Business jet, private jet or, in slang, bizjet is a term describing a jet aircraft, usually of modest size, designed for transporting small groups of business people for commercial reasons at a time convenient to their business needs. Some business jets may be adapted for other roles, such as the evacuation of casualties or express parcel deliveries, and a few may be used by public bodies, governments or the armed forces. The more formal terms of corporate jet, executive jet, VIP transport or business jet tend to be used by the firms that build, sell, buy and charter these aircraft. The allied term "bizprop" is in use amongst enthusiasts to refer to turboprop-powered aircraft used in similar roles but seems unlikely to spread.
The older term "air taxi" tends to be used for piston-engined or small turboprop aircraft, although the functions of an air taxi and a business jet are essentially identical; in fact, some airfields have runways unsuited to jet operations and may therefore be more usable by slower aircraft.
The older term "air taxi" tends to be used for piston-engined or small turboprop aircraft, although the functions of an air taxi and a business jet are essentially identical; in fact, some airfields have runways unsuited to jet operations and may therefore be more usable by slower aircraft.
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Last Updated: Sep 2009
Last Updated: Sep 2009
What is a Business Jet Charter?
Depending on the passengers' destination, the overall journey time could then be shorter with a slower aircraft. Generally, jets tend to have a taller passenger cabin and more advanced avionics, which may be advantageous in terms of safety, comfort and resilience to extreme weather conditions. A company may also wish to project its status through the type of aircraft in which its personnel travel.
Almost all production business jets, such as Grumman Aerospace's famous Gulfstream and the Gates Lear Jet (now built by Bombardier), have had two or three engines, though the Jetstar, an early business jet, had four. Advances in engine efficiency and power have rendered four-engine designs obsolete, and only Dassault Aviation still builds three-engine models (in the Falcon line). The emerging market for so-called "very light jets" and "personal jets" has seen the introduction (at least on paper) of several single-engine designs as well.
Surplus airliners are sometimes converted into luxury business jets. Such converted aircraft are often used by celebrities with a large entourage or press corps, or by sports teams, but airliners often face operational restrictions based on runway length or local noise restrictions.
Since 1996 the term "fractional ownership" has been used in connection with business aircraft owned by a consortium of companies. Costly overheads such as flight crew, hangarage and maintenance can be shared through such arrangements.
There are approximately 11,000 business jets in the wordwide fleet with the vast majority of them based in the United States or owned by US companies. The European market is the next largest, with growing activity in Asia and Central America. There is an active pre-owned marketplace in which aircraft are bought and sold based on their immediate deliverability because new aircraft orders often take two to three years for delivery.
Almost all production business jets, such as Grumman Aerospace's famous Gulfstream and the Gates Lear Jet (now built by Bombardier), have had two or three engines, though the Jetstar, an early business jet, had four. Advances in engine efficiency and power have rendered four-engine designs obsolete, and only Dassault Aviation still builds three-engine models (in the Falcon line). The emerging market for so-called "very light jets" and "personal jets" has seen the introduction (at least on paper) of several single-engine designs as well.
Surplus airliners are sometimes converted into luxury business jets. Such converted aircraft are often used by celebrities with a large entourage or press corps, or by sports teams, but airliners often face operational restrictions based on runway length or local noise restrictions.
Since 1996 the term "fractional ownership" has been used in connection with business aircraft owned by a consortium of companies. Costly overheads such as flight crew, hangarage and maintenance can be shared through such arrangements.
There are approximately 11,000 business jets in the wordwide fleet with the vast majority of them based in the United States or owned by US companies. The European market is the next largest, with growing activity in Asia and Central America. There is an active pre-owned marketplace in which aircraft are bought and sold based on their immediate deliverability because new aircraft orders often take two to three years for delivery.
