Air
Charter: Choosing an aircraft
You would need to view the entire charter
fleet together, or else you would never know the range
of choices you could have. The exact kind of charter aircraft
that would be appropriate for your trip is decided by a number
of factors like:
- The no. of passengers traveling with you
- The amount and nature of cargo/baggage
- The destination
- Your aircraft preferences
- Your budget
Before you go on a charter trip, expect an operator or broker
to discuss your travel needs with you. In this guide we'd
like to provide the reader an insight on the info that you
will need to consider with an operator or broker.
 The
most important question is how many passengers will be making
the trip and the destination? The number of passengers will
decide what size aircraft you'll need and your destination
will indicate the required range. Some high-altitude airports
have limited accessibility, or accessibility that changes
seasonally depending on the aircraft.
Another factor is the crusiing speed. Cruising
speeds can widely vary, but a rough speed estimate for
propeller planes is about 200 mph/322kmh, while jets fly at
something closer to 500 mph/805kmh. When estimating flight-times,
add 10-15% for the time necessary to achieve cruising speed
and altitude. With these figures in mind, it's fairly easy
to conclude that an 800mile/1,287km flight from Dallas to
Chicago would take about four hurs in a propeller-driven aircraft,
but less than two in a jet. You would need to give thought
to your destination and how quickly you need to get there.
Choosing the right aircraft involves factors
like size and passenger capacity, Aircraft performance
and price. At first sight, the price might make the propeller
driven plane more attractive, but then unless the aircraft
has a lavatory, one might to make a pit stop. The noise level
also has to be looked into. Thanks to pressurized passenger
cabins in jets and flight altitudes where the noise of the
engines drops off, making conversations at normal speaking
volume is possible. The same isn't all that comfortable in
a propeller plane flying at 7,000 feet. Feel free to talk
to your broker or operator about your requirements and they
will help find the correct aircraft for you.
Also, you should also intimate about any
special cargo or quantity of baggage/ equipment you'll be
bringing along. A safe flight depends a lot on appropriate
weight and balance. Surprisingly, some items can cause trouble
- skis, as an example, are too long to fit into the baggage
compartment of most small aircraft. Operators are also not
allowed to lay loose items such as skis in the aisle. Things
like the presence of heavy smokers, or unusual equipment such
as oxygen canisters or potentially flammable material should
be intimated too.
PISTONPROP SINGLE-ENGINE
Pistonprop single-engine aircraft ideal for short-range flights
with a few passengers or light load of cargo in good to fair
weather conditions. A gas combustion propeller engine propells
the Pistonprop aircraft. Pistonprops are usually smaller than
other aircraft categories and therefore cannot fly as far
without stopping for fuel. However, they can access many airports
with shorter runways, getting the charter passenger closer
to destination. Pistonprop single-engine aircraft are flown
by a single pilot, but a charter broker usually provides a
co-pilot upon request.
Usual Passenger Capacity: 3-4
Representative Aircrafts: Beech Bonanza,
Cessna Skylane 210, Cessna 206, Piper Cirrus SR-22, Cherokee
Six.
Popular Itineraries: Los Angeles to Van
Nuys, Boston to Nantucket, , Munich to Stuttgart, Ft. Lauderdale
to Ft. Myers
PISTONPROP MULTI-ENGINES
Ideally suited for short-range flights for a small group of
travellers or small cargo, Pistonprop multi-engine aircraft
are are usually less relatively expensive than turboprops
or jets. Pistonprop multi-engine aircraft are considered a
lot safer and more reliable than single-engine piston aircraft,
especially in unpredictable weather situations. Whereas pistonprop
multis are usually larger than their single-engine counterparts
and can carry more passengers, weight and cargo, they are
still smaller than turboprops and jets. Pistonprop multi-engine
aircraft are usually flown by a single pilot, but a a co-pilot
can be provided upon request.
Usual Passenger Capacity: 1-5
Representative Aircrafts: Cessna 402, Beech
Baron, Piper Navajo
Popular Itineraries: Scottsdale to Las Vegas,
Boston to Nantucket, Hamburg to Dresden, Ft. Lauderdale to
Nassau
TURBOPROPS
The advantage of Turboprop aircraft is that they combine the
low-cost advantages of the piston aircraft at the same time
sharing some of the performance and cabin-comfort advantages
of light jets. Turboprops are powered by turbine-propeller
engines. With average cruising speeds of above 300 mph and
an average non-stop range above 1,000 miles, a turboprop can
travel further, faster and offer more comfort than piston
aircraft at the same time keeping charter costs below that
of jet aircrafts. Used for short to mid-range flights, turboprops
can even access runways that are usually too short for jet
aircraft. Amenities include safety and performance and a semi-private
lavatory and pressurized passenger cabins for added comfort.
However baggage capacity here is limited.
