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Wheels Up Gets $115 Million Investment From T.Rowe Price, Others

Wheels Up King air 350

Wheels Up King Air 350

Courtesy AIN 9/28/15 – This morning a group of financial institutions led by T. Rowe Price announced a $115 million capital injection for private flight membership program Wheels Up. The investment is backed by Fidelity Management and Research Company and NEA, and, according to Wheels Up, values the two-year old company at $500 million.

Wheels Up founder and CEO Kenny Dichter said that the fresh funds will support further expansion of the company’s U.S. operations, as well as its plan to begin operations in Europe and the development of new technology platforms, such as its Wheels App member-to-member flight sharing feature.

With flights operated for it by Gama Aviation, the Wheels Up fleet now numbers 45 Beechcraft King Air 350i twin turboprops and 10 Cessna Citation Excel/XLS jets. As of September 2015, Wheels Up reported 1,600 members.  Wheels Up membership costs include a first year membership price, then annual dues thereafter, plus per hour rate for the King Air 350i or Citation Excel; Wheels Up membership costs.

“We believe Wheels Up has the rare combination of experienced entrepreneurs, business model innovation and a strong financial model,” said Henry Ellenbogen, portfolio manager at T. Rowe Price. “Wheels Up has developed network density and provides real customer value. It has the potential to be a much larger company,” Ellenbogen noted.

Courtesy Aviation International News

Other news alerts about Wheels Up:
Citation Emergency, Door Opens in Flight – Live ATC recording
Wheels Up Takes Delivery of “Pink Plane” In Time for October

Private Jet Services Acquires Charter Broker Arise Air, Joins Forces

PJSPrivate Jet Services (PJS), a private aviation consulting and charter brokerage firm, announces a new strategic partnership with charter broker Arise Air, according to a company press release.

Bryan Ellis, President of Arise Air, will act as the new Director of Executive Aircraft Operations for PJS and Arise Air employees will work out of the PJS corporate headquarters in New Hampshire.

Bryan Ellis - photo LinkedIn

Bryan Ellis – photo Linkedin

In this role, Ellis will oversee all executive jet vendor relationships and sourcing for PJS. Arise Air customers will have the opportunity to work with PJS’ experienced Flight Concierge department and have access to aircraft ranging from light executive jets to VIP configured airliners.

Ellis founded Arise Air in 2005 after helping two of the larger private charter brokerages in the country gain traction in the market place. For 10 years Ellis has served Arise Air clients with innovative programs such as Arise Air’s Boutique Level Jet Membership program and with a commitment to sourcing the safest aircraft available on the market.

According to Ellis, “I am thrilled to join PJS. They have been a leader in the private aviation space for quite some time and I am looking forward to introducing my Arise Air clients to the unmatched customer service PJS provides. My goal as Director of Executive Jet Operations will be to ensure that both Arise Air and PJS customers have unrivaled access to the newest and safest jets available for charter.”

Private Jet Services CEO Graig Raiff

Private Jet Services CEO Greg Raiff – photo PJS

Founder and CEO of PJS, Greg Raiff, said, “Bryan’s expertise will help PJS maintain its competitive edge and continue to provide an unbeatable customer experience. We are excited for him to join our team and look forward to working with Arise Air’s clients for years to come.”

In 2013, PJS secured a $10 million line of credit with RBS Citizens bank for the purpose of acquiring complementary organizations in the private aviation space and forming strategic partnerships. Regarding the line of credit, Raiff said, “the substantial funding by RBS Citizens provides the unique opportunity to work with many companies, including Arise Air, that do a fantastic job in our industry, and we are looking forward to partnering with the best of them.”

All-You-Can-Fly ‘Rise’ Startup Nearly Doubles Texas Flights – Expands Cities

Excerpted from article by Brandon Formby, Dallas Morning News 9/24/15

For a monthly fee of $1,650 to $2,650, Rise members can take an unlimited number of trips on the company’s prescheduled flights to and from Dallas, Austin and Houston. The company started with a soft launch in May and went full force in July. It’s been offering 40 to 50 flights a week and will increase that to 92 a week later this month.

Rise plans to expand soon to San Antonio, Oklahoma City and New Orleans. Then, company officials hope to add flights to Tulsa, Shreveport and an Arkansas city to be determined.

Rise Texas king air charter

Nick Kennedy, Rise’s CEO and co-founder,  next to one of the King Air 350 private aircraft the company uses for its flights. David Woo/Photographer.

Nick Kennedy was a health care information technology executive the first time he flew on a private jet. He admits that traveling amid the Gulfstream G550’s high-end appointments and roomy chairs felt like the “epitome of success.”

After just a few flights, the cool factor of such trappings receded. But the convenience of virtually hassle-free boarding and arrival didn’t.

The Dallas man said being able to fly around the country for work and still make it home to enjoy his wife and three kids became invaluable. That appreciation quickly became the impetus for a new business venture.

