| Relief is in sight for harried travelers who hate the | | | | making this business model feasible. These planes |
| hassles of commercial airline flights. Several companies | | | | weigh 10,000 pounds or less and have a flying distance |
| are gearing up to provide inexpensive personal jet | | | | of about 500 miles. This makes them ideal for short |
| flights, or "air taxi" services. | | | | "commuter" hops. It also means a substantially lower |
| The arrival of "very light jets," or "mircrojets," is | | | | cost for the passenger over current "upscale" air |
| expected to revolutionize the aviation industry by | | | | charter or fractional jet ownership. |
| making air charter affordable for the average business | | | | According to Eclipse, their company is "applying |
| or leisure traveler. Utilizing smaller airports, like Spirit of | | | | revolutionary propulsion, manufacturing, and electronics |
| St. Louis, these 4 to 6-seater planes will take | | | | systems to produce aircraft that cost less than a third |
| passengers straight to their destination. No more | | | | of today's small jet aircraft, [and] will be significantly |
| crowds or long waits for scheduled flights at big | | | | safer and easier to operate than those of today." |
| airports. | | | | Certification is still pending for these aircraft, but is |
| One company, Pogo Jet, plans to roll out service as | | | | expected in the near future. The FAA is currently |
| early as next fall. Headed by People Express founder | | | | debating what sorts of regulations should apply to |
| Donald Burr, Pogo's aim is to provide "cheap private-jet | | | | microjets. Several important issues including airport |
| travel," according to the CEO. Speaking recently at | | | | safety, flight control and maintenance still need to be |
| Flight School 05, a "first annual" conference of aviation | | | | addressed before these new planes can take to the |
| leaders, experts and entrepreneurs in Scottsdale, AZ, | | | | skies. All "very light jets" are designed for a single pilot, |
| Burr predicted, "We will steal traffic from cars...Lots | | | | which creates another regulatory hurdle to overcome. |
| and lots." | | | | Current regulations for commercial jets prohibit |
| The advantages for the traveler are obvious: flexible | | | | single-pilot operation. |
| "on demand" scheduling, parking right next to the | | | | Despite these obstacles, proponents are still optimistic |
| airstrip, and fewer problems with security. The | | | | about an upcoming personal jet revolution. Companies |
| expected reduction of red tape and fewer delays at | | | | like Eclipse and Pogo Jet are counting on customer |
| small airports would significantly cut the amount of time | | | | dissatisfaction with the current state of commercial |
| wasted on a typical commercial airline trip. | | | | aviation. Or, as Donald Burr put it, "People have |
| Other start-up companies like Jetson Systems and | | | | demonstrated that they don't like to get screwed at |
| Corporate Clipper plan to compete with Pogo Jet for | | | | the last minute." |
| the air taxi market. According to Edward Iacobucci, | | | | Whether the air taxi model succeeds is, in the end, |
| president of Jetson Systems and another attendee of | | | | dependent on just that: customer satisfaction. Creating |
| Flight School 05, the success of the air taxi concept | | | | a market niche and actually making a profit will be quite |
| hinges on matching supply and demand in real time and | | | | a challenge for these new companies. As Vern |
| providing inexpensive, reliable service. | | | | Raburn, CEO of Eclipse pointed out, "History is littered |
| The debut of "very light jets" from manufacturers like | | | | with dead aircraft manufacturers. |
| Eclipse Aviation and Adam Aircraft is crucial for | | | | |