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Jet safety is one of the most common concerns that passengers have. Like in regular commercial flights, private aviation is expected to operate under strict safety standards that guarantee a seamless flight experience. Safety, after all, is the main concern for any aviation company regardless of the type of aircraft.

When it comes to private flights, security should always be a top priority. Any aircraft, including private jet planes, should receive scheduled maintenance procedures. Additionally, flight crews and pilots are expected to receive constant training on the latest safety standards. 

Aircraft safety standards are crucial to guarantee the industry functions properly. This applies to both commercial and private aviation. If you are wondering about jet safety, you can rest assured that your next flight will be very safe if you book with the right company.

About Flight Safety Standards

More often than not, our fears about flying are unfounded. Just in case you are not familiar with some well-known mobility statistics related to safety, keep in mind that traveling by plane is very secure. It is more likely to drown or be in a car accident than in a plane crash. In other words, planes are one of the safest ways to travel. This includes jets, so when it comes to jet safety, you can be confident that you will be safe. 

Although many people don’t know it, it is more likely to be in a car accident. In fact, the number of people who die in car crashes far exceeds those who die in plane accidents. Aviation safety standards are very strict, thanks in part to existing regulations. 

Air travel regulations help ensure that a number of safety-related aspects are taken care of. These include the number of hours a pilot may fly in a day, or the periodic maintenance operations an aircraft needs, just to mention a few. Regarding the first factor, it is important to obey this limit, as exceeding it may compromise safety standards. After all, crew members are also human and they need to rest. In terms of maintenance, it is important to make sure that an aircraft is always in proper condition.

Additionally, regulations aside, private aviation companies make sure that every aspect of their business is taken care of when it comes to safety. A safety-first mentality goes well beyond actually making a flight secure. It is also important that passengers feel safe.

Safety First: Pilot and Crew Training

When it comes to aircraft operations, private aviation companies make sure that their pilots and crew members are well versed in terms of safety protocols. Proactivity is essential to guarantee aircraft safety. Regular training of aircraft personnel might seem like something minor, but it can be crucial in terms of guaranteeing flight safety.

A common practice, especially depending on the flight conditions, is having a copilot. This may vary depending on the distance of the ride, as well as whether it takes place during day or night, and also on the weather conditions. 

A safety-first copilot policy helps ensure that the captain does not make a judgment error that may compromise the flight. Even experienced professionals with many flight hours can make mistakes, so it is not too crazy to have a co-pilot on board.

Ensuring aviation safety requires professionals who understand that having a safety-first mentality is the only way to guarantee the highest security standards. However, this way of thinking also needs to be communicated to passengers. When the crew is able to communicate clearly and effectively with passengers, safety is guaranteed.

One of the best things about traveling in a private jet is that passengers have a lot of freedom and privacy. The best private aviation companies are able to maintain these benefits while at the same time guaranteeing passengers’ safety.

Flying During Covid-19

Although there are many concerns when it comes to flying and the risk of Covid-19, studies have shown that there is no reason to be concerned about it. Being in an aircraft is safe, as the air inside is recycled every so often, helping reduce the risk of potential Covid particles in the air. Additionally, a private jet, because of the reduced number of passengers, seems less likely to be riskier than a traditional commercial flight.

However, to reduce safety risks, even more, it is important to find a trusted company that makes sure the crew follows the right protocols. Only through safe operations can the risk be reduced even more. 

Private vs Commercial Flying Safety – How They Compare

When it comes to the difference in terms of safety between private and commercial planes, passengers can rest assured with both alternatives. Both display a high level of commitment to safety, but, statistically speaking, it is more likely for private flights to present an accident. However, this is no reason for concern. 

Ultimately, the safety of each flight depends on each individual private aviation company and how they run their operations. A poorly run commercial flight can be riskier if the crew does not make sure that safety protocols are met or if the right maintenance is not performed. That is why the best thing you can do is book your next trip with a reliable and trusted private aviation company. Aviation safety is no game, so find someone you can trust, like Vincent Jets.