“I wanted to enable men and women to be where they wanted to be, when they wanted to be there,” Kennedy said.

So last year, Kennedy and a handful of associates launched Rise, a Dallas-based company that is taking the sharing economy to the skies. While Rise conjures the spirit of fellow technology firms like Uber and Airbnb, it actually works more like Netflix. At a higher cost, of course.

 

Rise Texas King Air private charter cabin

For a monthly fee, Rise members enjoy unlimited access to scheduled flights to and from Dallas, Austin and Houston on private planes like this King Air 350. David Woo/Photographer

Company employees spent their first nine months securing approval for their business model from the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration. Kennedy believes they’re the first to do so.

Rise partners with charter flight companies to ensure members will have access to planes, pilots and flights. Kennedy said most private planes only operate at 20 percent of their utilization rate. He estimates that the private jets Rise partners with operate at 75 to 80 percent of their utilization rate.

The Rise-branded King Air is operated by Monarch Air, a Part 135 charter operator based at Dallas’ Addison Airport.

Company officials thoroughly vet the charter firms’ operations, financials, training processes and maintenance practices before partnering with them.

“If they meet our standards, then they get to fly our members around,” Kennedy said last week as he stood at Love Field next to one of the King Air 350 planes emblazoned with Rise’s logo.

Removing the hassles

Minutes earlier, the plane had brought six Rise members from Houston. One of them got off, walked a few feet from the plane, put his bags in his waiting car and drove off.

Cody Vicknair, an assistant vice president for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in Houston, walked from the plane to the Jet Aviation building that serves as Rise’s terminal. Vicknair, who landed 30 minutes before he was scheduled to give a speech in Dallas, started using the service when it launched. He flies at least once a week.

The Houston man said the user interface, lack of long security lines and flexibility of flights attracted him to the service. Rise runs background checks on all member applicants and reserves the right to search passengers and their bags before they board. But with just a handful of passengers leaving from a private hangar, members aren’t subjected to the long lines most people face at commercial airline security checkpoints.

After landing in Dallas on Thursday, Vicknair said he wasn’t sure whether he would fly back later that day or stay overnight and catch Rise’s first Friday flight back to Houston. Either way, there was no cost difference.

“With this model and technology, they have pretty much figured out the work flow to accommodate us,” he said. “It takes all those hassles out.”

As Kennedy and his co-founders toiled at securing federal approval last year, they also went to investors to fund the venture.

“The feedback was ‘You’re crazy,’” Kennedy said. “But a lot of people said, ‘If you can pull this off, it’ll really be helpful.’”

Kennedy worried that people would be hesitant to share a private plane with other people. The opposite has been true, though. Kennedy said members enjoy chatting with other entrepreneurs and business executives on the flights. Sometimes they end up sharing rides home or to work appointments.

Aside from two pilots, there are no service crew members. Drinks are stored near one of the front-row leather seats, often making the person who sits there the de facto bartender for fellow passengers.

“They’ll be the ones kind of making drinks for everybody,” Kennedy said. “It’s very much a pass-the-cup mentality.”

Rise-logoOn the rise

Rise is privately owned, and Kennedy and chief growth officer Clynt Taylor are the company’s majority owners. Kennedy closed on a first round of successful funding last month, but isn’t publicly releasing figures. He said the company was profitable from the first day of full operations with revenues in the seven figures. He expects that to hit eight figures by the end of this year.

The company started off with nine employees but now has 25. That excludes the mechanics and pilots, who work for the charter flight companies. Kennedy expects Rise’s workforce to triple in a year.

Kara Goldstein was one of the first employees on board. She left a job at The Brinkmann Corp. to join the startup. She said it was cool to watch a Houston flight land at Love Field last week, less than a year after she began trying to get people to buy into the concept.

“We were selling something that essentially didn’t exist,” she said.

Company officials don’t release exact membership numbers, but Kennedy expects Rise’s client ranks to exceed 1,000 early next year. Right now there’s a waiting list to join. But more members will come on board as flights and routes are added.

“We build capacity based on membership,” said operations vice president Jeremy Kokenes.

Glen and Vanida Ragland of Houston purchased a corporate membership, which allows more people to fly. The consultants were attracted by the idea of being able to arrive at the airport just minutes before a flight. One of their employees, who lives in Dallas, uses the membership frequently to balance work and life between the two cities.

“He likes the ability to go home if he needs to,” Glen Ragland said.

Which, to Kennedy, is the entire point.

“If I can find a way to give time back to people, I’m selling them the most valuable commodity there is,” he said.

AT A GLANCE: Rise

Founded: 2014

Website: iflyrise.com

CEO: Nick Kennedy

Based: Dallas

Cities served: Dallas, Austin, Houston

Cities planned: New Orleans, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Shreveport, Tulsa and a to-be-decided city in Arkansas

Membership: Monthly dues give members unlimited flights per month. Pricing tiers determine how many reservations can be held at any time. Corporate memberships are also available.

