Business jet
Encyclopedia
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
, usually of smaller size, designed for transporting groups of up to 19 business people or wealthy individuals. Business jets may be adapted for other roles, such as the evacuation of casualties or express parcel deliveries, and some are used by public bodies, government officials or the armed forces
Armed forces
The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
. The more formal terms of corporate jet, executive jet, VIP transport or business jet tend to be used by the firms that build, sell, buy and charter these aircraft.
Background
Almost all production business jets, such as General Dynamics' GulfstreamGulfstream Aerospace
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation is a producer of several models of jet aircraft. Gulfstream has been a unit of General Dynamics since 1999.The company has produced more than 1,500 aircraft for corporate, government, private, and military customers around the world...
and the Gates Lear Jet
Lear Jet
Learjet is a manufacturer of business jets for civilian and military use. It was founded in the late 1950s by William Powell Lear as Swiss American Aviation Corporation. Learjet is now a subsidiary of Bombardier and marketed as the "Bombardier Learjet Family".-History:The Learjet started life as an...
(now built by Bombardier
Bombardier Aerospace
Bombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc. and is the third-largest airplane manufacturer in the world. It is headquartered in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.- History :...
), have had two or three engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
s, though the Jetstar
Lockheed JetStar
The Lockheed JetStar is a business jet produced from the early 1960s through the 1970s. The JetStar was the first dedicated business jet to enter service. It was also one of the largest aircraft in the class for many years, seating ten plus two crew...
, an early business jet, had four. Advances in engine reliability and power have rendered four-engine designs obsolete, and only Dassault Aviation
Dassault Aviation
Dassault Aviation is a French aircraft manufacturer of military, regional and business jets, a subsidiary of Dassault Group.It was founded in 1930 by Marcel Bloch as Société des Avions Marcel Bloch or "MB". After World War II, Marcel Bloch changed his name to Marcel Dassault, and the name of the...
still builds three-engine models (in the Falcon
Dassault Falcon
The Dassault Falcon is a family of business jets, manufactured by Dassault Aviation.Aircraft include:* Dassault Falcon 10 Scaled down Falcon 20...
line). The emerging market for so-called "very light jets
Very Light Jet
A very light jet, entry-level jet or personal jet, previously known as a microjet, is a category of small jet aircraft approved for single-pilot operation, seating 4-8 people, with a maximum take-off weight of under...
" and "personal jets", has seen the introduction (at least on paper) of several single-engine designs as well.
Almost all business jets have rear-mounted engines, because the wing (mounted low for performance reasons) is too near the ground for engines to be slung underneath it.
Airliner
Airliner
An airliner is a large fixed-wing aircraft for transporting passengers and cargo. Such aircraft are operated by airlines. Although the definition of an airliner can vary from country to country, an airliner is typically defined as an aircraft intended for carrying multiple passengers in commercial...
s are sometimes converted into luxury business jets. Such converted aircraft are often used by celebrities with a large entourage or press corps, or by sports teams, but airliners often face operational restrictions based on runway length or local noise restrictions.
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...
industry. Cessna
Cessna
The Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Their main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. The company is a subsidiary...
has developed the Mustang, a six-place twinjet (2 crew + 4 passengers) available for $2.55 million USD. A number of smaller manufacturers have planned even cheaper jets; the first was the Eclipse 500
Eclipse 500
The Eclipse 500 is a small six-seat business jet aircraft manufactured by Eclipse Aviation.Eclipse 500 became the first of a new class of Very Light Jet when it was delivered in late 2006...
from the now defunct Eclipse Aviation
Eclipse Aviation
Eclipse Aviation Corporation was the Albuquerque, New Mexico-based manufacturer of the Eclipse 500 very light jet and also at one time proposed developing the Eclipse 400 single-engined jet....
which was available at around 1.5 million USD. It remains to be seen whether the new jet manufacturers will complete their designs, or find the market required to sell their jets at the low prices planned.
There are approximately 11,000 business jets in the worldwide fleet with the vast majority of them based in the United States or owned by US companies. The European market is the next largest, with growing activity in the Middle East, Asia, and Central America.
Since 1996 the term "fractional jet" has been used in connection with business aircraft owned by a consortium of companies. Costly overheads such as flight crew, hangarage and maintenance can be shared through such arrangements.