Fly safely to your next destination with Vincent Jets!

Why do small personal jets always have engines at the tail end? 

Small private jets don’t always have engines at the back, but there are a number of benefits to this design.

Crash Safety: If you have to land abruptly, (especially in the water) having engine pods under the wings makes the crash much more dangerous. If your gear won’t go down, with no engine pods under the wings you have a fairly flat surface that is much more forgiving even when crash landing on a runway.

Design Simplicity: Getting the engines off the wings means there is more room in the wings for flight surfaces and controls. The wings also don’t have to have the additional support structure needed to support the weight of the engines, and the wings can thus hold more fuel.

Noise: By putting the engines at the back of the aircraft, a lot of the engine noise is eliminated. As a private jet isn’t jammed with 400 passengers and the occupants are likely to want to work, quiet is good.

Appearance: This one is personal preference I suppose, but on smaller jets, the engines in the back just look cooler. There is also some effort here from manufacturers trying to mimic popular designs.

Thrust Control: Engines close together at the rear means that if you lose an engine, you don’t have to fight the force of having a lot of thrust on one side and none on the other. Losing an engine is bad enough without making the aircraft unstable as well.

Turbine Failure: When a turbine engine breaks up, it often sends pieces flying into the airframe at high speeds. While having engine parts fly into the tail section isn’t ideal, it still beats having the debris hit the passengers, fuel tanks, or even the pilots.

Fire: If your engine is on fire at the rear of the plane, at least it isn’t on fire right below the main fuel tanks.

Convenience: By having the engines high up, you don’t need to have tall landing gear and thus there is no need for a huge staircase to get on and off the aircraft. People who can afford private jets like convenience.

Get more information on small plane options for your next trip with the Vincent Jets team at www.vincentjets.com!

5 PRIVATE JET TRAVEL MYTHS

Private jet travel can improve the entire flight experience in countless ways. While private jet travel may not be an option for everyone, we don’t have to let these myths keep us from exploring private jet service as an option.

Myth One: You need to be wealthy to fly in a private jet.

The most common myth about private flying is that it is only accessible to the ultra-wealthy. Most private planes you see at airports are actually owned by charter services and are used primarily by business people. However, it’s still going to cost you significantly more than a commercial flight.

You might be surprised to learn that a significant number of people traveling on business jets are executives who need to get to destinations off the beaten path, or on same-day trips to regional offices, sometimes transporting goods that can’t be taken on commercial flights.

When the average Joe first hears about an $18,000 flight from Chicago to Palm Beach on a Gulfstream GIV, for example, they might think that’s a lot of money, but let’s take a closer look. That jet can carry 14 people. $18,000/14 people = $1,285/person. What’s the cost of a ticket on a commercial airline for the same one-way flight? Business-class (not first-class), non-stop? $1,114 and up.

Let’s also remember that when you’re flying on private jets, you can often drive run-up to the runway, shaving up to hours from parking, going through security, and waiting to board a commercial flight. Many executives’ time is worth a few hundred dollars an hour, and by chartering a jet, you’re shaving about two hours before and two hours after the flight x 14 people.

Myth Two:  If bad weather forces commercial flights to delay, private jets are grounded as well… it’s not as safe as regular planes.

This is, by far, the most popular of the myths about private jets. Private jets are regulated by the same FAA standards as commercial flights and rigorously monitored for maximum security.

Here’s a great quote from the National Business Aviation Association, in response to the question: Aren’t these small planes unsafe? …“The fact is, airplanes used for business have a safety record that’s comparable to that for the airlines. The companies that hire business aviation pilots have minimums for training and flight-time experience. Additionally, the recurrent training facilities for business aviation pilots uphold the same rigorous standards as those for training airline pilots.”

Choosing a jet charter broker that’s obsessed with safety helps too.

Myth Three: It’s just as much hassle and still requires going through security.

