As the VLJ Moment Comes Upon Us …
… there is enthusiasm, and skepticism. This came through loud and clear during a recent week in Chicago and Oshkosh, WI. At the annual Oshkosh AirVenture show, put on by the Experimental Aircraft Association, the very light jets were the story. Eclipse received its temporary type certificate from FAA in a highly publicized moment, and Honda introduced its VLJ entry, the HondaJet. For the VLJ manufacturers, the orders are there; the financial backing is there.
But what is the potential? A number of companies foresee a network of air taxis around the country, utilizing VLJs. And, when it comes to VLJs, therein lies the real potential for the aircraft, say some. But when one considers the traditional model of business aircraft, this doesn’t fit. One answer is that VLJs will create a new market, ala the fractional ownership companies, who have different expectations. They’ll accept the fact that there are no onboard restrooms, and little room in which to work (a cornerstone of bizjets).
Live in a market like Austin, TX, and you learn all about regional jets. They connect you to markets non-stop and they provide additional flight time options – three RJ flights a day versus one flight on a 737. But they provide a horrible environment for working. Using a laptop becomes pretty much impossible. And therein lies the key question about VLJs.
In Chicago, an interview with Andy Priester reinforced this thought. Andy is the third-generation COO of Priester Aviation, a prominent charter firm for decades. Priester isn’t considering any VLJs for its air taxi business, at least not yet. Says Andy, “What I don’t know is the level of creature comforts that those people are going to demand. Will they be willing to live with the lack of creature comforts, just because of the size of the VLJs, and still be willing to pay the price? I’m not suggesting that they won’t be; I just think it’s going to be interesting once the model is started, what type of response they’re going to be getting.” One thing is clear: It’s a different aircraft, a different market, a different business model.
Thanks for reading.
jfi
It appears Neil Prasad has been gone from IATA since mid-November. Does anyone know where he’s working now?
I by no means claim to be an expert, but I am very interested in the VLJ concept and have been studying it somewhat for a bit. I think that the real benefit of the VLJ is those markets where commercial air service and biz jet charters fall short. For example, if I want to go from Daytona Beach (DAB) to Pensacola (PNS), Fl on a business trip and get back in the same day, I could drive but it would take 7 1/2 hours (maps.google.com) to get there, so it is not a viable option. I could fly, however I would have to fly Delta through Atlanta and on average it would take me roughly 4 to 7 hours for around $500 (www.delta.com) and that is just flight time. Atlanta is also not the best place to fly through specially if you have a short layover. So by the end of it, you’re looking at about the same trip as driving there. Chartering a whole biz jet for just two executives would be great because you could get there in less than an hour, but may not be the most cost effective solution. So this is where I think on-demand air service (Air Taxi) better serves the need for business passengers and where I think the business model will be successful. For such a short trip a restroom is useless, biz jets have them but on short trips they are not used. Like I said at the begining, “some markets” not all. There may be some markets where VLJ’s don’t work, like long haul. Anyway, good discussions and excited to see so many changes in aviation. The technology is there!
I enjoyed the article. However I think some people are missing the point. An army General during hurricane Katrina put it best when a member of our illustrious press kept ranting about the/a same question after it had been answered 4 times. His quote was appropriate: “Are you stuck on Stupid”. A bit harsh you might think, but not so. The VLJ will be successful. If fills a particular market and need. I would suggest that anyone who comments about the air taxi (proposed) services read the White paper(s) prepared by the major VLJ manufacturers. I am somewhat surprised with some of the comments quoted in this article, especially the fact that it is difficult to do “work on a RJ”. Daah! I have been traveling for 20 years, and have/do use RJ’s requently. Given the reduction in overall scheduled flights and the resulting load factor increase, the issue of whether you can or cannot work on these flights is ancient news. You can’t. As to the restroom issue. Please, someone do some research. Mots, if not all proposed air taxi’s are for flights of under 2 hours, and the projections hint that 80% will be under 1 hour. Since the basic premiss of the air taxi’s is to go point to point within a relative short distance, the issues brought up, namely restroom facilities, ability to “do work” and services that customers/passengers would require (on short flights) is totally irrelevant. By the way, I do not work for in the airline, aircraft manufacturing or related industry.
I believe the cost and convenience factor will belittle the fact that the one will not be able to work on the aircraft. What concerns me is that fact that the already congested sky will get even more congested. In addition I have not seen much regarding the security process for this new business.
I think it would behoove some business-oriented airport, with the support, perhaps, of Airport Business, to host a show of VLJ’s at a business event, such as a chamber of commerce meeting, and see what the business reaction is. With some dozen companies getting into the VLJ business, it would seem there is some potential in this business. It should be tested in the marketplace.
I’ve never been all that inconvenienced by the lack of working room on the regional jets (or VLJs, as you called them), mainly because the flight time is seldom much over an hour. Given the time required to get up to 10,000 feet and the time on the other end when you have to put the toys away, it’s hardly worth firing up the laptop.