It seems that the Russians are truly not affected by the fuel price increases in the global market as a huge number of private jet fliers arrived in Vienna recently.

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The Vienna Airport was surprised with the large number of private jet arrivals recently making it the highest in their records. The rich Russian football fans came in numbers via their Cessna’s, Gulfstreams, Eclipse’s, Global Express’, BBJ’s, etc., to cheer on their team in the football match between Russia and Germany in the Euro Semi-Finals.

It was an unusual day for air traffic controllers in Vienna Airport. On a normal day, the maximum number of private aircrafts, which blinked on their radar, would be just around 50 jets.

 
Photo Credit: MicAttAck  Photo Credit: Maedi.

Out of the 220 private jet landings, 130 came from Russia. They are probably friends and colleagues of Russian billionaire Roman Ambrovich. It was recently reported that there are more and more freshly minted millionaires and billionaires coming from Russia each year.

These Russian ultra rich jet setters are also making a lot of souvenir vendors happy. They do not have any qualms in spending their money in football paraphernalia. Why would they not, since they obviously do not mind spending much on their transport.

The air traffic controller said that the aircraft hangar was an amazing sight to behold with all the different private jets parked while waiting for the football match to end.

This is an area where an aircraft must be in communication with air traffic authorities for identification and control. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must be informed in advance of an aircraft’s plan to fly within or through an ADIZ. Any aircraft flying in an ADIZ without authorization may be identified and treated as a threat.

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In addition to the ADIZ that surrounds the United States, there is a special temporary ADIZ surrounding the Washington, DC, area. Unauthorized entries into the restricted space in Washington, DC, are common. NORAD officials said there are typically two or three incurrions a day, usually by pilots not familiar with the restrictions or who stray from their intended flight plans.

In 2004, such as incursion occurred during President Reagan’s funeral activities when a jet carrying then Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher entered the airspace with a broken transponder, prompting the evacuation of the U.S. Capitol.

Another violation happened where thousands were evacuated when a small plane flew within a few miles near the White House. It was another case of jammed radio frequency. Agents aboard a helicopter flashed a sign to the pilot indicating him to tune to a radio number frequency but due to an emergency beacon on the ground, the small plane failed to get through the said radio frequency.

The pilot finally turned away when the F-16 fighter jets fired warning flares near his aircraft. He was reportedly so scared that he will be shot out of the sky.

Restricted airspaces really must be leaned and respected if one does not want to be faced with a couple of F-16s.

On June 29,2005, a private Beechcraft King Air 350 strayed into the restricted airspace over Washington, DC, setting off security measures in the capital. Security agents reportedly moved President Bush to a safer location and the Capitol was also evacuated.

Photo Credit: Will Palmer

The aircraft was intercepted by military and homeland security aircrafts and the pilot was instructed to proceed to an airport in Winchester, Virginia, to be met by the law enforcement representatives. The aircraft was reportedly on its way to Defiance, Ohio, from Wilmington, Delaware, and was already turning away from Washington when the intercepting aircrafts appeared. The aircraft had strayed into restricted airspace in an attempt to avoid bad weather.

What is restricted airspace? Restricted airspace is airspace in which aircrafts are prohibited from entering without advance permission.

The airspace over and surrounding the United States includes hundreds of protected areas that are restricted or prohibited from overflight or penetration by aircraft. Some of these restricted or prohibited areas are permanent, while others are temporary and change from hour to hour depending upon current circumstances. All aircraft flying, in over, or near the United States are governed by these restrictions.

The United States and Canada administers jointly an area surrounding North America called the Contiguous Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). This area is almost exclusively over water and it serves as a continental defense boundary.

(To be continued)

Who has not dreamt of having one’s own aircraft?  As children, our love for it had been manifested by what seems to be like hundreds of paper airplanes littering our rooms not to mention the entire house, which as we grew older became more intricate and more precise in folding design to achieve as they say the “perfect flight.”

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To some it has remained a dream forever cherished, but for some it has become an integral part of their lives both personal and professional.  While that may be a painstaking endeavor in and of itself, the actual operation of the aircraft can be an entirely different headache if one is not adequately prepared.  It is not as simple as folds and cuts anymore nor is it just a matter of having enough money (though some could not care less).  From crew selection and aircraft maintenance to additional revenue, if one wants true value for one’s money, a little more knowledge and a dash or two of hands-on experience are needed.

