Aircraft Charter Services
For some of us building is not an option. Building an aircraft will take a lot of your spare time for the next couple of years. Spouses and family may not like the idea of you building an aircraft.
Also, if you want to fly next week instead of in two or three years from now, there is no other option then to go out there and look for an aircraft. Remember that when you buy an aircraft built by someone else you don't buy the repairman certificate or the experience the original builder has.
Owning a private aircraft still leaves you with the all the hassle of keeping that aircraft in a flying status: think yearly maintenance checks, overhaul and even damage (how small that may be). You still have to take care of that aircraft and all that comes with it.
If that is not the way to go for you, but you still want the availability and comfort of personal aviation without the hassle of owning an aircraft or being and airline victim. Then the only option left is to charter an aircraft to enjoy the luxury of personal air travel.
Aircraft Charters
Worldwide there are a number of companies active in the aircraft charter or broker service industrie. The advantage of working with a broker is that they can make a better deal by negotiating between charter companies so you will get the best offer.
Destinations
This is one of the advantages of chartering an aircraft compared to airline travel. There are so much more airports available for a charter company to fly to than the regular major arlines can serve. Think small rural airports nearby cities and probably closer to your destination than any scheduled airline service can go.
Worldwide there are over 5000 airports available for private aircraft compared to some 560 available for scheduled airline service. This means that you have more destinations to fly in to.
Availability
Another major advantage compared to regular airlines. If you can fill all aircraft seats, and there are numerous seating options from 4 to many seats, you will have exclusive aircraft use and then departure is at your leisure and posibilities. Check-in time is usually fifteen minutes before take-off. Some even take care of customs should you go abroad.
Services onboard can be arranged too: meals or drinks and ground transportation at your destination, just let them be aware of your wishes and all will be taken care off.
Delays
As some 20% of the airline flight are delayed or canceled one way or the other, this will not happen with a charter flight. Even extending your stay at your destination is no problem.
Time and cost savings
By landing closer to your destination and with no airline delays you will save money and time. Equally so as if you went with a privately owned aircraft, but without the hassle.
Aircraft types
Luxury personal air travel in the form of four or six seat twin piston or turboprop powered aircraft upto light, medium and heavy jets with intercontinental range are all available to you. It all depends on the size of your group.
Some aircraft in use for charter services are: King Air Series 90, 200 and 350, Piaggio Avanti, Citation CJ1 and CJ2, Gulfstream, Hawker, Learjet, Falcon and the Boeing Biz Jet. This is just a fraction of the fleet that is in use.
