
time and their money.
Attractively priced one-way flights are available throughout
the Southwest in the economical fuel-efficient Embraer Phenom
100, which seats four passengers and includes free Wi-Fi. And
now you can fly JetSuite throughout the Northeast, from Boston
to South Florida or anywhere in between nonstop on JetSuite’s
new Wi-Fi–equipped seven-passenger Cessna CJ3s.
While travelers can request flights to any destinations in
the U.S., Canada or Mexico, the deals improve if you travel
between JetSuite’s most popular city pairs. These have the
lowest overall cost and beat any traditional charter trip. Book
online and get a guaranteed quote in seconds—and the price
is for the plane, not the seat.
JetSuite is making booking even easier with a low-cost airport finder that will highlight the best values within a traveler’s
defined radius of departure and destination cities. Input the airports you would like to use, and the airport finder will give you
low-cost alternatives for other airports nearby.
You can simply purchase single flights, but for frequent fliers,
the deals get even better with SuiteKey Membership. By placing a deposit on future travel, much as with a jet card, members earn lower fares and other benefits. Four levels of prepaid
More than
70%
of passengers aboard
business airplanes
are middle managers,
researchers,
technicians
and customers.
Source: Harris Interactive Poll
membership are available, and the larger the deposit, the better
the per-hour rate. Funds never expire, and SuiteKey members
receive priority booking, flexible change and cancellation policies, lower FBO change fees and free ground transportation.
The values get even better with “SuiteDeals.” These are lastminute flights listed on the company’s Facebook and Twitter
pages. Since planes must be repositioned to accommodate the
next day’s schedule, JetSuite makes those potentially empty
flights available at “can’t resist” last-minute fares.
FLIGHT LOG SALESFORCE.COM
With a home in the San Francisco Bay Area and a father in
Albuquerque who is physically unable to travel commercially,
Salesforce.com’s Chief Technology Officer Trae Chancellor
researched all his travel options. JetSuite offered what he
needed: affordability, efficiency and personal service, plus a
fast, comfortable, nonstop flight to San Francisco. “I’m such a big
advocate right now. The personal service and attention to detail
is enormous,” he says. Chancellor mentions that the pilots make
the extra effort to contact him frequently while his father is aboard
just to give him an update. “That’s priceless,” he says.
What began as a gift for a parent turned into a powerful business break for Chancellor. Chancellor co-founded GoToMeeting, the
virtual meeting software designed around the idea that you don’t
need to travel. He has since learned otherwise. “We have gotten so
involved in technology, what we’ve forgotten is the most important
thing: the human element. We need to interact, but that opportunity
is diminished by the complexities of commercial travel.
“I’m starting a brand-new company based on putting technology
behind people, not in front of them, and that all starts with the way
I do business. I am doing that face-to-face now. This is giving me
time back. I can take my team with me and have an hour or so in
flight to prep for a meeting, and I have easy access to wherever I
need to be. It is invaluable. The added efficiency and the opportunity pays for the flight many times over,” says Chancellor.
BUSINESS AVIATION // PROMOTION 11
Reshaping the Future
Honda, well known on the roads, is quickly making a name for
itself on the airways by bringing a new level of personal mobility
to the skies.
The all-new HondaJet is in final flight testing, and first customers should take delivery in 2014. While this new advanced
light jet will compete in the affordable entry-level category, its
performance promises a great deal more.
What started as a flash of inspiration and a quick sketch by
Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino
more than a decade ago is particularly relevant today. Fujino is
the conceiver and designer of the HondaJet. The new jet takes a
leap forward in aircraft design with its unconventionally placed,
top-of-wing-mounted engines, which defy traditional engineering wisdom but yield big returns, including a much quieter sixpassenger cabin complete with a fully enclosed lavatory.
The new HondaJet will be able to fly nonstop from New York
to Miami, zip along at 480 mph, take off from short, 3,200-foot
runways and cruise at 43,000 feet, well above most weather and
traffic. It offers efficient breakthrough aerodynamic airfoil design
and lightweight, all-composite carbon-fiber fuselage, powered
by newly designed GE Honda turbo-fan engines. This adds up
to impressive performance and operating economy 15% to
20% better than that of similar-size business jets, says Fujino.
The amount business aviation contributes
annually to the U.S. economy:
$150
Billion
While employing more than
1.2 Million
people in the U.S.
= 100,000
Source: NBAA
“From the beginning it has been our goal to bring new value to
the field of aviation,” Fujino says. “My objective was to achieve
a large cabin and high fuel efficiency without any compromise.”
He appears to have done that particularly well.
A Priceless Opportunity
In a competitive global market, business leaders must ask themselves some tough questions. How valuable is management and
employee time? What value do you place on tens of thousands
of productive hours saved? What’s the value of retaining the best
people? What’s the value of business gained or the impact of
business lost? The answers help measure the true value of a
business aircraft from a fresh perspective. From industry giants
to independent firms, companies and individuals are realizing
that the true cost of a business aircraft is in not having one at all.
Now, more than ever, business aircraft benefits are more easily and economically accessible. Companies with their own business aircraft are traveling when and where they want to with
speed, schedule agility, safety and security. Even small companies are finding that a business aircraft can help them gain a big
advantage in edging out the competition.
Today, with so many options available, gaining an upper
hand in the global marketplace has never been easier. And
there is another benefit: One can reclaim one’s life. More time
to spend with family and friends has always been priceless,
but now it’s also affordable.
Life’s great adventure is entirely up to you. So fasten your
seatbelts and prepare for takeoff. The skies are clear ahead. To learn more about how business aviation can
give you a real advantage, visit us on the Web
at www.forbes.com/sites/businessaviation.
The innovative NetJets Signature Series.
Giving you the comforts of home and
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When was the last time you were this excited
about getting on a plane? The unrelenting passion of
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experience unlike any other. You are now free to
focus on what’s important in life.
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A Berkshire Hathaway company
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