http://www.bigbusinessjet.com A blog about business jet ownership. Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:01:28 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I hear that Boeing has finished work on the first BBJ 3, which is based on a Next-Generation 737-900 extended range aircraft. The BBJ 3 will now have a long-range auxiliary fuel system and head-up display installed before heading off to completion. http://www.bigbusinessjet.com/2008/08/first-bbj-3-nearing-completion/ Businessmen who fly to oilfields and other remote areas are being targeted as customers for a new Russian-Ukrainian business aircraft. The makers of the Antonov Business Jet claim its durability will make oil firms one of many groups looking to buy the plane. The Antonov Business Jet's being promoted at the ... http://www.bigbusinessjet.com/2008/08/off-roading-biz-jet/ An article by Rhys Blakely of the Times recounts stories of luxury aircraft (at least 10 so far) impounded by Indian customs officers for failure to pay import duties. The seized airplanes include an Airbus A-319 purchased by Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries, India's largest private company) for his wife as ... http://www.bigbusinessjet.com/2008/08/customs-officers-impounding-jets-of-super-rich-in-india/ 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 ... http://www.bigbusinessjet.com/2008/07/russian-government-eliminates-business-aircraft-tax/ 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 ... http://www.bigbusinessjet.com/2008/07/fuel-tax-hike-in-british-columbia/ 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 ... http://www.bigbusinessjet.com/2008/07/airventure-day-2-we-tour-the-gulfstream-g150/ 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 ... http://www.bigbusinessjet.com/2008/07/execujet-adds-pre-owned-division/ 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 ... http://www.bigbusinessjet.com/2008/07/comlux-orders-global-express-xrs-jets/ 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 ... http://www.bigbusinessjet.com/2008/07/2008-porche-business-aircraft-jet-preview/ 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 ... http://www.bigbusinessjet.com/2008/07/netjets-acquires-more-gulfstreams/