Private Airports - A Discrete Advantage

When considering air charter services, one advantage to using a private airport is the privacy factor. Diplomatic or corporate confidentiality may be compromised by taking a public flight, but using a private airport insures that travel details are kept confidential, including the destination, members of the traveling party, and potential return dates. Thanks to pre-arranged limousine service delivery right up to the airplanes steps and thus avoiding a public walk through a commercial airport, an additional layer of privacy is provided for any business conducted in transit. The best air charter providers offer true door-to-door service, rather than from airport to airport. When it comes to diplomatic or corporate privacy, such complete service is true private travel with major privacy benefits.

Private Airports vs. Commercial Airports

What keeps people coming back to private airports again and again? One advantage is the sheer number of private airport options charter jet passengers have to choose from. There are about 500 commercial airports in the United States. Compare that with the some 5,000 private ones, and for some, private flight becomes the only realistic solution. Another attractive advantage to the private airport for some is the exclusivity factor. Private airports are accessible only to private airplane passengers, aircrews, and airport officials and are therefore far more secure than their public counterparts. This extra layer of privacy and security is most helpful for VIP travels, trips requiring privacy, discrete voyages, and high level executives or diplomats wishing to avoid the press and situations that can delay or even prevent a timely departure.

Jet Plane Luxury Locations

Luxury private jets come in all shapes and sizes. Some jet makers, such as Cessna, manufacture propeller aircraft and jets, but are better known for one model or the other. Lockheed Martin is famous for its powerful jet aircraft, but has also created equally powerful propeller planes. The Cessna is known for its jet-powered line as well as well-known prop aircraft; if you have a need for small aircraft, you may find it tempting to compare prices, speeds, and range between the propeller and jet-powered models. If you must fly into remote areas with short runways, you may find it more advantageous to give up some of the advantages of jet planes for the ability some propeller planes have in landing on shorter runways. The ability to handle the short runway shouldn't be discounted. Ask your broker about the landing needs of each jet plane for sale, and evaluate it against the runways you anticipate using.

One of the greatest benefits of private charter aircraft is the abundance of locations available for clients to reserve a jet plane. As an owner, part owner or member of a private charter membership plan, access to private jet charter services including travel accommodations, flight itineraries and ground transportation are taken care of prior to the flight. Private charter jet companies have access to thousands of airports in the U.S alone, and some of them are used by commercial carriers, too, which adds a level of convenience to frequent fliers. It's important to note that air charters don’t own or maintain their own fleet of aircraft -- private charter services are brokers of aircraft travel service, which means the number of aircraft at their disposal is not restricted by the size of their hangers.

Defining the Private Airport

Throughout the country there are thousands of airports peppering the landscape. Some are big, some are small. Some are public and some are private. But are private planes and jets allowed to land at any airport they choose? The answer is no.

But what if it’s an emergency? Even if a plane’s landing distance is well within the limits of the runway, the answer is still no if it has been identified as a private – private airport. This means someone has done the necessary paperwork with the FAA and local authorities to install it for their personal use. It is defined on a VFR chart for private non-public use. Private - private airports are not governed heavily by FAA regulations, which means after contacting local authorities and the FAA field office, you could be on your way to having your very own airport.

Defining the Private – Public Airport

A private - public airport is an airport that is privately owned, but publicly used. Let’s say you buy an established local airport. They have a flight school, rows of hangers for planes and also sell gas. Anyone -- depending on the class of air space you operate in -- can land there assuming their plane fits on your runway. Since this is private property, the owners dictate the rules and policies, such as when people can buy gas.

As for services and operational standards, the FAA will keep a close eye on that. Safety programs have been put in place to protect the pilots and property. The FAA wants to see up-to-date records on rental planes, all lights in working order and staff and crews complying with regulations that apply to their type of service, such as a flight school orair charter service.

Air Charters Going Where Others Cannot

A main advantage to using airplane charter services is their ability to use the smaller airports when larger carriers or even a regional carrier could not. Most regional airlines require longer runways than some or most charter aircraft. Regional airlines must also have a certain amount of passengers to justify using airfields smaller than Class D. Even if you plan to use a larger business, a smaller plane can be used to bring you to a small field.

