For some brighter tax news, we look to the Russian government, which recently eliminated a punitive import tax on private aircraft. An article on AVWeb (free registration required) by Russ Niles states:

“The tax had driven many Russian business people to register their aircraft outside the country but that’s expected to change and also boost sales. Russia is seen as major market for business aircraft because of the lack of convenient transportation to its resource-rich hinterlands.”

The government of British Columbia, Canada, recently imposed a controversial carbon tax on all fuels, including jet fuel. According to AVWeb, (free registration required) the tax raises Jet A fuel up 2.61 cents per liter (10.15 cents a U.S. gallon), and 100 LL up 2.46 cents a liter (9.56 cents a U.S. gallon). The article also states the rates are calculated based on $10/metric ton (CAD) of carbon produced, and vary based on each fuel’s carbon emissions.

Okay, so for the a BIG business jet blog, profiling the eight passenger entry level Gulfstream G150 is admittedly a stretch. That being said, it’s a very impressive (and comfortable) aircraft, and the folks at Gulfstream were very accommodating to us and our cameras.

Some useful tidbits we gleaned: The G150 can cruise at mach .82, while long range cruise is .75. It generally consumes 2,000 pounds of fuel the first hour but can get down to as low as 1,500 after that. The lav has a standard Boeing fitting so just about any airport in the world can service it. Thanks to the lav sitting forward (and fuel being in the aft,) you can service the plane very quickly.

ExecuJet has created a pre-owned aircraft division to capitalize on big lead times for new aircraft. The company plans to have sales reps in Europe, South Africa, the Middle East, and (coming soon) the U.S.

ExecuJet Middle East is experiencing high demand, with one new inquiry a week, mostly for big jets.

The ExecuJet web site says:

“Pre-owned demand is being led primarily by the Middle East which is growing by 20% each year and also in India, and China, where ExecuJet recently opened offices in Mumbai and Beijing.

Last year, the Middle East market accounted for $300 million of pre-owned aircraft sales, comprising over a dozen transactions and representing nearly 50% of ExecuJet’s total transactions during 2007.”

VIP Charter company, Comlux Aviation (a division of Comlux The Aviation Group), has ordered two ultra long-range Global Express XRS jets, which will result in a fleet of nine Bombardier business jets. Vicky Karantzavelou, of Travel Daily News, reports that Comlux’s Bombardier fleet comprises two Challenger 605, two Challenger 850, two Global Express, and one Global 5000.

Ettore Rodaro, head of Comlux Aviation, says:

“These new aircraft are part of our strategic development plan to become the leading long-haul charter services provider in Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East, and will be a complement to our Airbus corporate jet fleet.”

The Bombardier site describes the Global Express XRS as:

“Ready to fly with only 30 minutes warning, no other intercontinental business aircraft takes you faster, farther than the Bombardier Global Express XRS. Flying at altitudes of up to 51,000 ft (15,545 m), this high performance aircraft has exceptional range, carrying eight passengers and a crew of four 5,450 nautical miles nonstop at Mach 0.87, 6,150 nautical miles nonstop at Mach 0.85 and 6,500 nautical miles nonstop at Mach 0.82 — bridging Tokyo and New York, or Moscow and Los Angeles, nonstop. Superb, short-field capabilities allow access to the most challenging airfields, saving valuable executive hours and getting you even closer to your destination.”

We at BBJ had a chance to run down to Boeing Field yesterday and check out the 2008 Porche Business Aircraft & Jet Preview out in the Seattle summer sun.

There were a number of planes on display, all shapes and sized, but the undisputed monster on the field was definitely the Legacy 600 from Embrear. When I climbed inside to check it out, there were already another six or seven people checking it out, and there was still room for a few more.

Here are some of the shots I snapped:

NetJets is adding to its fleet of large-cabin Gulfstreams with the addition of four Gulfstream G450s and four Gulfstream G550s to be delivered each year from 2012 through 2016, as reported by Perspective Magazine.

Richard T. Santullis, chairman and CE of NetJets Inc. said:

“…These aircraft offer NetJets Owners premiere large-cabin amenities and the flexibility of intercontinental range. Gulfstream products provide our pilots and flight attendants with the best in next-generation technology and their service teams ensure we meet the high standards of performance and reliability NetJets Owners expect.”

The article goes on to state:

“NetJets has over 90% of the long-range cabin fractional market and is the largest operator of Gulfstream aircraft in the world. As of June 2008, NetJets’ worldwide Gulfstream fleet totals 110 and is comprised of 21 Gulfstream G550/V, 55 Gulfstream G450/400/IV-SP and 34 Gulfstream G200s.”

Zawya is reporting on a recent purchase of an Embraer Lineage 1000 aircraft, which is one of the first orders for this new business jet. Royal Jet was selected by the Al Habtoor Group to handle the purchase, as well as the aircraft management.

According to the article:

“The Embraer Lineage 1000, which was only announced to the world in May 2006, is an ultra large business jet designed to seat up to 19 passengers. It has a range of 4,200 nautical miles - enough to fly directly from the UAE to London - and can fly at 41,000 ft. The interior divides into five separate zones, and this particular aircraft will incorporate a bedroom as part of its overall scheme…”