Very Light Jets VLJs - Business Jets for the Mass Market
| Very Light Jets (VLJs) are a new generation of jet engined aircraft that are set to revolutionise the private jet business market. These state-of-the-art compact business jets will carry four to six passengers on short-haul flights and cost a fraction of the price of a standard corporate jet. |
A number of executive jet manufacturers are set to launch VLJ aircraft to the market in the next couple of years and will make private jet travel more affordable and accessible to thousands more travellers. These could become serious competition to business class scheduled short-haul services on major airlines. Let's take a closer look at some VLJ aircraft which will soon be available:
Eclipse
500
This was the first VLJ available to the business travel market. It
can fly at 41,000 feet and carries up to four passengers (facing each other) at
a cruising speed of 425 mph, with a range of around 1200 miles. Manufactured in
New Mexico, USA, it has two Pratt & Whitney jet engines and retails at a cool
$1.52 million. Total deliveries in 2007 was 98.
Other VLJs in the aviation pipeline:
Cessna
Mustang
6 seats (incl. pilot), 45,000 feet altitude ceiling, range of 1250
miles. Purchase price is $2.62 million. Cessna delivered 45 Mustangs in 2007.
Embraer
Phenom 100
Brazil's VLJ offering has a range of 1150 miles, 6-8 seats,
41,000 feet altitude ceiling, costs $2.8 million. First tested in July 2007, it
should be available by summer 2008 and has a healthy orderbook.
Honda
Jet
Honda have their own light jet on the drawing board, set for full certification
around 2010. Cost will be around the $3 million mark.
Diamond
D-Jet
Will carry 4 passengers plus 1 pilot, range 1350 miles, 25,000 feet
cruising altitude, costs $1.5 million.
Direct operating costs for a Very Light Jet should be around the $350 - $500 per hour mark.
Note that these jets really are small in size (equivalent to small propeller planes) and many lack the space for luggage holds and bathroom/toilet facilities. The cabin will have the usual standard of luxury fittings expected on an executive jet. Food and drink will be carried on board and served by passengers.
VLJs will be purchased by charter operators, who will offer scheduled services between business centres that will be priced competitively against the major airlines' business class products. They will also be used as a cheap air taxi services, where you will be able to turn up at the airport and fly wherever you wish within the range of the aircraft.Because of the point-to-point nature of flying by VLJ, this will certainly be very attractive to many business travellers as an alternative to the 'hub and spoke' networks of the major carriers. And with check-in times for pre-screened passengers as little as 10 minutes before take-off, this will be a great plus point for the busy executive.
Light jets will also be offered as exceptionally cheap fractional ownership deals, and they will also appeal to potential owner-pilots - it remains to be seen whether business executives will want to fly the plane themselves though.
While private jet travel is very well established in the US, the VLJs could be very useful for flying the short distances around Europe - especially considering the strength of the euro against the US dollar which makes the purchase price attractive. However, there are some concerns about air traffic control in what is one of the busiest air spaces in the world.
VLJ manufacturers are confident of gaining certifications worldwide, and with many pre-orders on their books already there could be as many as 20,000 light jets flying within 10 years.
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