Express: $1,650 per month for two bookings; companion tickets $750 each

Executive: $2,150 for four bookings; 1 free companion ticket per month

Chairman: $2,650 for six bookings; 2 free companion tickets per month

SOURCE: Rise

FAA Approves ASAP Safety Reporting Program Now Across Contiguous US

Air Charter Safety FoundationThe Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) is pleased to announce that both the FAA Central Region and FAA Northwest Mountain Region have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that allows charter operators, corporate flight departments and fractional program managers to participate in the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP).

The ACSF-managed ASAP program is now approved in the contiguous United States including the FAA Eastern, Great Lakes, Central, Southern, Southwest, Western-Pacific and Northwest Mountain Regions.

ASAP is an FAA/industry partnership that provides a near consequence-free environment, whereby the participants can identify safety issues and report information that can be critical in identifying potential precursors to accidents.

ASAP“A confidential, non-punitive reporting program is an important cornerstone to developing a robust safety management system,” said ACSF President Bryan Burns. “Company employees are more likely to report events when they have confidence that their reports will be used to produce positive results, and not to place blame.”

Burns noted, “Companies that have implemented an Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) have learned a wealth of information regarding safety-related events that otherwise would have gone undetected until a major event occurred.”

By enrolling in ASAP, companies can benefit from viewing de-identified safety event reports from other participating companies. The value of the program is the collective volume of data that can be reviewed for specific safety patterns. By identifying trends early, the company can implement corrective action through changes in their policies, procedures, and rules.

Signature Acquires Landmark for $2.065 Billion

Deal would make the largest fixed base operator in the world.

Signature Flight Support parent company BBA Aviation has agreed to purchase Landmark Aviation from affiliates of the Carlyle Group for $2.065 billion. Included in the deal are Landmark’s 68 FBOs in North America and Europe, and its MRO business, as well as its fleet of 64 charter aircraft and more than 50 other managed aircraft, which would give BBA its first involvement in the charter/management segment.  The Landmark charter fleet is the fourth largest worldwide.

The transaction, subject to approval by regulators and company shareholders, is expected to close early next year.

photo courtesy AIN

“The acquisition would enable customers to benefit from an extension of Signature’s industry-leading service offering and its operational excellence across a much larger network of high-quality locations,” said BBA CEO Simon Pryce. “Combining Signature and Landmark Aviation also would realize significant cost synergies as well as substantial tax benefits.”

Signature operates 133 FBOs in its worldwide network, and there is currently redundancy at 12 airports in the U.S. and Europe, including Washington Dulles International, Teterboro, Westchester County, Le Bourget and London Luton where the two chains compete, which could lead to some required divestiture.

The entire Landmark Aviation charter fleet is available only in FlightList PRO.

credit AIN Online

SevenJet Adds Jets to Florida and Salt Lake City Charter Fleets

SevenjetCharter operator SevenJet has added two more light jets to their charter fleet in Ft. Lauderdale and Salt Lake City.  The two Beechjet 400’s bring the passenger charter fleet to a total of six light jets.

SevenJet has its roots in charter as D & D Aviation based primarily in Salt Lake City, UT for the better part of the last decade.  The ARGUS Gold rated company is growing, more than doubling its fleet size and expects more charter aircraft to come including turboprops in Florida and at SLC.

SevenJet and it’s fleet of 6 Part-135 light jets are available only in FlightList PRO.

SevenJet also operates a medical Learjet 25D air ambulance which floats between Scottsdale, AZ and Salt Lake City, UT.

Charter Beechjet 400

Two Beechjet 400 jets new to charter operated by SevenJet based at Salt Lake City and Ft. Lauderdale.

VistaJet Adds Jet Charter Service in China

VistaJetChartering a private jet to China is easy, but flying privately between airports within the country can be challenging.  To address this problem, the Swiss business-aviation provider VistaJet has partnered with China’s Apex Air to provide point-to-point private air service throughout the country in a Chinese-registered Bombardier Challenger 850 managed and operated by Apex. VistaJet is the first international aviation charter company to offer this service.

One of the largest charter operators worldwide, VistaJet has 47 heavy and long range jets for charter now in the US, Europe and China.  The entire fleet and details are available only in FlightList PRO.

VistaJet officials say they plan to add at least one more China-based airplane later this year, and they will continue to expand the line to meet demand. The company has been working for months to secure all the partnerships and permissions required to launch the new service.

The Challenger 850 can carry up to 14 passengers—with berths for seven—at speeds up to 528 mph over a range of 3,230 miles.

VistaJet's Challenger 850 based in China

VistaJet’s Challenger 850 avaialble for charter, based in China

 

Article info courtesy Mary Grady and Robb Report

RayJet Acquires Charter Broker FlyBlackJet.com

Caribbean-based ReyJet acquires private jet charter broker FlyBlackJet.com, according to a 9/21/15 ReyJet press release.

