Posted by Jackie Vincent on Mon, Dec 26, 2011 @ 10:47 AM
On December 21 in Washington, D.C., the FAA announced a new, more stringent rule on pilot flight duty and rest requirements for passenger carriers operating under Part 121. When Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed near Buffalo nearly three years ago, attention was cast upon the working conditions of regional airline pilots. This led to the stricter rule which requires pilots to have a minimum of 10 hours of rest before each flight duty period, which is an increase of two hours over previous rules. Additionally, the final rule limits the number of hours a pilot can fly weekly and monthly. Lastly, it extends the length of consecutive hours off in a seven-day period from 24 to 30. Before each and every mission, the pilot needs to sign off on a form saying that they are stable and capable of safely flying the aircraft. If the pilot is ever too fatigued to fly, it is their responsibility to let the carrier know.
The only exception to this new regulation is all-cargo carriers. The reason which was given stated that “their compliance costs significantly exceed the quantified societal benefits.” FAA officials have disclosed that the projected cost for cargo operations is $306 million (with one fatal all-cargo accident costing anywhere between $20 and $32 million). This exception has caused an uproar from flight safety organizations who have challenged the FAA with a petition to review this rule in the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Posted by Jackie Vincent on Mon, Dec 19, 2011 @ 02:32 PM
Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, has taken on Burt Rutan as his partner in his plan to design the world’s largest aircraft. Rutan is recently retired from Scaled Composites, the company he founded in Mojave, California. Allen is no stranger to the world of aviation – he was the funding behind the SpaceShipOne, the first privately funded manned rocket. His most recent endeavor is his company, Stratolaunch Systems. The objective for Stratolaunch is to deliver payloads (including people) to orbit Earth.
The Stratolaunch mother ship being created by Allen and Ruton will be powered by six Boeing 747 engines and have an mtow of about 1.2 million pounds. The 380-plus-foot wingspan will be supported by a multi-stage air-launchable booster. Rutan’s company, Scaled Composites, is building the carrier aircraft at their new facility. Dynetics will be handling the mating and integration system. The rockets will eventually carry people, however, the first test set for 2016, will be unmanned. It will be an estimated five years before people can fly on the Stratolaunch.
Posted by Jackie Vincent on Tue, Dec 13, 2011 @ 03:26 PM
There are few hotels in the world with as much charm and atmosphere - where there is literally something different around every corner – as Parker Palm Springs (though often you’ll find these aren’t corners so much as gentle turns and winding pathways).
This Jonathan Adler-designed space (on the one time ranch of Gene Autry) is nothing short of magical. Not only is the aesthetic wonderfully distinctive, but the food matches the originality and vividness of this desert oasis. The estate gardens are a perfect place for a secluded get-away. If you bring your friends too, you can meet at the bar or by the open fireplace that sits in the middle of the garden, which is replete with torch-lit walkways and butterfly chairs. The Palm Springs Yacht Club houses the very smart dark blue and white spa with wonderful spaces for sun, swimming and silence.
Jonathan Adler is the real genius behind the hotel’s styling: it was a simply inspired choice to select him for the interior design for this hotel. A potter by training, he has created everything in the iconic Norma’s - perhaps the greatest breakfast restaurant in America - from the vases to lamps to the salt and pepper shakers. Retro-chic with designs familiar to anyone who can remember the 60s and 70s, the high quality design of these modern items will stand the test of time. Examples are found everywhere, from the guest rooms and suites through the outdoor spaces and the stunning lobby/lounge, with its enormous over-sized orange doors to the eating and “play” spaces around the garden: each one displays his riveting attention to detail and color.
Posted by Jackie Vincent on Thu, Dec 08, 2011 @ 09:33 AM
Magellan Jets, the world-class private jet service for the executive traveler who demands the best in service, safety and reliability, today announced the launch of their Business Travel Jet (BTJ) Card, which is being offered to discriminating business jet flyers in the Northeast. For the first time in history, a 10 hour jet card is being sold for the unmatched price of $34,950 - with no Federal Excise Tax and no daily minimums. The BTJ Card affords flyers 10 hours aboard the Eclipse500 jet, one of the most sought-after VLJ’s in the charter market.
Business professionals appreciate the convenience of the Business Travel Jet Card more than anything. Yes, they still receive the luxury of hassle-free travel and comfort. However, it is truly the simplicity that comes with boarding a VLJ which Magellan Jets delivers. The Eclipse500 can be paralleled to a private car service used for business trips. The BTJ Card is not about frivolity – it is about security and convenience above all.