There are smaller air charters servicing small fields all over the country because they may be flying a small single engine or a mid-size twin-engine turbo prop. More times than not, the quality of service is better because of the small size. Another good thing about small fields and air charter is you can get in and out with few or no delays caused by late departures or heavy traffic.

Sizing Up the Small Private Airport

Generally speaking, the size of a private airport is relative to the size of aircraft it serves. A small field may only have a grass strip, but be very busy. Conversely, a bigger field may not be busy at all. From an FAA air space perspective, size is defined by class and either controlled or non-controlled. The classes are A, B, C, D, G. Federal airways are Class E. Controlled air space has an operating control tower and in many places, when the control tower closes for the day, the air space class changes completely until the tower reopens the next day.

For private planes and air charters, check the chart to find out what class and airport is operating under and the protocols needed.

Corporations Keeping Private Airports

There are many companies that maintain their own private airports, especially if anyone at the company is a pilot. This happens often when the owners fly small propped aircraft to various places instead of air charter or the airlines. Some even have a small strip located next to their offices. Instead of getting in the car, they use an aircraft. The biggest advantage to having your own airport is availability, but there are times when weather conditions demand a skilled pilot at the wheel and a specific aircraft may be necessary to fly in bad conditions. If these requirements aren’t met, you don’t fly. There is also the upkeep on the runway to rememberand getting fuel to the aircraft.

Services Expected at a Private Airport

Although an airport may be small, it doesn't mean it lacks helpful services and amenities. Complimentary cars are one such amenity. They are owned by the airport and are there for the use of the incoming travelers. You won’t find this service at a big airport. In addition, some smaller airports such as, Hagerstown Regional Airport in Maryland, literally has a "red carpet service." Big aircraft or small, someone comes out of the fixed base of operation and places a red carpet at the door of the airplane. If you need to refuel at a smaller airport, someone will fuel your plane for you and maybe even clean the window. More importantly, you can call ahead to have an attendant there to receive you. If you’re stopping for a few hours, some even have a bed to rest in. Most small private airports have an instrument approach, which is a drawn or written set of directions on how to fly into them if the visibility is low.

Emergency Services Available at a Private Airport

The size of the airport is relative; what may seem big in one locale may not be so big compared to Cleveland Hopkins Airport or Boston's Logan Airport, which have fine emergency services available.

But with smaller airports, there may be nothing more than a fire extinguisher available. Even if the field is operating a Part 135-airplane charter, the airport still isn’t required by the FAA to supply emergency equipment. There may even be a question of who has jurisdiction over the field as far as fire department support or ambulance services. Locally, there could be a lot of private ambulance companies competing. Fortunately, most accidents that happen are minor. For example, someone may forget to put their landing gear down or runs off the edge of a runway. But for serious accidents, there may not be any immediate help. Before traveling on an air charter, you have the right to ask these important questions for your safety and the safety of the flight.

Private Airports vs. Commercial Airports

Taking an air charter flight from a private airport is a discrete convenience for those who want maximum privacy and convenience, minimal waiting times and speedy departures, as well as reducing the uncertainty of delays likely with commercial airlines under tricky weather patterns. When tricky flying-weather conditions are possible, careful planning by expert travel specialists becomes extremely valuable. Utilizing a private flight under such conditions, ensures a most certain arrival since the flight can be carefully routed and scheduled, taking into account not only the weather conditions but also the precise conditions at the private airports landing strip.

Private Airports - A Discrete Advantage

Some business communication is more sensitive than others. If your need for privacy is at a maximum, consider holding a crucial business meeting or presentation during an air charter flight. Airplane charter travel provides a meeting space free from potential clandestine data transmission via wireless devices or cell phones, and from intrusion by sophisticated radio and laser listening technologies. Private airplane charters can be arranged with as little as a four hour notice, giving you flexibility, communication security, and full privacy.