In a move to secure a foothold in the US private jet charter market, Dutch Caribbean St. Maarten-based ReyJet, has completed an agreement with the site operator of the privately-held FlyBlackJet.com to take over the website’s operations for an undisclosed amount.  The website’s operation will be completely assimilated into the ReyJet website at www.reyjet.com.

ReyJet is a service of the St. Maarten-based virtual airline operator, AirStMaarten, owned and operated by Terrance Rey.  AirStMaarten, which specializes in organizing shared charters in and out of St. Maarten to Caribbean islands such as St. Barths, Anguilla, Tortola, Virgin Gorda and St. Vincent & The Grenadines, has spun off its private jet charter operations under the brand name “ReyJet.com”.  With this month’s acquisition of FlyBlackJet.com, the group of travel companies owned by Terrance Rey, expect to expand its operations into the continental USA market, according to the release.

Commenting on the acquisition, Terrance Rey said, “ReyJet will leverage the FlyBlackJet.com’s internet marketing infrastructure and operators network in the US market to deliver even greater service and quality to its discerning Caribbean-bound private jet clients. We look forward to seeing the benefits this acquisition will bring to the private charter clients of both AirStMaarten and ReyJet.

AirStMaarten arranges inter-island private charter connections throughout the Caribbean, especially between the destinations of St. Maarten, St. Barths and Anguilla.  According to it’s release, the goal of ReyJet is to create awareness among the AirStMaarten clientele to garner significant market share in the private jet charter business from the mainland of the United States to the Caribbean utilizing the ReyJet.com brand, the press release states.

New Part-135 Seaplane Operator in FL, Five Now In State

Jones brosJones Brothers & Co. Air and Seaplane Adventures, in Central Florida used to be limited to flying scenic tours within a 25-mile radius of its base at Wooton Park under Part-91 provisions.

Not any more.

The company recently earned its Federal Aviation Administration Part 135 on-demand passenger air charter certification, meaning it can now fly unlimited distances for day trips and even multi-day excursions.

Jones Brothers has been working with the city to earn the FAA certification for two years. Pages of documentation were prepared and submitted to FAA officials, its aircraft were inspected, flight logs examined and pilots screened and tested. Both aircraft and pilots had to demonstrate fitness and competence to ensure the highest safety standards are being met.

Jones Brothers is based in Tavares, Florida, known as “America’s Seaplane City”.

“We have a truly mutually beneficial relationship with the city, which is key to survival, growth and success,” Rob Galloway, who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Jones Brothers, said in the release. “Without the city’s total support, we would not be here.

Rob Galloway, who is responsible for day-to-day operations at Jones Brothers & Co. Air and Seaplane Adventures in Tavares, stands behind a seaplane.

Rob Galloway, who is responsible for day-to-day operations at Jones Brothers & Co. Air and Seaplane Adventures in Tavares FL, stands behind a seaplane.

“Without a seaplane operator willing to offer sightseeing, single and multi-engine seaplane instruction and on demand seaplane charter flights, Tavares couldn’t live the brand ‘America’s Seaplane City.’”

“Jones Brothers has partnered with over two dozen beautiful, waterfront resorts along the Atlantic coast, from South Carolina through the Florida Keys, and all the way up the west coast of Florida to Tampa and Homossassa,” the website states.

Story credit Scott Callahan and Daily Commercial

Beacon Launches New York – Boston Service

Earlier article about Beacon can be seen here.

Beacon Flight ServiceUPDATE:  Beacon began flight service Tuesday this week for its new all-you-can-fly service.  The company offers 18 flights daily between BOS Boston and HPN New York in King Air 200 turboprops carrying 6 passengers.  Flight time is around 45 minutes.  For $2,000 per month members can fly as much as they like, and have as many as 4 reserved flights (future boarding passes) at a time.

Beacon members walk to their flight September 15 on the first day of service

Beacon members walk to their flight September 15 on the first day of service

Dynamic Aviation, based in Virginia, is the Part-135 certified operator of Beacon’s flights and is starting the service with three King Air 200 turboprops.

Beacon plans to add service to Washington D.C. within a year, and will offer seasonal service to Nantucket and the Hamptons beginning next summer.  They plan to operate 27 aircraft eventually, with more destinations to be added.

TWC Aviation Now Landmark – 4th Largest Fleet In Charter

Landmark Aviation Charter OperatorCharter operator Landmark Aviation has completed the re-branding of TWC Aviation based in Van Nuys and San Jose, CA following the acquisition in April 2015 and is now operating under the Landmark name.  TWC was founded in 1998 and most recently operated 29 jets of various makes and sizes.  TWC’s operating certificate remains intact and operations are now under the Landmark name.

Temporary Landmark signage is up at both California locations.  TWC’s office in White Plains, NY has been relocated to the Landmark facility at HPN, and the Scottsdale, AZ airport recently opened office is now closed.

