Home
>
Aviation & Flying
>
Private Jets: 4 Leaders in Fractional Flying

Private Jets: 4 Leaders in Fractional Flying

Fractional flying, you say. Is that division? Well, sort of. Fractional flying is where you, the customer, can own a "share" in a private jet. In most cases these shares allow you to own as much as 1/4 to as little as 1/32 of a 40 million dollar private jet. Where full ownership may be out of reach for you fractional ownership may be the best option to getting you in the air. Let's take a look at four companies offering fractional flying in the US.

1. Netjets. Richard Santulli is the brainchild behind modern fractional jet flying as he founded Netjets on this principle in 1986. The concept has grown from selling shares in a few jets to selling shares in sixteen different models. Indeed, aircraft much "cheaper" than a 40 million dollar jet can also be shared starting with the Hawker 400 XP and working up to a BBJ [Boeing Business Jet]. Santulli sold out to Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway in 1998, but he remains a key player with the company.

2. Flexjet. Not to be left out in the cold, Canadian aircraft maker, Bombardier, jumped into the fray with AMR Combs [parent company of American Airlines] and started Business JetSolutions. In 1997, Bombardier bought out AMR Comb's share and renamed the company Flexjet. Today, Flexjet customers can purchase shares in various Learjets [now owned by Bombardier] and Canadair [another Bombardier make] aircraft.

3. Flight Options. Raytheon Aircraft Company is the principle owner of Flight Options which was founded in 1998. Raytheon aircraft, which include various Hawker models, are some of the aircraft utilized in Flight Options's fleet. Other aircraft flown by Flight Options are the Embraer Legacy and the Citation X.

4. CitationShares. Launched in 2000 as a joint partnership between TAG Aviation, an aircraft management and operations company, and the Cessna Aircraft Company. CitationShares features three Citation models produced by aircraft manufacturer Cessna: the CJ1, the Bravo, and the Excel.

Other things to consider when purchasing your fractional share include the following:

1. Acquisition Cost. When you purchase your share, how long do you actually own that share? Is it renewable and for how much? Is there any additional outlay in capital for you during the time that you own a share?

2. Management Fees. Monthly charges will be billed separately and include: pilot salaries and training, storage [hangaring] of the aircraft, insurance, and support.

3. Hourly Fees. During the time you are actually flying -- and also for a predetermined amount of time before takeoff and after touching down -- you will be assessed hourly charges to cover catering, maintenance, fuel, and landing fees.

4. Taxes. Fuel surcharges, international taxes, and federal surcharge taxes will also be assessed.

Fractional flying presents to you, the customer, options that were previously available only to those who owned a private jet. If convenience, luxury, safety/security, and price are important to you than a share in a jet is an option worth exploring. The four featured operators are leaders in the industry and can provide for you more detailed information.

Matt Keegan writes on aviation issues and manages two important business aviation sites: and

In The News:

Aviation International News
GE Aviation and Emirates Airline Work Together to Optimize Traffic Flows ...
MarketWatch (press release)
DUBAI, May 22, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- GE Aviation has been selected by Emirates airline to provide GE's airline-based flow management system for a 16-month validation at Dubai International Airport. To commence in July, 2012, the Emirates "FLOW ...
GCC aviation set for huge growthKhaleej Times
Dubai airport show off to a flying startTrade Arabia
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed opens 12th Airport Show in DubaiWAM - Emirates News Agency

all 53 news articles »

UK considers sale of aviation fuel network
Reuters
Ministry to launch tender if sale plan approved * Supplies 40 pct of UK aviation fuel LONDON May 22 (Reuters) - Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Tuesday it was considering selling its 2500-kilometre long aviation fuel network to generate ...

and more »

News10.net
Reno Air Races plans to change course this fall
The Associated Press
Reno Air Racing Association Director Mike Houghton said he'll ask the Federal Aviation Administration for its required permission to move the largest pylon course for the 49th annual championships away from the crowd that typically numbers in the tens ...
APNewsBreak: Reno Air Races still a go this fallBusinessWeek

all 407 news articles »

EU Appeals to China to Join Global Emissions Talks
ABC News
Talks on a global emissions system have begun in the International Civil Aviation Organization, a UN body, said Matthew Baldwin, the European Union director of aviation. He said the EU might alter its Emissions Trading System if an agreement is reached ...
EU appeals to China to help negotiate global airline emissions agreement amid ...Washington Post

all 88 news articles »

eTurboNews
Seychelles Ministers lead tourism aviation delegation to Paris
eTurboNews
David Savy, Bernadette Willemin, Elsia Grandcourt, Joel Morgan, Alain St.Ange Two Seychelles Ministers, Alain St.Ange responsible for Tourism & Culture, and Joel Morgan, responsible for Internal Affairs & Transport, jointly led a tourism and aviation ...

and more »

Asia Aviation Sets Thai IPO Price At THB3.70/Share, Raising Up To THB4.48 Billion
Fox Business
BANGKOK â€“ Asia Aviation PCL, a holding firm that owns a 51% stake in budget carrier Thai AirAsia, Tuesday priced the initial public offering shares of the Thai airline at THB3.70 apiece, raising up to THB4.48 billion ($143 million).
Asia Aviation plans initial public share offeringThai News Agency MCOT

all 6 news articles »

AerCap Holdings NV Announces Closing of its Private Offering by AerCap ...
Reuters
Schiphol, The Netherlands, May 22, 2012 - AerCap Holdings NV (NYSE: AER) (the "Company") today announced that AerCap Aviation Solutions BV (the "Issuer"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, closed its previously announced offering of $300 ...

and more »

With the Troops: 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade pilots driving success in ...
Fayetteville Observer
In the cockpit, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Randy Swanson of the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade's Task Force Saber peered through a pair of night vision goggles as he executed a two-wheel landing at the peak. The whole time, voices crackled over the radio, ...

and more »

The Hindu
Ajit Singh's US visit deferred by 2 weeks
The Hindu
Finally, the crisis-ridden Air India, which is still grappling with the two-week old pilots' strike, has put off a visit of Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh to the United States to take delivery of the brand new long-range Boeing 787 'Dreamliner' ...
Jet Airways to sack 72 expats to take locals on boardEconomic Times
AI pilots have not heeded appeals to withdraw strike: Ajit SinghTimes of India
Ajit blames pilots for AI lossesDeccan Chronicle
TravelBizMonitor -Firstpost -Calcutta Telegraph
all 171 news articles »

UC, GE Aviation launch research institute
Cincinnati.com
The University of Cincinnati will spend $5 million during the next five years, along with millions of dollars from GE Aviation, to start a venture aimed at getting new technologies to market faster. Details of the UC Research Institute emerged today as ...

and more »

Google News

Private Jets: 4 Leaders in Fractional Flying

Aviation & Flying