To deal with terrorist concerns, India is purchasing 3 new Boeing jets for the President, Vice President, and Prime Minister. According to Srinjoy Chowdhury’s article for Times Now on March 17, these sophisticated planes will feature radar detection, a missile shield, and a counter measure dispensing system.

What does a Majesty 66 yacht, a Ferrari 575 M, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, a Hummer H2, a number of private jets, and the Invisible Man all have in common? A cloak of invisibility, according to Arati Menon Carroll’s article for Business Standard on March 17.

As the number of billionaires increases in India, so do the extravagant purchases, but most of these items will never be seen in public. They are garaged, and stored in marinas and hangers, only to be brought out when no one is looking. The duty structure in India has its mega-rich contemplating canceling or registering their purchases outside the country, with duty rates of 112 percent on imported cars, 35 percent on boats, and 25 percent on aircraft. Anju Dutta of Marine Solutions says:

“It’s not as if transactions aren’t clean, but until public attitudes are less judgmental, nobody’s comfortable flaunting these new emblems of luxury.”

Clips from current business jet news:

Should you buy a new or used super-size business jet? One point to consider is availability…

According to a recent article by Julie Johnsson in the Chicago Tribune, sales for personal jets are shattering previous records in Europe, the Middle East, India and China for the first time. Demand is greatest for new models with extended ranges and lots of interior room:

“Production lines for some models are sold out for years to come after manufacturers garnered a record 885 orders in 2006, up 18 percent from 2005 results, the previous record, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.”

Buyers who don’t want to wait years for new aircraft are paying top dollar for used, high end Falcons, Gulfstreams and other long-range planes.

Johnsson points out that:

“The largest plane made by Savannah, Ga.-based Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., the G550 is sold out through 2009. That has sent prices soaring for the few used models on the market. In fact, a 2-year-old G550 is currently available for $59.9 million, nearly $13 million more than the list price for a brand-new model.”

Bombardier is going to offer a scaled down version of its Safety Standdown seminar at the close of the annual European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland from May 24 - 25. Registration is now open for pilots of any type of business jet.

Are you interested in fractional jet ownership? Then check out this post by blogger “Aku”. The article profiles the four leading companies in the United States, and includes a list of additional items to consider, such as acquisition costs, management fees, hourly fees, and taxes.

Fractional flying offers potential customers the chance to own a “share” of a private jet, from as much as 1/4 to as little as 1/32.

The companies profiled include Netjets (sixteen different models), Flexjet (various Learjets and Canadair aircraft), Flight Options (mostly Raytheon aircraft), and CitationShares (Cessna Citation models).

In an interview earlier this year with Steven J. Hill, President of Boeing Business Jets (BBJ), AME Info’s Peter J. Cooper reports on Boeing’s successful year in sales, especially to customers in the Middle East:

“Boeing sold a record $2.5 billion worth of business and VIP jet aircraft in 2006, and 70 per cent of those sales were in the Middle East.”

AME Info also checked out a demo of a top of the line BBJ:

“…which is fitted out in the manner of a gentleman’s club with dark woods and leather combined with flat screen TV monitors. There is also a double bedroom to the rear complete with shower room en suite.”

In the March/April 2007 issue of Dealmaker magazine, (registration required) reporter Robert Goyer puts forth a glowing review of the Boeing family of business jets. He also outlines some of the key reasons a big business jet can provide much more than just transport to their operators.
According to the piece, the BBJ provides “the sweet spot of being big enough to offer luxurious accommodations while still affording its passengers the kind of globetrotting power that only an ultra-long-range airplane can provide.”

The flexibility of the BBJ is a key advantage:

“Want to outfit your airborne abode with bedrooms, boardrooms, open seating areas, expansive galleys and multiple bathrooms with full showers? Of course you do. You’re a player, not an animal. Well, with the BBJ3, you can. Indeed, it offers the kind of flexibility that smaller, purpose-design private jets from Gulfstream, Dassault and Bombardier are simply unable to match…the interiors of these 737-based bizjets are so luxurious, you just might forget you’re flying — so a few extra minutes in the cabin might actually be a good thing.”

(BTW, we’d be remiss if we didn’t remind our readers that interior customization is the principal service our partner Greenpoint Technologies provides to BBJ buyers.)

Also the BBJ’s extended range is essential:

“Thanks to the incorporation of as many as eight auxiliary fuel tanks, the BBJ3 also has a maximum range (with eight passengers) of 5,475 nautical miles, meaning that when fully fueled, it can fly just about anywhere in the world with a single stop.”

One of the critical benefits we hear from Greenpoint clients regarding BBJ ownership is that the plane can serve as a flying boardroom – which serves them well for working/closing deals internationally. This is echoed in the article:

“Instead, they make the jet itself the destination, using its meeting rooms as an ultra-high-end roving office complete with high-speed Internet, networked cabin systems and fine dining right there on site. Thus, if flying to Milan just to close your deal on the tarmac before turning around and flying out sounds incredibly efficient, albeit culturally unfortunate, this is the plane for you.”

Interior space specs:
Original BBJ: 807 square feet.
BBJ2: 1,004 square feet.
BBJ3: 1,120 square feet.

Some intriguing market-related information is also included:

“There is, after all, a reason why private individuals — led by those in the financial community — constitute 43 percent of BBJ customers. (Heads of state make up around 35 percent of buyers, with the rest split between corporations and charters.)”

Jets for Vets is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization located in San Diego that allows operators of corporate jets to donate unused seats to assist soldiers and families in need of transport.

Often, these real American heroes must travel in order to receive post-operative or post-hospitalization outpatient care vital to their recovery and rehabilitation. By making an empty seat available to these VIPs, you will be showing your appreciation for the sacrifices they have made on your behalf.

You can also help a wounded vet while he is in the hospital, by speeding loved ones to his bedside where they can support, comfort and encourage him. For example, if a young soldier is wounded and transported back to the United States for medical treatment, his fiancé does not qualify for DoD travel benefits to be at his side when he needs her most.

The Jets for Vets passengers who fly with you are covered for liability by your already-existing insurance policy. However, if you prefer, we can have them sign our waiver of liability form and fax it to your flight department before a flight.

Your Jets for Vets passenger will arrive one hour before departure, fully briefed and dressed either in his uniform or attire suitable for business travel. He will be able to board and deplane the aircraft unassisted, or he will be accompanied and met by an individual who will assist his ingress and egress.

Contact them at jetsforvets@executivewings.com. If you prefer to speak to someone, call Tony Smith, Director of Jets for Vets and the Executive Wings alliance, on his cell phone, (423) 718-3843. Or fax your questions to (866) 257-7301

At airliners.net, registered user “devilfish” has compiled an album of photos he’s named “All The Kings’ Birds” which displays 84 big business jets with a diverse set of owners. Everything from an Airbus A319 owned by the government of Azerbaijan to a 707 operated by Zaire is on display.