However, for a truly stress-free ownership, there are, thankfully, aircraft management companies who provide such service to an aircraft owner.

Charter revenue is one of the biggest reasons an aircraft owner seek the services of a management company.  To give the owner the chance to balance the costs associated with aircraft operation, management companies place the acquired aircraft on a Part 135 Certificate.  This is one of the most cost-efficient ways for an owner to finance his or her own flights.  By chartering flights 51% or more in the first year of acquisition, aircraft owners can enjoy the benefit of avoiding paying the sales tax and using the tax on the aircraft. The savings can add up very quickly for the aircraft investment.

It’s all a matter of choice really–hands-on or professional management.  Whatever the choice is, the end result should always be for one’s enjoyment of having an aircraft to call your own.

The Prancing Horse, one of the most popular brand logo in the world can be seen at the nose of the Piaggo P180 Avanti aircraft that the Scuderia’s have been flying. This Ferrari logo is not only widely known because of its popularity but it also radiates high quality in the world of automotive. A Ferrari car is truly a magnificent Italian machine that has the approval of the discriminating taste of the elite ton.

Photo Credit: palmsrick

Just like the car, Piaggio P180 Avanti has all the best features that an aircraft can offer. It has state-of-the-art avionics suite, the luxurious and comfortable cabin and incredible engine performance. It is the only aircraft in the aviation world that is truly worthy to be displaying the Ferrari logo. It earned the title, The Ferrari of the Sky.

Photo Credit: mfrascella

The makers of this aircraft do believe in supporting excellence in sports and so they are one of the sponsors of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 team of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen. Piaggio have been their choice of aircraft since 2000.

Countess Paolina, mother to Count Francesco Baracca, an Italian Air Force pilot during the World War I, gave the prancing horse logo to Enzo Ferrari back in 1923. She told him to put it on all his cars to bring him luck as it did to his son who placed the prancing horse on his aircraft.

Ferrari did used the prancing horse along with the City of Modena symbol and the yellow color and truly it did bring him luck as Ferrari is one of the most highly regarded car in the world.

Today, that Italian moment lives on. The Piaggio carries the prancing horse logo on its aircraft as it once displayed on Count Barraca’s fighter plane back in WWI.

Photo Credit: Silvio Tanaka

Why would an aircraft sale be as interesting as a new software release in the tech community? Two words. Jerry Yang.

Yahoo’s Chief Executive Officer is rumored to have placed his 2002 Bombardier Global Express on sale in Hillsboro, Oregon. No one can confirm this report, as people around the CEO are keeping mum about it. There were speculations that he is upgrading to something more state-of-the-art and something fast.

A lot of people are quite interested on what’s inside his aircraft. The interiors of the aircraft were reported to be nothing spectacular. It is the standard classic interiors which usual businessmen likes but the high-tech gadgets inside makes up for the boring interiors.

Photo Credit: Cubbie_n_Vegas

His aircraft boasts of two 21” and one 18” LCD monitors, two DVD players, all in one fax/scanner/printer machine, XM8 receiver Satellite Radio, Best In-Flight Information System, DBS Satellite Television, High Speed Internet System with Data Accelerator and wireless LAN, Multi-tasking Hub which can connect all kinds of media equipment to any large monitor, two 10.4” LCD touch-screen monitors installed in the galley and crew areas.

This aircraft gained a lot of interested buyers just by the rumored connection it has with the Yahoo CEO although it was never confirmed that he really was the owner.

Private jets, which were pre-owned, by celebrities and prominent business figures definitely sparks a lot of interest with the buying public and so the selling price increases as well.

If you feel that your garage or hangar is already full or you just want to get a yacht in exchange of your quiet life in the ranch then you need not go any further than a few steps. Turn on your Mac or PC and check the newest and the ultimate trade-in Internet portal for the rich and the ultra Rich.

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Last April, the site, Luxuryboytoys.com went active and it now boasts of not just millions of dollars worth of goodies but over a billion dollars worth of luxury items. Everything in your wish list can be found there.

Private jets of almost all sizes and make are there available for a trade in. It’s the best site for the privilege and rich because their aim is to spoil and pamper them. The minimum value of an item for their aircraft/chopper category is USD$50,000.00.

