Bizliner Flyers Value Cabin Size
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Cabin size is king by r. randall padfield is typically the very large cabin space and Bizliner flyers comfort, along with the ability to custom design that space to meet their personal value cabin size and business requirements.” Boeing and Airbus are today the main If you want to see the inside of a really manufacturers of “bizliners,” those busi- big business jet–one that’s the size of an ness jets that are derived from airliners. airliner–at the NBAA 2013 static display So both OEMs primarily build aircraft at Henderson Executive Airport, you that must fly 10 to 12 hours per day may encounter a silk rope draped across almost every day of the year and can the handrails at the bottom of the pas- operate worldwide. That’s about 3,500 to senger stairs. A professionally attired 4,200 hours per year (figuring two weeks man or woman standing by the rope will for heavy maintenance). A business jet explain that the aircraft is being shown typically flies about one-tenth as many and then politely suggest, “Please come hours per year. back later.” Later could take a long time. “Reliability is also huge,” the chief While an aviation department man- pilot of a BBJ owner on the West Coast ager, chief pilot and maintenance chief told AIN. “The ability to have dedicated are off somewhere examining acquisition parts for the airplane [located] anywhere and operational costs, performance capa- is very important,” he said, adding that, Buyers of airliner-size business jets, like this ACJ318, “are looking to take into the air the kind of space, comfort and elegance that they have in their homes and offices,” said Airbus Corporate Jets’ David Velupillai. bility, aircraft systems and maintenance during the six years he’s been flying it, support, a company CEO or high-net- he’s never had mechanical problems with worth individual and spouse will be tak- his company’s BBJ on any trip. ing a leisurely tour through the airplane’s So it is not surprising that Airbus and elegantly appointed cabin. Although cab- Boeing also promote the reliability, lower ins are obviously important to all bizjet cost of parts and the ability to find a users, they are particularly important to maintenance facility almost anywhere in the buyers of the big jets. the world as other reasons buyers choose “Individual Airbus Corporate Jet ACJs and BBJs. buyers consider the airplane both as a tool–a way for him or her to be more pro- The First Bizliners ductive–and also as an extension of their Although configuring airliners with lifestyles,” explained David Velupillai, executive and VIP interiors goes back ACJ’s marketing director, to AIN. “They to the 1930s, Boeing was first out with are looking to take into the air the kind a dedicated airliner/business jet model, of space, comfort and elegance that they the BBJ, which created a new, bigger cat- have in their homes and offices.” egory of business aircraft. Based on the Steve Taylor, president of Boeing single-aisle 737-700 with strengthened Business Jets, echoed Velupillai. “Each wings and landing gear from the larger buyer has his or her own priorities and and heavier 737-800, the BBJ (some- preferences when it comes to purchas- times called the BBJ1) also sports Avia- ing business jets. For the BBJ buyers, it tion Partners Boeing “blended winglets,” a first for a jet bigger than a Gulfstream “It is typically the very large cabin space and comfort,” that are priorities, said Steve Taylor, president, Boeing Continued on page 44 u Business Jets, “along with the ability to custom design that space.” (Interior by Greenpoint Technologies.) BIG BUSINESS JETS www.ainonline.com Manufacturer Cabin volume Number of Maximum Max. range Normal Est. price with Variable Annual Number built & Model (cubic feet) passengers takeoff weight at long-range cruise speed, completed cost/hour fixed cost or delivered possible (pounds) cruise speed 35,000 feet interior (millions) (with full fuel, (nautical miles) (knots) (millions) including in optional tanks) Embraer 4,085 6 120,152 4,487 450 $53.0 $6,432 $0.958 10+ Lineage 1000 Airbus 5,900 8 168,650 6,332 461 $87.0 $7,526 $1.054 71 ACJ319-113 Boeing BBJ 5,390 23 171,000 6,072 461 $71.4 $7,588 $1.053 114 737-700IGW Note: All models configured with all available optional fuel tanks. Maximum range is based on max fuel with all optional fuel tanks, two pilots, long-range cruise speed, optimum altitude (ISA) and the NBAA IFR alternate fuel-reserve (200 nautical miles) calculation. “Green” price is without completed interior. It’s easy to understand the appeal of sleeping in real Cost of completed interior is highly variable; best estimate given. bed such as this one on a BBJ. Source: Conklin & de Decker, Orleans, Mass. © 2013 AIN Publications. All Rights Reserved. For Reprints go to 42 