Because of their low-volume productions and long lead times, new aircraft orders can take two to three years for delivery. This peculiarity fuels a large pre-owned marketplace, with aircraft for immediate availability.
Classes
The business jet industry groups the jets into five loosely-defined classes:Heavy jets
The most expensive type of private jet is the heavy jet type, which is designed for the ultimate in large capacity luxury air travel. These aircraft, sometimes referred to as Bizliners (contraction of Business Airliners), are based on or converted from airliner types. Aircraft of this class include:- AirbusAirbusAirbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
- Airbus A318 Elite
- Airbus A319CJ
- Airbus A380 Flying Palace
- BoeingBoeingThe Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
- Boeing Business JetBoeing Business Jet|-External links:* .* .*...
- Boeing Business Jet
- EmbraerEmbraerEmbraer S.A. is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, and executive aircraft and provides aeronautical services....
- Lineage 1000
Large Cabin jets
- Bombardier AerospaceBombardier AerospaceBombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc. and is the third-largest airplane manufacturer in the world. It is headquartered in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.- History :...
- Bombardier Global 5000
- Bombardier Global 7000Bombardier Global 7000-External links:* * * *...
- Bombardier Global 8000
- Bombardier Global ExpressBombardier Global ExpressThe Bombardier Global Express is an ultra long range corporate and VIP high speed jet aircraft produced by Bombardier Aerospace. The Bombardier Global 5000 is a slightly shorter version...
- Bombardier Challenger 850Bombardier Challenger 850|-See also:-External links:* * from Aviation...
- Dassault
- Dassault Falcon 7XDassault Falcon 7X|-See also:-External links:****...
- Dassault Falcon 7X
- Gulfstream AerospaceGulfstream AerospaceGulfstream Aerospace Corporation is a producer of several models of jet aircraft. Gulfstream has been a unit of General Dynamics since 1999.The company has produced more than 1,500 aircraft for corporate, government, private, and military customers around the world...
- Gulfstream G500
- Gulfstream G550
- Gulfstream G650Gulfstream G650The Gulfstream G650 is a twin-engine business jet aircraft under development by Gulfstream Aerospace. Gulfstream began the G650 program in 2005 and revealed it to the public in 2008...
Super mid-size jets
The elite class of the business and private jet aircraft are the super mid-size jets that feature wide body cabin space, high altitude, speed, and ultra long range capabilities. These ultra luxurious private jets combine the long range transatlantic capability with the speed and comfort of a wide body, high altitude aircraft. Aircraft of this class include:- Bombardier AerospaceBombardier AerospaceBombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc. and is the third-largest airplane manufacturer in the world. It is headquartered in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.- History :...
- Bombardier Challenger 300Bombardier Challenger 300|-See also:-References:* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.-External links:* *...
- Challenger 605
- Bombardier Challenger 300
- CessnaCessnaThe Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Their main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. The company is a subsidiary...
- Citation XCessna Citation XThe Cessna Citation X is a long-range medium business jet aircraft. The Citation X is powered by two Rolls-Royce turbofan engines and is built by the Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas. It is the fastest production civilian jet in the world. The Citation brand of business jets encompasses...
- Citation X
- Dassault
- Dassault Falcon 900
- Dassault Falcon 2000Dassault Falcon 2000|-See also:...
- EmbraerEmbraerEmbraer S.A. is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, and executive aircraft and provides aeronautical services....
- Legacy 600
- GulfstreamGulfstream AerospaceGulfstream Aerospace Corporation is a producer of several models of jet aircraft. Gulfstream has been a unit of General Dynamics since 1999.The company has produced more than 1,500 aircraft for corporate, government, private, and military customers around the world...
- Gulfstream G350
- Gulfstream G450
- Hawker BeechcraftHawker BeechcraftHawker Beechcraft Corporation is an aerospace manufacturing company that builds the Beechcraft and Hawker business jet lines of aircraft....
- Hawker 4000
Mid-size jets
These aircraft are suitable for longer range travel such as transcontinental flights and for travel with larger passenger capacity requirements. Aircraft of this class include:- Bombardier AerospaceBombardier AerospaceBombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc. and is the third-largest airplane manufacturer in the world. It is headquartered in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.- History :...
- Learjet 60 XR
- Learjet 85Learjet 85-External links:* * * *...
- CessnaCessnaThe Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Their main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. The company is a subsidiary...