Landmark Aviation’s charter fleet now numbers 63, the fourth largest charter fleet behind Executive Jet Management with 100 aircraft for charter, Travel Management Company with 67 and Delta Private Jets with 65 aircraft.

Landmark’s entire charter fleet is only available in FlightList PRO.  

Landmark has been on a growth run the past two years, having acquired several operators including Galvin Flying Service in Seattle, WA, Sterling Aviation in Milwaukee, Midlantic Jet Charters in Atlantic City, and now TWC Aviation in California.  These, in addition to Landmarks existing charter fleets in North Carolina and South Dakota.

Stratajet Set to Launch Online Charter Booking Engine

stratajet logoOnline charter booking engine Stratajet is set to roll out its service to private aviation consumers on September 28. The UK-based company, which claims to offer the only real-time online booking engine for charter flights, has established a database of up to 500 available aircraft for which its software will generate live pricing information.

In a project called Operation Long Reach, Stratajet spent April through August visiting 50 charter operators and FBOs in 30 cities across 14 European countries to promote its technology. The main aim was to persuade operators to link their operations software with the Stratajet system and so make aircraft available for direct booking by customers.

Participating operators are eligible to use the company’s Stratafleet software, which uses the Stratajet search engine to generate flight quotes and more efficiently sell their available capacity. Its also offers the StrataFBO software to allow FBOs to interface with the main website.

Stratajet is now setting up meetings with operators in the U.S., Middle East and Russia to expand its database of available aircraft. The company also has just appointed David Lee as its chief financial officer. Lee has more than a decade of experience in developing Internet businesses and was recently named by the Institute of Chartered Accountants as Finance Director of the Year.

Stratajet Charter booking

The Stratajet team includes (left to right): Olivia Scarlett, head of marketing, Mike Gadd, head of operator and FBO relations, Cecilie Øyäs, co-pilot and operator and FBO liaison and Jonny Nicol, CEO.

Following an exhausting few months, flying around Europe in our Chieftain aircraft, it is very rewarding to be able to confirm that we have hit our targets in relation to the number and range of aircraft available on the Stratajet platform,” commented CEO Jonny Nicol. “The positive response we received throughout the campaign has proven what we knew all along: the industry needs technological development in order to grow. I think one of our greatest achievements is that we gained the understanding from the operators that other companies, claiming to do what Stratajet does, are simply not delivering.”

Stratajet has been in development for the past four years while Nicol and his team refined the algorithm that he says delivers the charter industry’s only 100-percent accurate, real-time charter booking system for consumers. Essentially, the system is intended to calculate the true cost of a so-called “partial empty leg” by working out the net difference in cost of the requested new trip and any empty leg involved.

This means that the consumer pays less and the operator makes a greater profit margin,” Nicol told AIN. Stratajet employs a research team to ensure that the system includes up-to-date information on all relevant costs, such as airport landing and parking fees. Customers pay a 5 percent commission on the price of flights booked either online or by phone.

Article by Charles Alcock, courtesy AIN

Air Charter Broker Launches New Jet Card Concept

Airstreamjets_newlogoFlorida based charter brokerage, Airstream Jets, announced a new jet card concept with the launch of its Distance Card, with pricing based on distance flown rather than hours, according to a company press release.

“The Distance Card pricing model is revolutionary for its simplicity and flexibility. There is nothing else like it on the market. All other jet cards offer only the hour-based pricing model in some form or another. The level of flexibility and cost transparency the Distance Card provides is unprecedented” said Airstream Jets CEO, Pete Maestrales.

Each trip is billed according to distance traveled using a formula (Total Miles Flown x Price Per Mile = Total Cost) based on a tiered price per mile system where mileage rates decrease as travel distance increases.  Customers may move between aircraft categories and choose the most appropriate aircraft size for their travel on a trip-by-trip basis.

Mileage rates start at $7 per mile for small jets and with packages starting at $25,000.

Source: press release

Citation Emergency, Door Opens in Flight – Live ATC recording

By Russ Niles, AVweb

Wheels Up Citation Excel

Wheels Up Citation Excel XLS

The two pilots and five passengers aboard a chartered Wheels Up Citation Excel XLS had some anxious moments when the main cabin door opened in flight but didn’t detach from the aircraft.

The aircraft had just taken off from San Francisco International Airport on Aug. 6 for a flight to Drummond Island Airport in Michigan and was climbing through 2,000 feet when the door opened.

The air traffic control dialogue (edited by YouTube channel VASAviation) reveals the open door prevented the business jet from climbing and the pilot needed both hands to maintain control of the aircraft as he declares an emergency and asks to return to the airport.  “I gotta hold the aircraft. We cannot climb…,” the pilot tells the controller as he asks for vectors and frequencies to make an instrument approach.