Like so many industries, the private jet travel industry has figured out how to make booking private jets simple and fast beyond traditional phone calls with features and services such as charter support teams, which handle all of your post-booking arrangements, such as ground transportation, gourmet catering, etc., and give you updates in real-time.

You can also forget about security lines if you are flying private. There are no security screenings, no metal detectors, not even a gate. You can drive up in your car and be in the air in no time.

Myth Four: Flying commercial is faster than flying private

Private travel is usually faster. The fastest passenger jets in the sky are private, depending on the model of jet flying. Private jets also fly above commercial airlines and a lot of times the weather and turbulence that they incur.

Some private jets have the ability to fly above the weather up to 51,000 feet, and a couple of private jets fly near the speed of sound, the flexibility to fly in and out of smaller airports that are often closer to the departure point and the destination airport makes the actual speed secondary to the private jet’s access to nearly 10 times as many airports in the United States. That makes the door-to-door speed significantly faster when traveling privately.

Myth Five: Private Jet Travel is Bad for the Environment

Traveling by jet is the safest for the environment. It leaves a very small percentage in comparison to every other mode of long-distance transportation. It is efficient and private jets are safer for travel in so many ways to help the environment. Constant maintenance and smaller engines with serious attention are very important to leave a small impact on the environment. Automobiles are the worst travel for the environment. There are many reasons that contribute to this factor. Maintenance and more frequent trips in smaller areas in town contribute to this footprint. Airports are also doing their part to improve the environment by working on vehicles which are used in airports every day. So if you love to fly on jets enjoy the confidence that it is considered the safest travel for the environment.

Visit www.vincentjets.com for your next flight! Our team is standing by to take great care of you!

Every person has dreams of having a Swiss Alps vacation and skiing the Swiss Alps.

Most resorts have easy cruising terrain and excellent learning programs. Many have dedicated slopes and lifts just for learners and beginners. And while après-ski may be much more lively in some larger ski centers, Swiss ski resorts are equally well-tuned to the needs of families, with family-friendly lift passes, lodgings, and packages.

Some skiers love first tracks in fresh powder, others prefer groomed trails—both will be happy skiing in the Swiss Alps.

Everyone loves great scenery, dependable snow conditions, and a good network of lifts; Switzerland promises all these and a choice of resorts to appeal to every taste.

Vincent Jets has chosen its favorite Swiss slopes for your next winter vacation….Zermatt.

As the highest winter sports area in the Alps, with ski terrain at altitudes between 2,500 and 4,000 meters and more than 2,133 meters of vertical drop, Zermatt rises directly behind the town and is visible from much of the mountain’s 360-kilometer trail system, which connects two countries and three resort towns. The other side of the Matterhorn is in Italy, and one of the greatest moments in a skier’s lifetime is skiing over the Theodul Pass and down into the Italian trail system.

The world’s highest 3S cableway opened for the 2019 season after 2.5 years’ construction work. The “Matterhorn glacier ride” carries 2,000 skiers an hour to the Matterhorn Glacier, at 3,883 meters altitude, where you can ski year-round.

A free Zermatt Skiguide app uses GPS to help skiers navigate between mountain locations, with time and routes adjusted to the user’s skiing style, safety concerns, weather, and the currently open lifts and pistes.

Along with offering skiing and snowboarding 365 days a year in a postcard setting, Zermatt is famous for its long ski runs, with terrain for all skill levels. Beginning skiers and children will find non-threatening terrain as well. From here, experienced skiers can access the gondolas, chairlifts, and a cable car up to the Rothorn’s trails and snowfields.

Children up to age nine accompanied by an adult with a multi-day travel pass free on the mountain lifts, and the free Wolli Card, valid for one year, gives them access to the Gornergrat Bahn and free lodging in some Zermatt hotels. All skiers pay only for the mountain areas they ski, with the new Easy SkiCard that bills only for actual rides taken. This season Zermatt becomes the first destination in Europe to be a partner on the Ikon Pass, allowing access to 41 ski destinations on five continents.

