Light jets are among the most popular for corporate and private travel, especially in the Las Vegas area. For classification purposes, their passenger load is usually five to eight adults and their range is up to around 1,500 miles.

Some of the most popular light jets include the following:

Learjet 24: With a maximum range of about 1,100 miles and speeds up to 475 mph, the Learjet 24 seats six comfortably. This aircraft was designed to harness the speed and power of jets while operating at the same efficiency levels of as commercial airliners.

Learjet 31A: Seating seven passengers, the Learjet 31A can fly up to 510 mph. It has a range approaching 1565 miles and is viewed as an especially efficient aircraft.

Learjet 35: Business and leisure travelers love this aircraft which comfortably seats up to eight adults. With a cruising speed that can go to 510 mph, the Learjet 35 ranges up to 2,200 miles.

Westwind I: This quick, long range light jet travels mostly non-stop for a reason: its range. It travels up to 450 mph and has a range of 2,100 miles while seating seven.

Westwind II: Built to succeed the Westwind I, the Westwind II boasts interior and exterior enhancements over I. Ranging up to 2,400 miles, the Westwind II seats up to eight passengers and travels at a top speed of 450 mph.

The Citation Bravo: Cessna manufactures the popular line of Citation aircraft. The Bravo files up to 460 mph travelling to a maximum range of about 1,850 miles. Storage and cabin space abound in this economical private jet which was built for short to mid-range trips.

The Citation CJ1: This is one of the smaller light jets. It seats five and goes at a speed of around 430 mph. With a relatively short range of 1,430 miles, the Citation CJ1 has become popular for short range business jet charters because of its reasonable price.

The Citation CJ2: Built to accommodate business travel needs, this aircraft features an increased weight capacity that allows for seating of up to seven adults (instead of five on the CJ1). The range is about 1,800 miles. The maximum speed is 405 mph.

Any of these popular jets will get you where you need to go in speed, comfort and style. Plus, a good aircraft management company can handle the aircraft for you including freelance pilots and crew, aircraft maintenance and scheduling flights.

For people in the Las Vegas area and in fact, individuals from all over who are new to flying on a private jet, one aspect of a private chartered aircraft, like a Gulfstream jet, that you will not have to be concerned about is aircraft and passenger safety.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established  strict standards that all managed aircraft companies must adhere to or  face strict penalties. (You can see exactly what those standards are by  requesting to see the FAA's air taxi certification.)

Part 135
The  FAA's guideline that makes sure all safety regulations are complied  with is called Part 135. It is a section in the Federal Aviation  Administration aircraft certification process. Part 135 (also Part 119)  is designed to establish and enforce operational and safety standards  for jets with less than nine seats.

The items required for certification under Part 135 include:

• A formal application letter
• Specification of operations
• Letter of compliance
• Pilot resume
• Pilot and medical certificate
• HazMat procedure manual and training program:
• Drug and alcohol program

Areas for Inspection: The last step in the thorough process of becoming Part 135 certified is that the crew and the aircraft be evaluated by an FAA inspection team. Areas that will be examined include:

• Aircraft facilities
• Aircraft components
• Record keeping
• Pilot and crew experience and certification
• Flight control
• Emergency procedures
• Maintenance routines
• Proper insurance

Some areas to expound upon include: Pilot and Crew: The pilot needs to have logged 3,000 hours of total flying  time and 300 hours of flying time on the specific aircraft. Often, top  private charter company pilots have logged 8,000 to 9,000 hours of flying time.

In addition to flying time, Part 135 requires further qualifications for pilots to be certified to operate the aircraft. Among other factors, this will include the safety record of the pilot and crew, along with their training documentation.

Insurance: $25 million insurance limits are common for a smaller aircraft, like a nine-seat Gulfstream jet. Midsize and large (heavy) jets will have insurance policies with limits of $50 million and $100 million respectively. You can ask to see proof of coverage.

Safety Audits, On-site: If the managed aircraft firm holds regular inspections by independent auditors, they will meet or exceed any Part 135 requirements. Ask them if they have those inspections.

Overall, the safety of private chartered jets is as good as it can get. All managed aircraft companies strictly adhere to FAA regulations.

Over the years numerous unintended landing gear retraction events have occurred while the aircraft is on the ground.  These unintentional gear retractions may have been via pilot or technician oversight.

As a young co-pilot I flew with a Korean F-86 pilot who became a business pilot.  I had very high respect and admiration for this pilot.  My vertical learning curve was straight up as his SIC.

One day the pilot entered his G-1 and began to start the engines.  Immediately the nose gear collapsed.   The aircraft had a gear maintenance inspection prior to this start event and this was the first flight since that inspection.  An investigation determined the technician had left the gear handle in the up position after gear swings.  Also, the pilot did not verify the gear handle was in the down position upon engine start.  This was a learning moment for all parties.

  
I would like to reiterate the importance of installing the safety devices when performing maintenance in any of the landing gear wheel well areas. The proper procedures for the use of these safety devices can be found in your respective Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM).

Each aircraft manufacture has its own proprietary and approved procedure of using gear locking safety devices.  An example of a type of procedure is the use of the following items:

• Nose Gear Downlock Safety Block Assembly
• Nose Gear Door Manual Control Valve Safety
• Nose Wheel Door Ground Safety Strut
• Main gear safety lock pins (2) and 1 nose gear safety lock pin
• Main Gear (Door) Manual Control Valve Safety

With proper use of the manufacturers gear and gear door safety devices, the aircraft is now safe for a technician to perform maintenance in and around the landing gear wheel well openings.  Also pilots should consider use of gear door and gear down lock pin placement when performing inspections with hydraulics operating on the aircraft.  Always follow aircraft manufacturer recommended procedures.