A short time later the aircraft came out of the clouds and the crew was able to make a visual approach.  As the Citation turned base, a controller reported it only had one main landing gear but it turned out he mistook the hanging door for a gear leg.  The gear worked normally and the crew made a safe landing on Runway 28R with emergency apparatus standing by.

The occupants evacuated the airplane on a taxiway.  Wheels Up is a relatively new charter company that intends to build most of its business around a large fleet of King Airs but it started flying Citations in 2014.

courtesy Russ Niles & AVweb

The New Citation M2- Charter Report; How Does It Compare?

Fred George and Business & Commercial Aviation just published an in-depth look at the new Cessna’s Citation M2 from Textron Aviation.  It’s the third iteration of the CitationJet which debuted in 1992.

The M2 is luring considerably more buyers than some competitors for very compelling reasons noted below.  With deliveries beginning in late 2013, including 60 aircraft last year and more than two dozen delivered to date in 2015, there are now more than 95 aircraft in the fleet.

That’s an impressive record for a low-risk, lean-budget derivative’s entry into what’s still a tepid market. Many times, clean-sheet designs get all the attention. With this aircraft, it was attention to detail that mattered.

Little has changed in the M2’s airframe compared to the original CitationJet. It retains the 58-in. inside diameter, circular cross-section fuselage of the original 1971 Citation 500, a semi-monocoque structure fabricated from conventional aluminum alloys, using rivets, fasteners and adhesive bonding. Composites are used to save weight in fairings, the nose radome and other non-load-bearing components.

What is important for charter customers?

The M2 is 22 kt. faster than the CJ1+ and 53 kt. faster than the Embraer Phenom 100E at FL 410, assuming standard-day temperatures and 9,000-lb. cruise weights. In August, Textron Aviation announced a boost in maximum takeoff field elevation to 14,000 ft. The M2’s more-powerful Williams FJ44 turbofans are the reason.

Citation M2

10 M2’s are available for charter; 9 throughout the US and 1 in Germany.  All are listed with operator and details in FlightList PRO.

The M2 seats 6 passengers, including a 4-place club, with a side-facing seat across from the entry door and a belted lavatory seat.

The cabin features an automatic pressurization controller that provides up to 8.5 psi of differential pressure, sufficient to maintain an 8,000-ft. cabin altitude at FL 410, the aircraft’s maximum cruise altitude. The DC-powered, vapor-cycle air conditioner may be operated anytime in flight or by the right generator or GPU on the ground. Thus, the cabin can be cooled on the ground prior to engine start. The interior has single-zone temperature control, but a five-position flow divider enables the crew to modulate the temperature of the cabin separately from the cockpit.

The M2’s cabin cross-section is smaller than those of some entry-level jets and the floor is narrower. But the interior has been completely redesigned to make it more functional, comfortable and space efficient. The cabin window reveals, for instance, have been flattened to allow more ambient light to flood the interior from the 11-in.-wide by 15-in.-tall transparencies. The seats have retractable inboard armrests to provide easier passage through the aisle. The four club chairs have tilt, swivel, lateral and fore/aft track adjustments. Left- and right-side, foldout worktables may be extended between pairs of facing club chairs. There are left- and right-side 110-volt AC power outlets, below the worktable pockets in the sidewalls.

There also are USB charging ports and audio jacks. Each passenger seat has an air outlet, LED reading light and oxygen mask in the overhead.

Charter Citation M2 light jet interior

Main cabin has four club chairs with standard swivel, track, recline and fore/aft adjustments. Furnishings are top notch. Standard is a belted potty and forward side-facing seats.

Unable to measure interior sound levels at cruise, subjectively the M2 appears to have one of the quietest cabins in the entry-level turbine aircraft class. Notably, interior fit and finish, including cabinetry, tables, sidewalls and leathers, are top notch, befitting a $4.5 million business aircraft. In our opinion, interior quality is unmatched in this class of aircraft.

The M2’s cabin dimensions, window size and baggage capacity quite clearly are smaller than those of some competitors. But its longest missions won’t exceed 3+00 to 3+30 duration, so those shortcomings are less important than they would be in an aircraft with more range.

Two external baggage compartments have a combined 43.1-cu.-ft. capacity, one-quarter less than some competitors. But the forward 12.7-cu.-ft. compartment in the nose has a 400-lb. capacity and the aft 30.2-ft. compartment, available with an optional ski tube, has a 325-lb. capacity. In contrast, the Phenom 100E has a 7-cu.-ft. forward baggage compartment and a 53-cu.-ft. aft baggage compartment.

Cessna Citation M2 light jet. Nine are currently available for charter in the US.

Cessna Citation M2 light jet. Nine are currently available for charter in the US.

The M2 isn’t the largest aircraft in the entry-level turbine aircraft market, but it’s unsurpassed for speed, safety and single-pilot ease of operations, in our opinion. It will cruise at 380 to 390 KTAS at typical jet altitudes. With typical options and at high-speed cruise, it will fly one pilot and four passengers 1,150 nm in 2 hr., 49 min., assuming standard day conditions. It will climb directly to FL 410, its maximum cruise altitude, in 24 min. That’s 27% faster than its closest competitor.

