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How quickly can I book a Private Jet?

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How quickly can I book a Private Jet?

Sometimes, you need to fly urgently. Commercial airlines can't usually accommodate these needs, whereas a private jet charter will get you where you need to be as soon as physically possible. 

For urgent requests, we aim to get you airborne as little as two hours after request a quote. This time-frame depends on several factors, mainly aircraft availability. There are many reasons why someone may need to urgently charter a private jet, but some of the most common reasons include a family/medical emergency, cancelled commercial flights and last minute schedule changes. However, that doesn't mean you need a negative reason to hire a jet at last minute! You may choose to go on a last minute surprise trip, and what better way to enjoy a romantic weekend in Paris than by arriving on a private jet?

Private Jet charter | Jet Hire | Book a Private Jet | Astute Aviation - Jet Sharper

At such last minute, your choice of private jets is limited to those in close proximity to you as there isn't always time to reposition an aircraft that is based hours flight away. This may mean flying in a private jet that is in a higher category than would usually be recommended for your flight and party size - but this will only be presented to you if it provides the cheapest charter option on the day. This can be the case when it is closer to your departure airport than a more appropriate jet, allowing you to have lower repositioning costs as well as being in the air sooner. If both you and a suitable aircraft are already at your departure airport, you can be airborne almost immediately.

We understand just how important it can be to get somewhere as quickly as physically possible, and will do everything we can to make this happen.

We have access to over 30,000 aircraft worldwide, many of which will also be known to our competitors. This means that requesting the same quotation from a number of different charter companies will not only drive the price up for you, but will also make our job more difficult to negotiate the charter price on your behalf. After all, you wouldn't sell something for under the going rate if you had plenty of interest. Our main focus is getting you to where to need to be, as quickly as possible for the least amount of money. 

Being a member of our Laminar Club would also be an advantage in an urgent flight request scenario. Although usually it is not an issue to process last minute payments, it certainly makes the process smoother as we'll already have access to cleared funds and can allocate your flight, which gives you one less thing to worry about when trying to organise a private jet charter at short notice.

 

Whatever your reason for flying , we would love to help you organise your trip. We are available for consultation 24 hours a day, so last minute requests can be processed at any hour. Get in touch with one of our private jet charter experts and let us tailor a schedule to suit you +44(0) 203 880 9005

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De-icing for Private Jets

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De-icing for Private Jets

Much like cars, the winter also affects private jets. With winter fast approaching, the likelihood of an aircraft needing to be de-iced is on the rise - so we thought we would give some insight on how this may affect your private jet flight. 

Why must a private Jet be de-iced?

It is illegal for an aircraft to take off if there is any snow or ice present on its surface as the presence of either of these on the wings will reduce the performance. Further to this, ice can block controls on a private jet (ailerons, elevators and rudders), and safety issues arise if these cannot perform at full capacity. 

Image by @time2gofly

Image by @time2gofly

How is a Private Jet De-iced?

The principle is very similar to de-icing a car windscreen, in the sense that a formula of chemicals is sprayed over the jet to remove any ice, and prevent further ice from forming. However, for safety reasons, it is a legal requirement to remove all snow and ice from an aircraft prior to takeoff. This is done using a specialised vehicle called a de-icing rig, which allows the fluid to be evenly sprayed on to all areas of the jet. De-icing fluid is applied at a high temperature to assist with the process of removing ice and snow, and tends to contain a bright coloured dye - which allows the de-icing team to see where it has already been applied and ensure they cover the entire aircraft. As a private jet client, you will usually be on board whilst de-icing is carried out, so you can be airborne as soon as possible upon completion. 

Different types of de-icing fluid can be used, depending on the needs of your private jet. The most commonly used fluid is a short acting de-icer,   which is sprayed on at a high temperature and pressure to quickly and effectively remove ice before takeoff. Other de-icing fluids are thicker, so they do not run off the aircraft as quickly after being applied. These tend to be sprayed on after the initial de-icing fluid, to prevent ice from re-forming during flight.  