Usual Passenger Capacity: 4-8
Representative Aircraft: King Air 90, 100,
200, 300, Merlin, Beech Starship, Cheyenne I, II, III, IV,
Commander, Pilatus PC-12
Popular Itineraries: Boston to New York
or Washington D.C. Toronto to Chicago, San Diego to Los Angeles,
Geneva to Paris, Seattle to Reno, Vienna to Prague.
LIGHT EXECUTIVE JETS
Light jets are the entry level jet class in the industry.
Light jets are the most ideal choice for short to mid range
trips. With average cruising speeds of 440 mph and an average
non-stop range of about 1,500 miles, a light jet can usually
travel further and faster than non-jet aircraft while operating
in and out of airports inaccessible by the major airlines.
Amenities usually include:pressurized passenger cabins , safety
and performance and a semi-private lavatory. Light jets have
limited baggage capacity and often cannot accommodate large
golf bags or skis.
Usual Passenger Capacity: 4-8
Representative Aircraft: Citation II, Learjet
35, Falcon 10, Westwind, Beechjet 400
Popular Itineraries: Paris to Hamburg, Chicago
to Dallas, LA to San Francisco and Boston to Altanta
MID-SIZE EXECUTIVE JETS
Midsize Jet aircraft blend comfort, performance and economy
for medium-length flights. With average cruising speeds over
500 mph and a non-stop range of about 2000 miles, a midsize
jet can travel further, faster and with more comfort then
light jets while operating in and out of airports inaccessible
by the major airlines. Most of the midsize jet aircraft have
external baggage storage and can accommodate a reasonable
amount of baggage. However, some aircraft only have internal
baggage storage and can pose problems for skis and other bulky
items. Most midsize jets offer private lavatories.
Usual Passenger Capacity: 5to 9
Representative Aircraft: Learjet 55, Falcon
20, Hawker 800, Citation VII
Popular Itineraries: London to Milan, New
York to West Palm Beach, and Van Nuys to Seattle
AIRLINER - TURBOPROPS
Turboprops airliners merge advantages of a larger passenger
cabin with turbo-prop performance. Popular for short to mid-range
flights, they can land at airports with runways that are short
for jet-aircraft and are usually economical than jet airliners.
Turbo prop airliners are powered by 2 - 4 turbine propeller
engines. In comparison with regular turboprop aircraft they
possess more powerful engines and a longer non-stop range.
Turboprop airliners also feature pressurized passenger cabins
for added comfort, safety & performance. Some turboprop-airliners
feature executive configurations with multiple amenities whereas
others have commercial-airliner configurations to maximize
passenger seating capacity. While majority of turboprop airliners
are used for scheduled service, many are available through
charter companies, brokers and charter divisions of airlines.
Usual Passenger Capacity: 19 to 65
Representative Aircraft: Jetstream 31, Beech
Commuter 1900, , Swearingen Metro
Popular Itineraries: Sacramento to San Francisco,
Newark to Charlotte, LeBourget to Bordeaux, New York to Washington
D.C.
AIRLINER - JET
Jet airliners are very much capable of carrying large-groups
of people or heavy cargos on medium to long range flights
paths. Smaller jet airliners are termed as "regional"
and are suited for mid-range domestic transport, while larger
jet airliners can carry hundreds of passengers for over thousands
of miles non-stop. Jet airliners are usually powered by 2-
4 jet engines and feature pressurized passenger cabins that
translate into added comfort, safety as well as performance.
Jet airliners can be executive configured -- featuring multiple
berths, a gym, lavatories, shower, meeting room and study,
plus other luxurious appointments; or economy configured like
a commercial airliner to maximize passenger capacity. While
the majority of jet airliners are used for scheduled service,
many are available through charter companies, brokers as well
as charter divisions of major airlines.
Usual Passenger Capacity: 25 to 500+
Representative Aircraft: Boeing 727, Airbus
300, McDonnell-Douglas DC-10
Popular Itineraries: Chicago to Tokyo, New
York to Aruba, Moscow to Capetown, and Sydney to Venice
HELICOPTERS
Helicopters or choppers have a distinct advantage - they can
move into and out of difficult to reach places like big-city
congestion or remote wilderness locations. Perfect for small
groups of people that need to travel shorter distances in
good weather conditions. Today's modern charter helicopters
are usually powered by a single jet engine or dual jet engines
and fly at speeds up to 175 mph for average ranges of 100-350
miles. Helicopter charter also enables passengers to hover
over and take photographs of a real estate site, carry the
injured to area hospitals, land in locations where airports
ate unavailable and generally get in and out of places faster
and easier than fixed-wing aircrafts.
Usual Passenger Capacity: 3-10
Representative Aircraft: Bell Jetranger,
Sikorsky S76, Eurocopter Twinstar, and Agusta 109
Popular Itineraries: Zurich to Geneva, East
Hampton NY to Manhattan, Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, and
Whidbey Island to Tacoma
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