Read the full article from Business & Commercial Aviation at aviationweek.com here –

Private Jet Services Group Named to 2015 Inc. 5000

PJSPrivate Jet Services (PJS), a worldwide aviation consulting firm, has been named one of the nation’s fastest growing companies on the Inc. 5000 list for 2015, according to a release by the company.

PJS, now in it’s 12th year,  achieved 136% overall revenue growth over the recent 3-year period 2012-2014, and ranks #2,688 of 5,000 on this year’s list.  A repeat appearance, PJS achieved #2,410 on the 2014 list.

inc.5000“It is an honor to be recognized among the fastest-growing companies in the country. This type of recognition really validates our success in meeting the evolving aviation needs of our expanding client base,” said PJS Founder and CEO Greg Raiff in the statement. “To have appeared two years in a row speaks volumes about our exceptional repeat client rate.”

Based in Seabrook, NH, Private Jet Services Group clients include Fortune 500 companies, professional sports teams, collegiate sports teams, the world’s biggest bands, private fliers and government workers.  PJS offers fully tailored, on-demand aviation solutions to its clients. Founded in 2003 by Greg Raiff, PJS procures on behalf of those clients both VIP and standard configured airliners, regional aircraft, as well as light, midsize, and large cabin executive jets.

Charter Pilot Writes Book, Rare Adventures in Aviation

Anyone interested in general aviation, its history, and the funny and sometimes-scary adventures of a professional pilot will enjoy Mark Burgess’ stories.

With wry humor, he takes us on his journey from an airplane-happy small-town youth, to certified 17-year-old pilot, to instructor and inspector of other pilots.

He has flown donated organs, fire patrol, and the rich and famous, and today is a successful entrepreneur with a rapidly growing company employing nine pilots.

Charter Pilot; Rare Adventures in Aviation is available on Amazon.

 

Article by Thomas McFarland, KSMU Ozarks Public Radio:

Decades of flight experience throughout southwest Missouri and beyond are on display in a new book by Mark Burgess. The local pilot and businessman recently released his auto-biography “Charter Pilot: Rare Adventures in Aviation,” which discusses an industry that rarely finds itself in the spotlight.

“Well the main purpose is to kind of introduce people to what this is. It’s an area of aviation many don’t understand,” says Burgess.

That area of aviation includes numerous flight jobs such as fire and pipeline patrol, instructor flight, and charter flight. Burgess discusses having flown everything from car parts to donated human organs, getting there via a non-traditional path. The usual gateway into the industry is through the military and major airlines, he says.

“But when I was coming out of high school we were coming out of Vietnam, so politically we didn’t need pilots. They didn’t want anybody, wouldn’t let anybody in, unless you had a college degree, perfect vision, all sort of things. You couldn’t go down the military track,” Burgess says.

So he took the private route, one he says many don’t know exists, and earned his license before the age of 18.  From there he began instructing other pilots, including some who were new to the industry in the late 1970s.

“Probably one of the first female students that was back in the day that females weren’t flying that much. It was pretty odd to have female students, and I was barely 18 years old, and we had four or five instructors, and I ended up with the female student.  She was a good student, she went out and learned it all quick. Her parents owned a 206, which is a pretty beefy single engine airplane. And it was just breaking new ground with her,” says Burgess.

Burgess is now the chief operating officer of Ozair, a Springfield-based charter service that offers cross-country and international flights. And it’s no accident the business is located in the Ozarks.

“Were so centrally located that if you call up and need me I can be on either coast in about three hours. Where if I was New York based I would be no market for California, and if I was California based I would be no market for Miami. But being here in the middle of the US we’re market for everybody, so we’ve got a pretty good range,” Burgess says.

So what is the best way to become a pilot? Burgess says the military is still the best option.

“If you can do the military routine and do the military life for a while, that’s obviously the place you want to go. You can get the most expensive training and the best equipment out there. And they’re going to pay you to do it, and it’s not going to come out of your pocket.”

If you’re interested in entering the field of aviation, or if you would just like to read the stories of a pilot in the Ozarks, you can find Mark Burgess’ book “Charter Pilot: Rare Adventures in Aviation” on Amazon.

Photos & Specs – New Citation Latitude Midsize Jet Charter

Aircraft Management Group and it’s charter division AMG Jets took delivery of one of the first Citation Latitudes.  It is the first Latitude available for charter.

The Citation Latitude jet boasts the most spacious and most refined cabin environment in the midsize jet category.  At 77 inches wide, six feet tall and more than 21 feet long with a flat floor, and stand up cabin, the Latitude was built for comfort.  The aircraft comfortably seats 9 passengers and features a cruciform tail and all metal fuselage.

