Curious Question about Widebody BBJs and ACJs
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Joined: Sep 2025
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From: USA
Curious Question about Widebody BBJs and ACJs
Had posted this on Reddit, but figure folks would be more knowledgable here.
What are the logistics like for someone who has something massive like a ACJ350 (don't believe any have actually been sold yet), 787 BBJ, or 747 BBJ? Obviously, they'd be a billionaire, so I'm talking about the logistics for their team and FBOs.
If money was no object, are those aircraft that you can take into a large commercial airport on the same kind of notice that you would a regular ACJ, BBJ, Global, or Gulfstream?
Or do FBOs require days or weeks to be able to have the equipment on hand capable to push/service an aircraft of that size?
Do regular ACJs and BBJs face an obstacles because of their weight? Same question for the larger globals and gulfstreams?
Thanks in advance, just trying to satisfy a curiosity hahah!
What are the logistics like for someone who has something massive like a ACJ350 (don't believe any have actually been sold yet), 787 BBJ, or 747 BBJ? Obviously, they'd be a billionaire, so I'm talking about the logistics for their team and FBOs.
If money was no object, are those aircraft that you can take into a large commercial airport on the same kind of notice that you would a regular ACJ, BBJ, Global, or Gulfstream?
Or do FBOs require days or weeks to be able to have the equipment on hand capable to push/service an aircraft of that size?
Do regular ACJs and BBJs face an obstacles because of their weight? Same question for the larger globals and gulfstreams?
Thanks in advance, just trying to satisfy a curiosity hahah!
Joined: Sep 2009
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
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From: N.YORKSHIRE
Had posted this on Reddit, but figure folks would be more knowledgable here.
What are the logistics like for someone who has something massive like a ACJ350 (don't believe any have actually been sold yet), 787 BBJ, or 747 BBJ? Obviously, they'd be a billionaire, so I'm talking about the logistics for their team and FBOs.
If money was no object, are those aircraft that you can take into a large commercial airport on the same kind of notice that you would a regular ACJ, BBJ, Global, or Gulfstream?
Or do FBOs require days or weeks to be able to have the equipment on hand capable to push/service an aircraft of that size?
Do regular ACJs and BBJs face an obstacles because of their weight? Same question for the larger globals and gulfstreams?
Thanks in advance, just trying to satisfy a curiosity hahah!
What are the logistics like for someone who has something massive like a ACJ350 (don't believe any have actually been sold yet), 787 BBJ, or 747 BBJ? Obviously, they'd be a billionaire, so I'm talking about the logistics for their team and FBOs.
If money was no object, are those aircraft that you can take into a large commercial airport on the same kind of notice that you would a regular ACJ, BBJ, Global, or Gulfstream?
Or do FBOs require days or weeks to be able to have the equipment on hand capable to push/service an aircraft of that size?
Do regular ACJs and BBJs face an obstacles because of their weight? Same question for the larger globals and gulfstreams?
Thanks in advance, just trying to satisfy a curiosity hahah!
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Last edited by Flyingmac; 1st October 2025 at 06:47.
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: UK
Private airliners operate in exactly the same way as their commercial cousins.Provided the runway is long enough and the pavement strong enough to support the aircraft their ops teams would simply request handling from whoever they wanted to attend the aircraft. In the case of a jet that can't self support stairs or ground power etc then the agents might have to source them temporarily (at a cost) but otherwise so long as the airport supports the type, there is no restriction where you can take it.
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: UK
I'll bite. What's a BBJ/ACJ?
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Surrey, UK ;
You may be physically able to take a big private jet into an airport, but finding one with the capacity, both in terms of slots and parking is another matter. There is another post running (when is it all going to go very quiet) where it is quite clear that many major airports don't accept fuel or weather diversions for much the same reasons, unless they declare an emergency.
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: near an aeroplane
There is quite a team of people behind the operation of such a large jet. If the owner expresses a wish to go somewhere that they have not been to before, minions start burning up the phone lines (and/or the internet) to arrange the needed facilities. If the airport is sized to accept an airliner of that size, the odds are that fuel, a tow truck, stairs and the other needed appliances are somewhere in the vicinity. If not, they will need to be sourced. As for how long that takes... I don't think there is an answer to that question. The team will know where they can go, where they have contacts, and how to word the message to the owner that the holiday will need to be delayed by a couple of days due to unavailability of facilities.