 
Photo Credit: Cubbie_n_Vegas

There is a membership fee for individual and commercial. For the individual options, there is  $9.99 if you want to be a player and a $199.00 if you are an owner looking to sell your stuff but if you just want to browse on the list of so many luxury items then it’s for free. For commercial membership, just click here to view the options.

This concept of online buy and sell type of trade-ins for luxury items by Gary Hollingsworth and ex-Dallas Maverick player Erick Strickland came about when Mr. Hollingsworth traded-in his ranch for a chopper.

Check out different items on this online site.

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If you think only the rich, super rich, ultra super rich people commute via private jets? Well, think again! Recently, the “real” high fliers flew via a luxury private jet from Norway to Scotland.

These high fliers are 13 white-tailed sea eagles, which were confined in an aviation kennel while cruising the skies in comfort by animal conservation groups trying to help increase Scotland’s bird family.

Private aircrafts has many uses. It definitely not only for travels around the globe or just a business tool for corporations, a surveillance vehicle, a rescue utility but also a way to transport endangered species.

Photo Credit: Global Jet

Even animals feel that they are most comfortable in flying private. Just imagine them lining up in baggage and security check in counters. The hassle is unbearable. Those conservation groups must love those spectacular “high fliers” so much as to use a private jet.  One of the directors of the Scottish National Heritage said that those birds are considered iconic and Scotland’s biggest birds of prey.

It is just right that those iconic birds flew the best way possible.

Photo Credit: Cubbie_n_Vegas

The Indian private jet industry seemed to be just gliding in smoothly through the economic difficulties brought by the ever-increasing aviation fuel prices. There are some markets globally that are struggling but the high fliers in India are being very bullish and somehow immune to it.

It has been reported that they bought seven private aircrafts in the past few months and they are expecting to have around 45 more deliveries this year. An infrastructure firm, the GMR Group was reported to purchased a couple of Hawker Beechcraft 750 amounting to USD$30M. The aircraft manufacturer does not want to confirm those reports but said that the fuel price increase may have affected some part of the markets but sales are still up and going. They confirmed that they already sold 10 aircrafts this year.

Photo Credit: vm2827

There are aviations companies in India that feels that the private jet industry is quite insulated that it remain sturdy even if the fuel prices increases as it only is a fraction of the total expenses involved in operating and maintaining of an aircraft. One of them, the Bird Group just had a deal with a global aircraft dealer and broker, Regourd Aviation. It seems that most private jet owners these days are open to acquiring prototypes. They expect increase sales this year.

Aviation experts estimated that there are around a couple of hundred private jets flying around Indian skies as more and more millionaires prefer the comfort and convenience that private aviation brings to them personally and business-wise.

Undeniably, the aerospace industry is a world leader in advancing science and technology due to man’s insatiable need to be the fastest, lghtest, sleekest thing there is in existence. Thus, a country that boasts of an aerospace industry is economically and politically influential.

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The United States tanks in first in having the largest aerospace industrial compex dedicated and diversified. Russia comes in second, having acquired most of the Soviet designs bureaus after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Coming in third but making a concerted effort to take the top seat is Western Europe’s aerospace industry with France, Germany and Uited Kingdom being active global players.

Following the top three are Japan and China, both equally efficient and yet limited in their capabilities. While Japanese companies assume the role of subcontractors for American and European firms, China has initiallu generally confined itself to adapting Soviet technology and it is only now that they have ventured into partnerships with foreign investors from the West.

The AIA (Aerospace Industries Association of America) represents the interests of the U.S. aerospace industry, serving as a forum for most issues conderning the industry. Other associations are Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies and the Aerospace industries association of Canada.

 
Photo Credit: Cubbie_n_Vegas  Photo Credit: kanonn

While the military remains it primary clientele, the industry has shifted some of its focus on private aviation, opening a market that balances aesthetics and profitability, although not sacrificing the security and technological advancement that it has always aimed for.

To remain at the top of their game, a number of firms have been int he continuous process of mergers, divestitures and international joint ventures and partnerships. On the other hand, all of these are deeply impacted negatively and positively by the ever-increasing costs of production, the globalization of the economy, the unpredictable level of government spending on defense-related projects, the prevailing situation of commercial air travel, ant the commercialiation of space and the prospect of its low-cost access. These factors determine the aerospace industry today.