Charter Flight - Hiring a Plane


by Jonathan Blocker - Date: 2007-03-23 - Word Count: 445 Share This!

Charter flight - hiring a plane and a pilot for travel to a specific destination - goes all the way back to 1913 when an enterprising pilot started carrying passengers between San Francisco and Oakland (the only other alternative in those days before the Bay Bridge was a slow-moving ferryboat), it was actually the federal government who made the first use of charter flight in the sense of hiring individuals and small companies. The year was 1918, and the purpose was to carry the mail for corporate business and banking interests. The reason was to reduce the "float time" on checks during which funds were unavailable. By 1925, airmail was being carried on a regular schedule.

Corporate jet travel for executive travel has roots that predate the development of a viable jet engine - all the way back to the 1920's, in fact when virtually all powered aircraft still used piston engines and propellers. The first private aircraft intended for business use was the 1932 Beech Model 17 Staggerwing. This sleek-looking aircraft epitomized futuristic, art-deco design, with retractable landing wheels and a luxuriously-appointed interior that featured mohair-cushioned seats with leather trim and room for five passengers. This was followed up in 1937 with the Beech Model 18 Twin. It was the first aircraft designed especially for business charter flight, and 7,000 were built and sold over the next thirty-two years.

When it came out in 1958, the Gulfstream I considered the finest aircraft for charter fight yet built, and its $1 million dollar price tag did not prevent it from gaining a significant market share. Although later this aircraft and its successor, the Gulfstream II were later retrofitted with jet engines and renamed the Gulfstream 100 and 200 respectively, when it comes to corporate jet travel, the name most people remember is Lear.

The 1964 Lear Jet was the first private jet manufactured and mass-produced for the general civilian market. Today, its descendant, the Lear Jet 60 is one of the most common corporate jets in use.

Other business and corporate jets include the Gulfstream IV-SP, which not only features oak furnishings, leather sofas and a soundproof interior, it is capable of circumnavigating the globe in 37 hours. The Cessna Citation X is capable of carrying 12 passengers in comfort at speeds of nearly 1000 kilometers per hour, making it the fastest production aircraft made.

Along with the increase in comfort and capability have also come steep increases in price and upkeep costs, which is why companies find it more cost-effective to simply chart flights on corporate jets on an as-needed basis. A charter flight is not only more cost-effective, it can also result in significant tax savings for your company as well!


Related Tags: charter flights, jet charter, air charter, jet rental, executive jet, corporate jet

Jonathan Blocker is an avid business and travel writer. He has been traveling on commercial airlines and air charters for several years. He has traveled millions of miles around the world using charter flights and jet charter services

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