At just $34,950 the Business Travel Jet Card provides unparalleled value that no other jet card can match at even twice the price. The benefits include:
- No Federal Excise Tax (FET)
- No daily minimums – Most charters require a minimum of 2 hours flight time. If you fly only 40 min with the BTJ Card, you pay for just those 40 min
- Twin-engine Eclipse 500 offers state-of-the-art jet performance with the lowest hourly operating costs of any jet aircraft
- 7-day aircraft availability guarantee
- No positioning charges inside base service area
- No fuel surcharges
- No blackout dates
- 5% discount on repeat purchase
- No pass through costs
Joshua Hebert, CEO of Magellan Jets says, “Our clients are the among most discriminating business jet travelers, and we’re proud to bring them this exciting new premium jet card offering." For more information on how you can purchase your Business Travel Jet Card today, please visit: http://www.magellanjets.com/membership/business-jet-card/
Posted by Jackie Vincent on Tue, Dec 06, 2011 @ 12:57 PM
Magellan Jets, a leading aircraft charter broker, announces the launch of its Private Jet Search iPhone application for private jet bookings. For years, people have been able to search for commercial flights on a variety of websites, making travel that much more convenient and cost effective. For the reasonable price of $4.99, private jet travelers can download the app through iTunes. The app allows users to search, book and sign for a charter in a matter of minutes from the convenience of their iPhone or iPad anytime, anywhere. Magellan Jets recognizes the need for more flexibility and accessibility in the market of private jet travel and this app allows for instant quoting, linked to live market information and thousands of aircraft and airports worldwide.
The Private Jet Search app is truly a business tool which executives can take advantage of without needing any assistance in making their private travel arrangements. While this is the case, it is available for business and pleasure alike. Travelers can search both one way and round trip options based on their desired destination, departure/return date, aircraft option and passenger count.
Once this information is entered, the app uses real-time technology to pull up every aircraft available, along with the competitive pricing. This innovative search engine cuts the time it takes to search for aircraft availability, while adding the ease of portability and anytime access.
“The Private Jet Search app is a revolutionary tool,” says Joshua Hebert, CEO of Magellan Jets. “It will provide the instant gratification and savings our clients have been yearning for, which is an incredible thing.”
Due to the fact that this is an international app, there is a currency converter available to those who are flying outside of the U.S. High-resolution interior and exterior photos are provided for each aircraft as well, and may be viewed on the flight details page. The estimated flight time and any fuel stops are also shown, giving the client the full scope of what the trip will entail.
The Private Jet Search app also features a GPS- based search to help find the nearest airport. In addition, customers can view the trip leg through Google Maps. The application allows for personalized requests to be sent to Magellan Jets regarding the requested trip, which will be carried out by a dedicated Magellan Jets charter specialist, available 24/7/365.
The level of personalization does not stop there. A list of favorite airports can be saved to streamline the process, which will save customers’ valuable time searching. In addition to this practical solution, there is an ingenious “tip a friend” function which allows customers the opportunity to find a flight and send the option to their friend so that they can see the same aircraft.
Magellan Jets has also begun using state-of-the-art technology which simplifies the booking process by allowing clients to confirm bookings from their computers, iPhones or iPads. Once a client is ready to book a trip on the app, Magellan Jets is now able to e-mail the contract so that the client can sign with their finger on the touch screen of their iPhone or iPad. This has made private jet charter even more seamless and hassle-free than ever before.
Posted by Jackie Vincent on Thu, Dec 01, 2011 @ 01:10 PM
Patchworks Apparel, LLC, has launched Patch Hats™, a unique new line of high-quality customizable baseball-style hats designed for children aged three to seven that feature a series of removable, collectable and tradable character patches. Magellan Jets is proud to partner with this exciting new product. With each Patch Hat purchased, a portion of the proceeds will go to charity. Patch Hats has exclusively created a Magellan Jets patch, which features a colorful image of a jet with the Magellan Jets logo. In an exclusive retail deal, Inserra Supermarkets announced that it will sell Patch Hats in more than 20 ShopRites throughout the New York/New Jersey area.
Circular patches, affixed by Velcro to the front of hats and featuring lovable cartoon-like characters, are interchangeable on an array of colored hats, and come three-to-a-pack with each hat purchased. The richly illustrated patches, known as Patch Pals™, have been exclusively developed for Patch Hats, come complete with a short history of each character, making them educational, informative and fun. The initial release includes nine characters, including Connor the Frog, Bill the Rhino, Kimberly the Dolphin and Zach the Spider Monkey. Patchworks will continue to expand the roster of characters, hat colors and retail distribution of the product line in the coming months.
Patch Hats and patches are available in two hat types, five different colors each, including The Patch Hat w/ Patch Three Pack: (SRP, $12.99), and Patch Single Pack: ($1.99). For more information, visit www.patchhats.com.