- Citation ColumbusCessna Citation Columbus|-See also:-References:* , Flight International, Reed Business Information, February 6, 2008. Retrieved on February 6, 2008.-External links:* *...
- Citation XLSCessna Citation Excel|-Operators:The aircraft is operated by private individuals, companies, fractionals, charter operators and aircraft management companies.*******-See also:-External links:* * *...
- Citation SovereignCessna Citation Sovereign|-See also:-External links:* * * * * *...
- Citation Columbus
- Dassault
- Dassault Falcon 50Dassault Falcon 50|-See also:-References:* Taylor, John W R. . Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK:Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.-External links:* *...
- Dassault Falcon 50
- EmbraerEmbraerEmbraer S.A. is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, and executive aircraft and provides aeronautical services....
- Embraer Legacy 450Embraer Legacy 450-See also:-External links:* * *...
- Embraer Legacy 500Embraer Legacy 500-External links:* * *...
- Embraer Legacy 450
- GulfstreamGulfstream AerospaceGulfstream Aerospace Corporation is a producer of several models of jet aircraft. Gulfstream has been a unit of General Dynamics since 1999.The company has produced more than 1,500 aircraft for corporate, government, private, and military customers around the world...
- Gulfstream 150
- Gulfstream 250
- Hawker BeechcraftHawker BeechcraftHawker Beechcraft Corporation is an aerospace manufacturing company that builds the Beechcraft and Hawker business jet lines of aircraft....
- Hawker 750
- Hawker 850 XP
- Hawker 900XP
Light jets
The light jets have been a staple of the business jet industry since the advent of the Learjet 23Learjet 23
-References:* Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–1966. London:Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1965.**-External links:*...
in the early 1960s. The light jets provide access to small airports and the speed to be an effective air travel tool. Aircraft of this class include:
- Bombardier AerospaceBombardier AerospaceBombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc. and is the third-largest airplane manufacturer in the world. It is headquartered in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.- History :...
- Learjet 40Learjet 40-See also:-External links:* *...
- Learjet 40 XRLearjet 40-See also:-External links:* *...
- Learjet 45Learjet 45-See also:-References:* Taylor, Michael J.H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London:Brassey's, 1999. ISBN 1 85753 245 7.-External links:*...
- Learjet 45 XRLearjet 45-See also:-References:* Taylor, Michael J.H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London:Brassey's, 1999. ISBN 1 85753 245 7.-External links:*...
- Learjet 40
- CessnaCessnaThe Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Their main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. The company is a subsidiary...
- Citation CJ1
- Citation CJ2
- Citation CJ3
- Citation CJ4
- Citation Bravo
- Citation Encore
- EmbraerEmbraerEmbraer S.A. is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, and executive aircraft and provides aeronautical services....
- Phenom 300
- Grob
- Grob SPn
- Hawker BeechcraftHawker BeechcraftHawker Beechcraft Corporation is an aerospace manufacturing company that builds the Beechcraft and Hawker business jet lines of aircraft....
- Beechcraft Premier I
- Hawker 400
- Sino Swearingen
- SJ30-2
Very light jets
Very light jets, also known as Microjets or VLJs, are designed to provide air travel, for example, to the more than 5,000 small community airports in the United States. VLJs have a maximum take off weight of not more than 10,000 lb. Aircraft of this class include:- Adam Aircraft IndustriesAdam Aircraft IndustriesAdam Aircraft Industries was an aircraft manufacturer founded by George F. Adam Jr and John C. Knudsen in 1998. The company was located at Centennial Airport in the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area of Colorado....
- Adam A700 (not certified as of 2011)
- CessnaCessnaThe Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Their main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. The company is a subsidiary...
- Citation Mustang
- Cirrus DesignCirrus DesignThe Cirrus Aircraft Corporation is an aircraft manufacturer that was founded in 1984 by Alan and Dale Klapmeier to produce the VK-30 kit aircraft....
- Cirrus Vision SF50
- Comp AirComp AirComp Air Inc, formerly known as Aerocomp Inc, is an aircraft manufacturer based in Merritt Island, Florida, owned by Ron Lueck.The firm originally manufactured floats for seaplanes, using composite materials. It later branched out into aircraft, marketing them in kit form for homebuilding...
- Comp Air Jet (not certified as of 2011)
- Diamond Aircraft IndustriesDiamond Aircraft IndustriesDiamond Aircraft Industries is an Austrian-based manufacturer of general aviation aircraft and motor gliders, which also has a large manufacturing facility in London, Ontario, Canada...
