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Monday, September 15, 2008

Quick Takes


Name Change for Private Business Jets
As a first steip in a series of new programs being rolled out later this year aimed at increasing private jet travel accessibility to more business and leisure travelers, FlyPrivate is changing its business name from Private Business Jets, LLC.
"The name FlyPrivate represents to the marketplace exactly what we do best, making travel on private jets a simpler, more affordable option," said Don Smith, co-founder and COO, FlyPrivate, which offers mid-size and heavy business jets. "In addition, because our domain name since 2002 has been http://www.FlyPrivate.com, many of our customers already know us best as FlyPrivate.”
FlyPrivate's founders pioneered a straightforward, no surprises approach to private jet travel with features like no blackout dates and no long-term contracts or up-front deposits - just safe, high quality pay-as-you-go, private charter jet service. As a result, the company has realized a 98 percent customer retention rate.
The company, headqartered in Hingham, Mass., offers nationwide jet travel service for business travelers. It was founded in 2002 by veterans of the private jet industry offering customized services including: guaranteed access, guaranteed aircraft backup, and business and personal savings programs.

Owners Delaying ADS-B Implementation
Aircraft owners who balk at equipping their aircraft with ADS-B out cold be delaying the nationwide implementation of ADS-B, according to a Reason Foundation report which noted that ground stations will be completed in 2013, seven years before the 2020 deadline for equipping aircraft. Reason’s Bob Poole indicated that owners are delaying equipment until they can gain real benefit beyond what they now get from ATC. But others suggest that such delays await the conclusions of industry/FAA wrangling over exactly what equipment will be required. Industry charged FAA with requiring “gold-plated” equipment, while cheaper versions would suffice. Related Story
Poole suggests that the safety and capacity benefits, as well as the retirement of the antiquated radars, of ADS-B might drive quicker implementation of both ADS-B Out as well as ADS-B In. He also suggested financial aid would speed up equipage. This, coupled with higher production, will drive down equipment costs. He also said that technology has offered more electronic charting for pilots, especially given electronic book readers and high-speed Internet connections, which would solve the back breaking hauling of paper products.
Already capitalizing on this problem, Reader Plates LLC now offers downloadable FAA/NACO terminal approach procedures formatted for exceptional readability and ease of use on electronic book readers. Now with Reader Plates an instrument-rated private pilot can carry every FAA/NACO arrival, departure, and approach plate for every airport in the U.S. in a portable electronic book reader for $299. Reader Plates are specifically formatted for exceptional readability and ease of use on the Sony PRS-505. Each procedure is viewable and readable on a single page, without scrolling, using the nine-ounce reader.
The Sony PRS-505 provides a high-resolution sunlight-readable screen in a lightweight and compact package which can easily be attached to a yoke or kneeboard. It has an exceptionally long battery life that can be measured in weeks of normal usage. And a typical GA pilot flying for business and pleasure will likely find the battery life exceeds the four-week chart update cycle.
Reader Plates are available for download now at http://readerplates.com/ via subscription for $9.99 per month. Subscriptions include the most recent cycle of all 13,000-plus approach procedures and can be installed with a single download. Sony PRS-505 electronic book readers are available on the Reader Plates website and from many electronics retailers.
"Combining a Reader Plates subscription with the Sony Reader provides an exceptional value to the GA pilot. The value far exceeds any other solution when you evaluate the low cost, ease of use, clarity and convenience of Reader Plates on the PRS-505," said John Lemberger, President of Reader Plates LLC.