You may not find a business jet in your driveway in the next few years, but how far away is the nearest small airport? If you’re like many around the country, the answer is fewer than 20 miles. There are over 5,000 small airports in the U.S. that the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) regards as ‘underused’. That means they are used at less than normal capacity for an airport that size.
The latest small private or business jets, VLJs (Very Light Jets), can land on runways as short as 3,000 feet (914 m). By contrast, mid-sized business jets like the Gulfstream G150 require almost 5,000 feet (1524 m) to land. They do have nice long ranges, though: more than 3,000 nautical miles. They can fly from LA to NY in a single hop.
Eclipse Aviation, with their Eclipse E500 can definitely take advantage of that. Using smaller airports means quicker take off and landing, and flights nearer to home for millions. Instead of fighting traffic, security and all the other commercial air travel hassles travelers can simply take a short drive or taxi ride to a local ‘air taxi’.
Fractional ownership arrangements, in which multiple individuals or companies own a part of the aircraft, make having one at your disposal on short notice feasible. At $1 million to $3 million, or even $10 million for the larger private jets, spreading the fractional ownership over as few as five makes the jet less than the average home in major urban areas.
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Using a business jet minimizes jet lag since sleeping accommodations are common interior add-ons. Separate private jet areas at airports also means less delay getting in and out of airports. Fewer security checkpoints and schedules tailored to the traveler’s needs rather than the airline’s reduces overall travel time. Take-offs and landings at smaller airports closer to the departure and arrival points also keep wasted travel time and distance to a minimum.