New on the mountain for 2020 is the Stoked Kids Club in the Schweigmatten, a snow sports school that has the latest learning aids and a conveyor belt lift on kid-friendly terrain. New, too, is the creative new terrain in Snowpark Zermatt, a course challenging riders with tunnels, hills, banked curves, jumps, and obstacles. It will also be possible for the first time to toboggan down the Alps’ highest toboggan run on a Snooc, a toboggan with a seat-mounted above a single ski.

Overall, it’s safe to say, we are ready to take flight this ski season…straight to Zermatt!

The Play Boy plane had solid black paint with the white rabbit logo on its tail, the Big Bunny was one of the most epic planes of all time. It created envy among other executive-jet owners. Not just transporting Hefner, but acting as the brand’s winged ambassador, spreading the message of lust and luxury. Behind all the luxury, and occasional charitable missions, it always consisted of a flight crew including a pilot, first officer, flight engineer, and two to three Jet Bunnies working to keep passengers happy and flights safe and seamless.

In the late 1960s, Hefner was looking for a large corporate jet and initially looked into the Lockheed JetStar, the largest corporate jet available at the time. But after extensive research, Hefner waved the suggestion away. “This is going to be a flying mansion. And I need a dance floor and a bedroom with a round bed. I need something with international capability,” More searching turned up leading into the DC-9 fan jet. The aircraft manufacturer agreed to create a special model of the plane: a stretch version with extra fuel tanks that could take Hefner across the Atlantic. Hefner approved the plane but was against the standard two-aisle, 100-plus passenger configuration. He hired designers to create an aircraft wanting it just as lavish as his mansions. Boxes of Twinkies were stashed so they’d never run out on long flights. A bottle of Pepsi had to be waiting for Hefner when he boarded (to be refreshed every hour), and a glass of cold milk served with his meals.

“As it was under construction, the FAA took a look at it and said, ‘Wait a minute, this does not meet our specifications,’ ” Rosenzweig recalls. Everything that had been done to that point had to be ripped out, costing more time and money. From then on builders followed the precise weight and design restrictions set by the Federal Aviation Administration. Even the plane’s unmistakable paint scheme and an array of lights shining on the Rabbit Head design required approval. But the final result was well worth the effort.

Taking its first test flight in February 1969, the Big Bunny debuted as the world’s largest and costliest business aircraft, at 119 feet and $5.5 million (about $38 million today).

The plane included movie projectors and seven built-in screens situated throughout the jet played color videotapes, at a time when only about 33 percent of households had color televisions. The Big Bunny included a disco dance floor, a lavatory with a full-length mirror, and a seating area where the chairs could transform into comfortable sleeping areas. The biggest luxury of them all was Hefner’s private suite, complete with an elliptical bed covered in satin sheets, an electric blanket, and a striped bedspread made of Tasmanian possum fur. His bathroom held a shower with not one, but two showerheads and recessed seating.

Completing the luxurious design were the Jet Bunnies: trained flight attendants specially chosen from among the hundreds of women working as Bunnies in the Playboy clubs. They dressed in Bond-girl-Esque outfits and white scarves.

“If you go over five pounds above your ideal weight, you will automatically be suspended from flying until you have reached your ideal weight again,” warned the 130-page Jet Bunny manual. “At no time can you display boredom or irritability. You must be, above all, the epitome of a charming, well-mannered young lady.” “Every place we went, it was like something that you read about in books,” one Jet Bunny had said. “It was far more than I had expected, ever. It was the trip of a lifetime.”