The following warning may be placarded on your aircraft.

WARNING: FAILURE TO INSTALL ALL LANDING GEAR AND LANDING GEAR DOOR SAFETY DEVICES BEFORE WORKING IN ANY WHEEL WELL MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

IF HYDRAULIC PRESSURE IS APPLIED AND THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE IS EITHER IN THE UP POSITION OR MOVED TO THE UP POSITION, EVEN WITH THE LANDING GEAR DOOR PINS AND LANDING GEAR PINS INSTALLED, THE LANDING GEAR DOORS WILL MOVE TO THE CLOSED POSITION.

FAILURE TO OBSERVE THESE CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Safe Flying!

Commentary: If I were to write a letter to President Obama reference the decimation his policies have had on business aviation and the aviation vendor industry it would be stated as below.

Dear President Obama:

While attending college I became fascinated with flying.  My money earned while working in factory jobs paid for flight training and college to become a business aviation pilot.  In a sense I assisted the aviation community by circulating dollars so I may prosper and the industry may grow. 

Eventually I married, had three children and raised my family successfully all due to having a life time career in aviation as a business aviation pilot. 

Within aviation one must flight train, spend time in hotels while on business, purchase fuel for aircraft and other expenditures that add to the survival of the aviation vendor support industry.  During my aviation career, in order to flight train and remain current, I spent over three hundred (300) nights in the same hotel at one training facility location throughout my career.  This does not include the other one hundred fifty (150) nights each year I was away from family for employer work related business. 

Aircraft manufacturers use vendors to build aircraft for final assembly.   This means jobs and families survive and prosper at these vendor locations.

Govt aviation contracts when sent to Mexico, Brazil, China and other countries  diminish my forty years of surviving the ups and downs of my aviation career.  You are taking away food and purchase power from a skilled work force. You are circulating our aviation dollars to other countries.  You are driving a stake into the hearts and souls of those who are proud Americans. Those who have sacrificed time away from family, strived to reach professional excellence and came out on the other end of life feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. Your verbal and business aviation policy attacks have negated the successes business aviation has worked hard to achieve. 

With your admonishment of business aviation, taxation policies, demagoguery of flying business jets, your non support of attending Las Vegas conventions and  along with business aviation expenditures you dislike is not supporting our economy. Now you ask my industry to pay for government budget miss management, government over spending, government FAA regulatory intrusion and a special $100 per flight tax is unacceptable to everyday workers both skilled and unskilled. 

Our standard of living is being reduced at each anti aviation statement made and our buying power is being reduced.  Mr. President those of us in business aviation are hurting and our families are hurting. 

The 8.5% unemployment rate your administration states is fictitious and your administration knows this. You have not counted those who's benefits have expired, self employed persons not working, contract workers, freelance pilots, independent business owners who's customers have vanished.

The aviation industry was founded in America.  It is part of Americas fiber.  The industry is not asking for GM bailouts, pension saving government gimmicks. The administration now admits taxpayers will lose $14 billion in the auto bailout.

The industry is asking you to support the spirit and dreams of men and woman that made this industry great through hard and smart work. We desire our jobs to return.

I ask your administration to support the industry, its dedicated workforce and entrepreneur spirit.

Making the case for business aviation by equipping your firm with a jet will take careful
consideration of several important factors. Some of those include managed aircraft decisions,
financing, tax issues and aircraft acquisition strategies.

Some questions to ask and answer are:

• How will ownership be structured?
• What will the total cost outlay be against the perceived gain of having aircraft?
• Should the aircraft be new or pre-owned?
• What type of aircraft are you looking at--a Gulfstream jet?
• How do you go about acquiring an aircraft management firm including freelance pilots and crew?
• Should you lease or buy?

Speaking of the last point, you might want to use TMV (the time value of money) to help decide.  This is the assumed return on investment plus the inflation effect over a period of time on dollars not used to pay for an asset immediately. This may make leasing a more attractive option.

Owning an Aircraft

Acquiring total ownership in an aircraft has some advantages. You will always have its retained value and be able to use it whenever you want to. Accelerated depreciation may also offer some significant tax advantages.

The upfront capital investment can be a disadvantage. The ongoing cost commitment which includes a crew, insurance, maintenance, housing of the aircraft and other responsibilities can also be seen as a disadvantage.  You will also have to bear the cost of professional aircraft management either in-house or through a professional aircraft management company.

Financing is available. However, there is no 100% financing anymore. Nor is there much, if  any, money out there for an aircraft that is more than 15 years old. In fact, the age of the aircraft affects loan-to value percentages. For example, financing a "young" small Gulfstream business jet or a six-to-fifteen year old middle age aircraft may require 20% down with 80% financing.

There are deals to be had. For the first 10 months of 2011 jet sales transactions increased by 10.3%. That might be because asking prices for aircraft fell 15.8% during that same timeframe while the average time on the market increased by 9 to 367 days.
A competent jet broker is needed to navigate aircraft buyers through the purchase of an aircraft. S/he will make sure the seller has provided full disclosure and will help arrange for a pre-buy inspection. The buyer will also be able to tap into financing, legal and accounting advice from the broker.