How to choose a private aircraft for the flight?
How to choose the right aircraft for the flight? How to avoid unnecessary costs? What criteria in the assessment of a private aircraft should be focused on? We prepared a comparative analysis of four classes of aircraft in order to help anyone who is interested in private flights choose the right aircraft based on the budget, goals and tasks of the trip.
Small aircraft
Advantages:
● the most economical flight option
● quality service for short flights — you can watch a movie with light snacks
● minimal physical and psychological stress — during a short flight, passengers feel comfortable in the aircraft's cabin
● expensive interior of the cabin
● comfortable seats
● multimedia equipment
● some aircraft offer hot meals
Disadvantages:
● small-sized cabin
● feeling of stiffness in movements: passengers spend a whole flight sitting
● common cabin — passengers actually fly with the pilots and stewardess
● sleeping in such conditions is problematic
● ordering hot meals creates inconvenience: in the common cabin, the smell of food spreads all along its perimeter; also, it is not always possible to warm the food up
● small capacity of the luggage compartment
● short flight range
This class of aircraft is optimal for flights:
● of average duration of up to 3 hours
● with up to 4 passengers
● for short distances for business purposes (for example, Moscow – St. Petersburg)
Popular models in this class:
● Citation XLS+
● Gulfstream G150
● Learjet
Average cost of a flight hour: 4,000 EUR.
Medium aircraft
Advantages:
● quite economical option
● stylish interior
● wide cabin
● comfortable internal space — the cockpit and kitchen are separated from the passenger cabin
● with a small number of passengers (up to 6 people), everyone feels comfortable in the cabin
● the cabin's height allows passengers to move freely around during the flight
● quite roomy luggage compartment
Disadvantages:
● it is hardly possible to have a comfortable sleep during a 5-hour flight with 8 passengers on board; if all the seats are brought to a horizontal position, there will be only 4 sleeping seats in the cabin
● although the luggage compartment is larger than in a small aircraft, its capacity will not allow you to fly on holiday in a large group
This class of aircraft is optimal for flights:
● of average duration of up to 5 hours
● with up to 7 passengers
● for short distances for business purposes and recreation in a small group (for example, flights to Europe)
Popular models in this class:
● Challenger 300
● Gulfstream G280
● Citation Sovereign
Average cost of a flight hour: 5,000 EUR.
Large aircraft
Advantages:
● availability of a second cabin, where some passengers can sleep
● convenient zoning of space for sleep and recreation
● comfortable sleeping seats
● a proper kitchen designed for cooking various dishes
● the kitchen is separated from the passenger cabin so the smells will not interfere with the flight
● wide selection of multimedia
● high-capacity luggage compartment
● enough space for two stewardesses
Disadvantages:
● high cost of flight
● short flight range
This class of aircraft is optimal for flights:
● of average duration of up to 6 hours
● with up to 10 passengers
● for average distances for business purposes and recreation in a large group (for example, flights to the Middle East or Europe)
Popular models in this class:
● Legacy 600
● Gulfstream G450
● Challenger 850
Average cost of a flight hour: 6,000 EUR.
Long-haul aircraft
Advantages:
● possibility of intercontinental flights
● improved noise insulation and pressure control system on board
● roomy luggage compartment
● spacious kitchen
● comfortable toilet
● spacious cabin – passengers move around, sleep and eat comfortably on board
● advanced multimedia systems designed to entertain passengers during the whole 10-hour flight
● convenient zoning of space for sleep and recreation
● on some models, it is possible to install shower cabins and changing rooms
● enough space for two stewardesses
Disadvantages:
● high cost of flight
This class of aircraft is optimal for flights:
● of average duration of up to 12 hours
● with up to 10 passengers
● for any distances for business trips and recreation in a large group (for example, flights to America)
Popular models in this class:
● Falcon 7X
● Gulfstream G550
● Global 7000
Average cost of a flight hour: 8,000 EUR.