NBAA Convention News • October 22, 2013 • www.ainonline.com Cabin Size is king uContinued from page 42 one 767 BBJ. Governments and corpora- between the biggest traditional bizjets and which bought one of the early BBJs, III. (Aviation Partners Boeing is a joint tions “like these planes mainly because they the smallest of the bizliners, all of which “likes to do his work and then retire to venture of Boeing and winglet manu- can accommodate large delegations,” he are derived from single-aisle airliners. his cabin where he feels like he’s at home,” facturer Aviation Partners, created to said. “The third group looks mainly to have said his chief pilot. “He can sleep in com- outfit Boeing jets with blended winglet a VIP interior, and their aircraft is more a Size Is Relative fort in his own bed and arrive in the Mid- technology.) Boeing launched its BBJ flying apartment.” He added that most pri- “Smallest” in this context is rela- dle East fully rested and ready to do program in 1996 and displayed a fully vate owners “also have a traditional busi- tive. In a two-class United Airlines 737- business.” completed Boeing Business Jet, including ness jet, for trips when they fly alone or 700 or A319, for example, you’ll struggle “More and more prestigious design- executive interior and the now-ubiqui- with four to six passengers.” for elbowroom among 120 other pas- ers are hired to give a unique touch to tous (on Boeing aircraft) Aviation Part- While the largest, “traditional” busi- sengers. The largest bizliners, which are the cabin,” Comlux’s Gaona said. These ners winglets, at the 2000 Farnborough ness jets–the Gulfstream G650 and Bom- derived from twin-aisle airliners, are huge bespoke assignments might include airshow in England. bardier Global Express–provide about by comparison: the Airbus A380 and greatly reduced noise levels, coordinated Both Boeing and Airbus divide their 2,200 cu ft of cabin volume, the Airbus Boeing 747-8 offer, respectively, 525 and designs of crystal, porcelain, silverware, bizliner sales among governments (30 per- Corporate Jets provide from 5,300 (in the 467 seats (in three classes). VVIP versions cushions and throws and dedicated stor- cent), corporations (10 to 15 percent) and ACJ 318) to 8,547 cu ft (ACJ321). Boeing’s of these jumbo jets appeal to an elite cus- age for the owner’s watch collection. private individuals (about 60 percent and BBJs offer from 5,390 (BBJ1) to 7,290 cu tomer base, such as royal families with Yet, addressing the needs and typically billionaires), said Richard Gaona, ft (BBJ3). Brazil’s Embraer also offers substantial entourages. The U.S. presi- desires of owners while adhering to the president and CEO of Comlux The Avia- its Lineage 1000 in the big jet category, dent, for example, travels on one of two requirements of certification authori- tion Group, which operates five ACJs and although with a 4,000-cu-ft cabin it falls highly modified Boeing 747-200Bs, which ties is not easy. “The reality of cabin can carry 366 passengers in three classes. interior design may not strictly follow Still, 5,300 cu ft of cabin space in the the adage, ‘form follows function,’” BBJ1 and ACJ319 gives a lot of room explained Elisabeth Harvey in a pro- for eight to 18 passengers to experience a motional book about the Jet Aviation really comfortable ride. It’s easy to under- Design Studio, which she heads. “[It] is stand why cabin comfort is a high priority more likely to be functional form fol- for anyone who can travel in a business jet lows adaptation to limitations.” of this size. The usual bizliner crew comprises “Elegant” and “classy” are common two pilots (three for long international descriptors of ACJ and BBJ interiors, flights) and one or two flight attendants. which typically include a meeting/dining The West Coast company’s BBJ is, for area, a stateroom/bedroom with a master example, fitted with 19 seats, but mostly lavatory and maybe a shower, a full gal- carries only four passengers in the cabin ley, another lav for other passengers and and no flight attendant. “They are peo- ´ E crew and an enclosed, closet-size crew- ple who like to take care of themselves,” rest seat. “The size of the cabin and hav- the chief pilot said. ing a layout that has dedicated sections The Fortune 500 company’s BBJ also where you can work or relax without con- typically flies with three to four passen- m COMPANY / H. GOUSm COMPANY verting part of the airplane in flight [such gers, although sometimes as many as 15; x e as seats to beds, as one does in a “tradi- it carries two aircraft mechanics, who Typical ACJ and BBJ interiors offer a meeting/dining area, a stateroom/bedroom with a master bath, a full tional” business jet] are significant for double as flight attendants, according to galley, another lav for other passengers and crew and sometimes an enclosed crew rest seat.