How much does it cost to de-ice a private jet?

Cost can vary largely between airports, as each has their own price per litre for de-icing fluid. On average, it costs around €5 per litre, so the table below gives an approximate price for de-icing different types of jets. 

 
 

jet type


Small Propellor

Small Jet

Medium Jet

Long Range Jet

Regional Airliner

Airliner

 

Fluid quantity (Litres)


50

200

300

500

700

2000

 

 

Total price


€250

€1000

€1500

€2500

€3500

€10,000

 

How to avoid paying de-icing costs for your private jet

Keeping a private jet in a hangar can prevent the need for de-icing altogether, but in some airports this may cost more than the de-icing. On top of this, many private jet airports do not have sufficient hangar space for all aircraft. One potential solution is to use a heated hangar for a short period of time before takeoff, as in many cases, one hour can melt the ice on the private jet that would otherwise require de-icing. 

In some circumstances, we can organise a de-icing waiver for low risk bookings. This will allow an element of security without fear of supplementary invoices.  

Whatever your reason for flying , we would love to help you organise your trip. After all, life is about adventure so why stay grounded? 

Get in touch with one of our private jet charter experts today and let us tailor a schedule to suit you +44(0) 203 880 9005

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Top 3 European Ski Resorts for Private Jets

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Top 3 European Ski Resorts for Private Jets

During the winter months we see a huge surge in private jet flights to the many wonderful ski destinations Europe has to offer. For that reason, we want to share with you the top 3 european Ski resorts for private jets. 

 

St. Moritz, Switzerland 

St Mortiz | Private Jet Charter | Astute Aviation

St Moritz is the most popular ski resort among private jet setters in Europe. St. Moritz is located high in the Engadin Valley, in the southern part of Switzerland. With a mix of slope, and cross county skiing on offer it's a hit with most. 

The closest commercial airports are Innsbruck or Milan, both of which are around three hours away by road. This is one of the reasons this is so popular for private jet setters, as the nearest we can get you is into Samedan Airport which is around ten minutes from St. Moritz. 

LONDON LUTON - Samedan airport   | 6 PASSENGERS | 3 DAY RETURN  | CITATION CJ2+| £9998

 

Courchevel, France 

Private Jet Charter | Courchevel

Courchevel has a little bit of everything, world class slopes, great night life and plenty for activities for the family.  Courchevel is broken down into four beautiful villages,  each of which is at a different altitude which is reflected in the name of the village.  Courchevel  1850 is best known for it's popularity with VIP clients, luxury chalets and hotels. The other levels are more geared towards families and cost conscious visitors. 

Untill recently, Courchevel has only been reachable by road or helicopter, unless you own your own private jet. Recently some operators have been given permission to operate commercial private jet flights into Courchevel. This presents the opportunity for our private jet charter clients to charter directly into Courchevel, without having to change to a helicopter. This also means that you avoid the long road transfer, giving you more time on the slopes. 

Prices for this flight are available on request 

 

Gstaad, Switzerland

Private Jet Charter Gstaad | Astute Aviation

Gstaad boasts one of the longest ski seasons, with the first usable snow falling in October, and the last melting in May. This means 6 months of guaranteed, usable snow. Adding another string to Gstaad's bow, it's absolutely beautiful, making it the perfect setting for a romantic, picturesque winter wonderland. 

When flying to Gstaad, we would recommend Sion over Geneva, it's smaller, less busy and more than capable of accepting private jet's. You can then either go by road, or take a helicopter for the short transfer into resort. 

LONDON LUTON - Sion airport   | 6 PASSENGERS | 3 DAY RETURN  | CITATION CJ2+| £9500

 

Chartering a private jet for your winter escape will not only extend your time on the slopes, it will take all of the hassle out of getting to your chosen resort. We have a team of charter experts on hand 24/7 to assist you in selecting the right airport and the right aircraft for your selected ski resort. Get in touch today. 

 

+44(0)203 880 9005 

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