The Big Bunny didn’t just serve as a flying palace. It also extended the philanthropic arm of the Playboy brand. This was achieved through various high-profile missions, beginning in July 1970 with the transport of a male gorilla named Jack. A resident of the Baltimore Zoo, Jack had been promised to the Phoenix Zoo as a breeding companion for its female gorilla. But when other methods of transportation fell through, actress Amanda Blake put a call through to Hefner to request a loan of the jet. He happily complied. Much more impactful was the Big Bunny’s involvement in what came to be known as Operation Babylift. The Vietnam War-era effort to bring orphans from the war-torn country to families in the United States required more planes than the military easily had at its disposal. Hefner offered to provide assistance, this time at the behest of actor Yul Brynner. In April 1975 the plane transported 40 infants across the country safely, from San Francisco to Denver and then New York, with assistance from the nonprofit group Friends of Children.

Many other celebrities occasionally leased it for their own travel as well.  Elvis Presley took the Big Bunny for his 1974 tour, and Sonny and Cher chartered it for their international tour. Other A-list passengers included Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, Shel Silverstein, Roman Polanski, and Rod Serling, creator of the Twilight Zone, who filmed aboard the plane.

The iconic plane-now in retirement and its Jet Bunnies had helped Playboy Enterprises reach new heights long after the jet was grounded, the winged symbol of sex and prestige lives on as a reminder of the Playboy legacy.

If you haven’t picked up the newest issue of Korn Ferry’s Briefings Magazine this summer, get on it!

Through Korn Ferry, both Briefings Magazine and Briefing for the Boardroom publications attempt to increase the understanding of how strategic talent decisions contribute to competitive advantage, growth, and success.

Pick up this quarter’s leadership and talent magazine for great insights to help leaders lead, and to see Vincent Jet’s make an appearance!

If you have ever been on the flats searching for that perfect bonefish and your eyes gaze upon the horizon and you get lost in the translucent place where the sky meets the water you have arrived at ” Black Fly Lodge”. The profound meeting of calmness, soulfulness, and extreme relaxation.  

Your heart slows, your mind eases and the only thought you have is peace and serenity as you scan the endless blues of the Atlantic Ocean and Marsh Harbour looking for that perfect fish.

June Kemp’s life is about this… the hunt, the exhilaration of the catch, the accomplishment of the challenge, the pure calmness that comes over you as you feel the line tighten between your fingers. Having fished offshore and flats for the past 25 years in The Bahamas, it is not just a passion but an entire life. Her “job” is the boss lady to Blackfly Lodge located on the southern end of Abaco. A 5-star fishing lodge with access to some of the biggest trophy fish in the Bahamas. This 8 room fully appointed lodge caters to the most discerning of fishermen and women. Blackfly Lodge has its own executive chef who creates culinary delights from some of the biggest offshore catches that June and Clint Kemp bring ranging from wahoo and yellowfin tuna to stone crabs and lobster from their very own traps. The Blackfly Lodge staff welcomes you like family and makes sure that you have nothing to worry about other than your cast.

In this hectic time of life when you feel the squeeze of pressure tell yourself, “your soul needs this”… sit around the fire at night with a glass of rum, a smooth cigar, and a group of friends new and old, and let yourself relax. You will be more than happy you did.

Vincent Jets is ecstatic for this destination of the season (Black fly). Holiday flights are now available for booking, and all small planes are ready for your safe and custom arrival to the Bahamas. June and the team at Blackfly Lodge hope to share their world with you one day and the marvelous fly fishing adventure. Until then, tight lines! 

How do jet take-offs work and the benefit of flying private?

One of the benefits of flying by private jet is the ability to fly to and from many more airports than are available to most commercial airlines. Since private jets come in a variety of sizes, from turboprops to long-range jets, airports with smaller runways can accommodate smaller aircraft than the traditional commercial-size aircraft. This is what ultimately directly affects the takeoff speed required for liftoff. So how do you know what aircraft can land at which airport? It all depends on the length of the runway and the amount of runway a specific jet needs to take off. And just how much is that?

Aircraft manufacturers produce complex calculations to determine the required take-off distance and take-off speeds for every flight scenario. A few factors that determine the required take-off distance could include the aircraft design, aircraft configuration/flap settings, temperature, wind direction and strength, and runway surface and slope. 

