Wirraway
10th Feb 2005, 14:26
Fri "The Australian"
Here's one for the high flyers
Steve Creedy
February 11, 2005
EAT your heart out, John Howard - this is what luxury flying is all about. The only Boeing Business Jet available for charter in the Asia-Pacific was in Sydney this week, touting for business.
The luxuriously appointed jet, based in Guam, is the same kind of plane as the PM's VIP aircraft.
But while Australia's BBJ is a utilitarian workhorse, everything in the visiting 737-based jet screams money and comfort.
For the fortunate few, there are plush lounge seats, a generous board table, a well-appointed office and a comfortable bedroom with ensuite and shower.
The aircraft is operator Sharejet's second BBJ and one of just 10 similarly appointed planes worldwide.
It replaces an original BBJ acquired as part of a deal with Japanese company Sojitz to introduce the aircraft into the region.
"The difficulty in Japan was there was no-one to operate it, there was a total lack of corporate pilots and no management," Sharejet president Terry Habeck says.
"So they came to us and together we formed Sharejet to lease this aircraft and introduce it into the market."
The lack of Japanese expertise and the prohibitive cost of facilities there prompted the company to headquarter its operations in Guam.
The move also allowed Sharejet's fleet to maintain US registration, but Habeck says the need for good facilities was a prime motivation.
"We believe in hangaring airplanes," Habeck says. "Hangaring a Boeing is a very difficult thing and there's not a lot of hangars where you can do that.
"Our hangar there is air-conditioned - we maintain a ... different level of maintenance and corrosion resistance than the airlines."
While there are not enough customers for the BBJ in Japan, Korea or Australia, collectively the region can generate enough business to keep the big plane employed.
So far it has been used by companies, individuals, governments and royalty.
The service is pitched at time-poor executives wanting to juggle busy schedules and improve productivity.
In one instance, a company chartered it to negotiate a takeover, taking advantage of the onboard conferencing and communications facilities while en route.
It has also been chartered to take customers from Japan to dinner in Europe.
"We'll do about 140-150 hours this month which, for corporate and charter, is high," says Habeck.
Habeck says he has had charters into Australia and several queries from interested parties here.
"We're very interested in coming to Australia because there are a lot of the light and mid-sized aircraft available for charter but there currently isn't a lot of the long-range aircraft available," he says.
"And certainly not in this league - the airplane is the only BBJ available for charter in Asia and the Pacific rim."
===========================================
Here's one for the high flyers
Steve Creedy
February 11, 2005
EAT your heart out, John Howard - this is what luxury flying is all about. The only Boeing Business Jet available for charter in the Asia-Pacific was in Sydney this week, touting for business.
The luxuriously appointed jet, based in Guam, is the same kind of plane as the PM's VIP aircraft.
But while Australia's BBJ is a utilitarian workhorse, everything in the visiting 737-based jet screams money and comfort.
For the fortunate few, there are plush lounge seats, a generous board table, a well-appointed office and a comfortable bedroom with ensuite and shower.
The aircraft is operator Sharejet's second BBJ and one of just 10 similarly appointed planes worldwide.
It replaces an original BBJ acquired as part of a deal with Japanese company Sojitz to introduce the aircraft into the region.
"The difficulty in Japan was there was no-one to operate it, there was a total lack of corporate pilots and no management," Sharejet president Terry Habeck says.
"So they came to us and together we formed Sharejet to lease this aircraft and introduce it into the market."
The lack of Japanese expertise and the prohibitive cost of facilities there prompted the company to headquarter its operations in Guam.
The move also allowed Sharejet's fleet to maintain US registration, but Habeck says the need for good facilities was a prime motivation.
"We believe in hangaring airplanes," Habeck says. "Hangaring a Boeing is a very difficult thing and there's not a lot of hangars where you can do that.
"Our hangar there is air-conditioned - we maintain a ... different level of maintenance and corrosion resistance than the airlines."
While there are not enough customers for the BBJ in Japan, Korea or Australia, collectively the region can generate enough business to keep the big plane employed.
So far it has been used by companies, individuals, governments and royalty.
The service is pitched at time-poor executives wanting to juggle busy schedules and improve productivity.
In one instance, a company chartered it to negotiate a takeover, taking advantage of the onboard conferencing and communications facilities while en route.
It has also been chartered to take customers from Japan to dinner in Europe.
"We'll do about 140-150 hours this month which, for corporate and charter, is high," says Habeck.
Habeck says he has had charters into Australia and several queries from interested parties here.
"We're very interested in coming to Australia because there are a lot of the light and mid-sized aircraft available for charter but there currently isn't a lot of the long-range aircraft available," he says.
"And certainly not in this league - the airplane is the only BBJ available for charter in Asia and the Pacific rim."
===========================================