Private Jet Charter News

Crew on wayward jet said that they lost track of time while using personal laptops in the cockpit

I purposely waited to blog about Northwest Flight 188 overflying it’s destination until more information had come to light, but now that the NTSB has announced some details of their investigation, I wish to comment.  I’m not 100% sure I believe the laptop story.  I’m a pilot and can tell you from experience that despite conversations in the cockpit, navigating the aircraft, and other distractions inside or outside of the airplane, when ATC calls your tail or flight number, your attention is immediately refocused.  It is rare that ATC would have to call the aircraft more than twice to get the pilot’s attention.  Listen to the ATC feeds found here for an hour and count how many times the controller has to repeat an instruction more than twice – it almost never happens!  I find it hard to believe that both pilots could have been so engrossed as to have missed over an hour’s worth of radio calls and communication requests.
 
Flying any aircraft is complex and is surrounded by inherent risks.  Obviously as the aircraft becomes more sophisticated the potential of a systems breakdown increases.  At 500mph and 35000’ it would only take a few seconds of distraction during a critical period to miss the opportunity to keep the aircraft from entering an unsafe situation.  The outcome of this story could have been much worse.  Imagine if their distraction lasted longer, and the jet ran out of fuel.  Or if there had been severe weather such as the Air France jet from Brazil experienced a few months back.  Imagine how differently the “Miracle on the Hudson” might have ended if Capt. Sullenberger and First Officer Skiles were not ready to immediately analyze the situation, communicate the problem, and quickly determine the best resolution for a successful ditching.  If they had to spend any extra time bringing their focus back to the cockpit to regain situational awareness, hundreds of people might have died.  The airline industry, FAA, DOT, and NTSB do a great job of monitoring, self-monitoring, training, and reacting to help increase passenger safety.

I believe that FAA acted appropriately in this situation by revoking the licenses of two pilots who demonstrated a total deriliction of their duties to their passengers. 

Manufacturer of new anti-jet-lag drug sponsors private jet trip

Pharmaceutical companies are always looking for two things - people to participate in their clinical trials and new ways to market their products. It appears as though the manufacturers of a new medication to treat jet-lag may have accomplished both by treating participants to a free Gulfstream private jet ride to Paris. Cephalon, an international biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of many unique products including central nervous system disorders makes a drug called Nuvigil. Ads started appearing over the summer in New York newspapers with the following question: Want to fly to France and get paid $2,500 for your trouble? The testing included 3 days in Paris for a study on the effects of jet lag. The only catch was that you don’t get to see the sights of Paris. Recently, a dozen strangers were jetted to Paris in a private Gulfstream jet. Once at a Paris testing facility participants were given Armodafinil. Their alertness and other functions were measured repeatedly during the three-day stay. Participants had a great time and enjoyed their cross-continental jet travel.  I’d have to think that a free, pampered flight in a luxurious Gulfstream Jet might tend to skew the results a bit, though.

Surface/Extension Enhances Performance & Safety

Well-heeled skiers take note, the $40M runway resurfacing and extension project has been completed, just in time for the 2010 ski season.  Beaver Creek chefs brought freshly-baked cookies to welcome the first flights touching down after the summer-long closure.  The new runway will allow most midsized charter jets such as the Hawker 800/1000, Lear 60, and Citation Excel to now travel non-stop back to New York and South Florida.  So, when arranging your private jet to Aspen this year, remember to ask about all of your aircraft options.  Unfortunately though, you’ve already missed out on the cookies.