Airlines or private jet operators rarely take off within the shortest distance possible, even when it’s perfectly safe to do so. Short distance take-offs reduce the engine’s life and increase maintenance costs. Therefore, pilots are encouraged, when suitable conditions apply, to use reduced take-off and land thrust procedures. This takeoff run uses less engine thrust thus increasing the lifetime of the engine and saving unnecessary maintenance costs. Ultimately take-off and landing is not some magical method, in fact, much engineering goes into the engines just as how a rocket booster for rockets has detailed engineering.

If you’ve ever gone hiking with a heavy backpack, you know it requires more energy than traveling light. The same theory applies to aircraft: the heavier they are, the more difficult it is for them to achieve flight, and if it’s a light aircraft it is easier.

For safety reasons, the FAA places weight restrictions on all aircraft. This is known as MTOW (maximum takeoff weight). In addition to the empty weight of the aircraft, it includes any additional mass that it will carry, including crew, passengers, baggage/cargo, and fuel. 

Let’s say a private jet charter with the crew and minimal passenger load requires just 5,000 feet for takeoff. That same aircraft with a full payload could easily require 1,000 more feet for takeoff. This is because it will need the extra field length to generate the higher speed (and subsequent lift force) needed to overcome the additional weight and wheel drag.

For safe, reliable private jet charters, talk to a Vincent Jets air charter associate. It is our pleasure to arrange business and leisure itineraries for clients all over the world.

Vincent Jets Top 5 Summer Destinations

written by Jaclyn R. Marsh. April 2019.

Anyone else ready for Summer vacation? While there are plenty of scheduled airline flights to places like The Bahamas or Europe, this is a list of Vincent Jet’s top 5 vacation spots that are worth visiting, and best reached by private jet, especially if you are planning a quick spur of the moment getaway.

LANAI, HAWAII

While its current owner is Larry Ellison, he has hired Four Seasons to manage its best beach resort. Once a former pineapple plantation, when you get there you will be like a local, and with dozens of private beaches, its own shipwreck, trails for four-wheeling and horseback riding, sporting clays, and two championship golf courses plus an elaborate spa. With no nonstop flights from the U.S. mainland, chartering a private jet means you will add two days to your vacation that would otherwise be spent connecting in Honolulu.

DEAUVILLE, FRANCE

Once called the European version of The Hamptons, Deauville is a good spot to explore the beaches of Normandy and the incredible World War II history. By flying into Deauville – Normandie Airport, you will save yourself a two-and-a-half hours train ride and the bumper-to-bumper peak season traffic as Parisians head north to avoid the summer heat.

HAMPTONS, NY

The Hamptons which stretch all through the south shore of Long Island’s eastern beaches is a weekend favorite for New York City residents during the summer.  Power brokers from Wall Street, athletes, celebrities- all enjoy the white sand beaches and house parties. Top New York clubs open pop-up clubs throughout this region, and several airports handle a steady flow of private jets and helicopters.

GSTAAD, SWITZERLAND

Best known as Europe’s most elite ski destination, during the summer Switzerland is an outdoor playground for hiking, climbing, rafting, and biking to horseback riding. Getting to Gstaad from either Geneva or Zurich means at least two to three trains or several hours by car, or even longer when narrow mountain roads get backed up. Gstaad Airport can handle private jets as large as the Gulfstream G650.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WEST VIRGINIA

Located on 11,000 acres with over 700 guest rooms and suites, this location was used as an underground bunker designed to house the U.S. Congress during the Cold War in case of a nuclear war. The drive from Washington D.C. can take over four hours, but lucky for you Greenbrier Valley Airport is 12 minutes from the top resort. There’s championship golf, an extensive spa, lots of outdoor activities…even a casino!

Vincent Jets is ready to get you to your favorite summer destination, visit www.vincentjets.com for more information. No membership fees, no contracts, after all, every day is fly day!

Every day is fly day here at Vincent Jets…learn more about Founder, Joseph Vincent at north jersey.com or pick up the newest issue of 201 Magazine!