Citation LatitudeCitation Latitude Quick Specs:
Midsize Business Jet, seats 9 max.
Cabin Dimensions; W 6’5″, H 6’0″, L 21’9″
Baggage Capacity; 127 cu.ft.
Range 2,850 NM
Part-135 nonstop coast to coast
Speed 440 KTS

First Citation Latitude available for charter. Operated by AMG Jets.

First Citation Latitude available for charter. Operated by AMG Jets.

Aircraft Management Group took delivery of one of the first Citation Latitudes from Cessna in Wichita, KS.

Aircraft Management Group took delivery of one of the first Citation Latitudes from Cessna in Wichita, KS.

Cabin of Citation Latitude for charter with AMG Jets

Cabin of Citation Latitude for charter with AMG Jets

AMG Jets' new Citation Latitude

AMG Jets’ new Citation Latitude in flight over KICT Wichita Airport as it departed for its new base with AMG at KPIT Pittsburgh, PA.

Citation Latitude cabin configuration

Citation Latitude cabin configuration. Cabin width 6’5″, Height 6’0″, Length 21’9″.

Citation Latitude Jet Charter

John Sieckowski, president of Pittsburgh, Pa.-based aircraft charter and management firm Aircraft Management Group, took the keys to one of the first Cessna Citation Latitudes. Deliveries of the new midsize business jet started on August 27.

First Citation Latitude for Charter Operated by AMG Jets

Citation Latitude Jet Charter

John Sieckowski, president of Pittsburgh, Pa.-based aircraft charter and management firm Aircraft Management Group, took delivery of the first Citation Latitudes and is first available for charter.

Aircraft Management Group, Inc., a provider of aircraft management and consulting services, as well as private aircraft charter through their AMG Jets division, is eager to announce the addition of a 2015 Citation Latitude to their charter certificate.

Aircraft Management Group, Inc. is the first company in the world to have the Latitude available for charter. The aircraft will spend half of the year based out of KPIT (Pittsburgh International Airport) and the other half based in KPBI (Palm Beach International Airport).

The 9-passenger Citation Latitude jet boasts the most spacious and most refined cabin environment in the midsize jet category. At 77 inches wide, six feet tall and more than 21 feet long with a flat floor, and stand up cabin, the Latitude was built for comfort.

The Latitude is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney PW306D engines that will power it to a projected speed of just over 440 knots. Its range is 2,850 nm, and its runway takeoff distance is a remarkable 3,668 feet.

“What’s appealing is that it’s got the amenities of larger aircraft but the flexibility to fly into short fields with trans-continental range” said John Sieckowski, President and Owner of Aircraft Management Group, Inc.  “That appeals to a lot of customers.”

AMG Jets CharterAMG has grown exponentially since they received their Air Carrier Certificate in 2009 with no sign of slowing down. Including the Latitude, AMG has added three aircraft to their Part 135 certificate in 2015. In total, AMG operates six aircraft including two Beechjet 400As, two Hawker 400XP’s, a Citation CJ3 and now the Citation Latitude.

“With the addition of the Latitude, we expect to expand our customer base by being able to offer flights to the west coast and Europe” said Shannon Pennypacker, Director of Charter Sales and Marketing.

All 6 of AMG’s charter jets are available ONLY in FlightList PRO.

Cabin of Citation Latitude for charter with AMG Jets

Cabin of Citation Latitude for charter with AMG Jets

New Company Private Air Offers All-You-Can-Fly Memberships

Private AirUpdate: Private Air is no longer operating – has ceased business.  Suggested is the 14-year charter powerhouse New Flight Charters with their best-price-guarantee for any flight, and largest aircraft selection and pricing options.


All-you-can-fly between Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa/Clearwater/St Petersburg for a monthly fee of $950 is now offered by new Miami, FL-based company Private Air.  According to a company press release, flights will start in October and Private Air is accepting membership applications from those in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa/Clearwater/St Petersburg areas.

Private Air is also launching a Florida-New York all-you-can-fly membership program for $9,900/month, between Miami/Ft Lauderdale and Teterboro NJ, using Hawker 400XP aircraft according to the company website.[website is down]

Stephane Hoinville, President of Private Air, is a 25-year aviation veteran with experience as an executive jet and commercial jet pilot for South Florida executive and airline operators until he co-founded a successful Miami based aviation company 19 years ago as part-owner and president.

“We are truly excited to bring to South Florida a really unique experience which is going to revolutionize air travel in our state. We are pleased to offer our members access to the world of executive aviation with its efficiency and convenience at a fraction of its normal cost and for a cost much lower than using airlines,” said Hoinville.  “Members can fly as much as they can between the areas of Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa/Clearwater/St Petersburg and will also be able to fly unlimited to other areas in Florida once they are added for the same low monthly fee covering all areas.  Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Palm Beach are some of the areas we plan to add in the near future.”

Florida and New York flights are provided by FAA Part 135 certified Air Carriers selected by Private Air.