- D-Jet (not certified as of 2011)
- Eclipse AviationEclipse AviationEclipse Aviation Corporation was the Albuquerque, New Mexico-based manufacturer of the Eclipse 500 very light jet and also at one time proposed developing the Eclipse 400 single-engined jet....
- Eclipse 500Eclipse 500The Eclipse 500 is a small six-seat business jet aircraft manufactured by Eclipse Aviation.Eclipse 500 became the first of a new class of Very Light Jet when it was delivered in late 2006...
- Eclipse 400Eclipse 400The Eclipse 400 is a single engine very light jet that was designed by Eclipse Aviation, producer of the Eclipse 500.The Eclipse 400 was cancelled when the company went bankrupt in 2008 and development has not been pursued by Eclipse Aerospace, the company that bought Eclipse Aviation's...
(not certified as of 2011)
- Eclipse 500
- EmbraerEmbraerEmbraer S.A. is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, and executive aircraft and provides aeronautical services....
- Phenom 100
- Epic AircraftEpic AircraftEpic Aircraft is a general aviation aircraft manufacturer in Bend, Oregon. The company offered three high performance kit aircraft models and was in the process of developing two certified models when it entered bankruptcy in late 2009. It has since reopened under new ownership with a focus on...
- Epic Elite
- Epic VictoryEpic Victory-See also:-External links:***...
(not certified as of 2011)
- HondaHondais a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
- HondaJet
- Piper
- PiperJet Altaire (not certified as of 2011)
- Spectrum AeronauticalSpectrum AeronauticalSpectrum Aeronautical is headquartered in Carlsbad, California with its development center located in Spanish Fork, Utah.- Management :Spectrum management’s history of technologically sophisticated advanced composite aircraft programs includes MQ-1 Predator, LearAvia Lear Fan, Beechcraft Starship,...
- Spectrum S-33 Independence (not certified as of 2011)
Operators
There are three basic types of operators who own, manage and operate private jets.Flight Departments
Flight departments are traditionally corporate owned operators who manage the aircraft of a specific company. i.e. Ford Motor Company, Chrysler, Altria are all example of companies that own, maintain and operate their own fleet of private aircraft for the exclusive use of their executives. Flight Departments handle all aspects of aircraft operation and maintenance. These aircraft are managed under the FAA rules (FAR's) Part 91.Charter Companies
Charter operators are traditionally operators who own or simply manage private jets for multiple clients. Like traditional flight departments, charter companies handle all aspects of aircraft operation and maintenance. However, they are not aligned with just one corporation. They manage aircraft for a private owner or corporation and also handle the sales of available flight time on the aircraft they own or manage. These aircraft are usually operated under Part 135 of the FAA regulations.Fractional Ownership
This is commonly known in the industry as "time share". An individual or corporation pays an up front equity share for the cost of an aircraft, Say 1/4 of the aircraft price, known in the industry as a "quarter share". The individual or corporation is now an equity owner in that aircraft and can sell their equity position if necessary. This entitles the new owner to 100 hours of flight time on that aircraft, or any comparable aircraft in the fleet. Additional fees include monthly management fees and incidentals like catering and ground transportation. These aircraft may operate under part 91 or part 135Part 91 operator
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in the CFR Title 14 part 91 defines a Part 91 Operator. These are the regulations that define the operation of small non-commercial aircraft within the US, however, many other countries defer to these rules. These rules set conditions, such as weather,...
of the FAA regulations, depending on the passengers using the aircraft.
See also
- List of very light jets
- Very light jetVery Light JetA very light jet, entry-level jet or personal jet, previously known as a microjet, is a category of small jet aircraft approved for single-pilot operation, seating 4-8 people, with a maximum take-off weight of under...
- Air Taxi AssociationAir Taxi AssociationThe Air Taxi Association was founded in June 2007 with the goal of encouraging the adoption of the next-generation air taxi model, commonly referred to as very light jet.- ATXA - Americas Founding Members :*BusinessJetSeats*Earthjet*ImagineAir...
- Air transports of heads of state and government
- Supersonic business jetSupersonic business jetA supersonic business jet would be a small business jet, intended to travel at speeds above Mach 1.0. Typically intended to transport about ten passengers, SSBJs are about the same size as traditional subsonic business jets...