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Month: December 2022

Condé Nast Traveller announces the winners of the Gold List 2023

Condé Nast Traveller has announced the winners of the Gold List 2023, an annual list of the world’s best hotels, resorts and cruises. Condé Nast Traveller is the world’s most distinguished travel title providing inspiration and advice for discerning travellers. Authoritative and influential, Condé Nast Traveller features destinations in the UK and around the world, whilst offering their award-winning expertise in luxury travel.

The list is made up of travel getaways ranging from the Amansara in Cambodia, Babylonstoren, a farmstead situated in the Western Cape, to 1 Hotel South Beach in Miami and The Mark Hotel in New York City. The list is curated by Condé Nast Traveller’s award-winning editorial team under Global Editorial Director Divia Thani and Deputy Global Editorial Director Jesse Ashlock.

“The Gold List 2023 marks the second time that our editors around the world – from California to Mumbai to London – have come together to spotlight some of the most sophisticated, innovative and extraordinary resorts and experiences around the world. The list is designed to showcase the places our global network of editors feel most passionately about, and it will surely ignite the wanderlust among our audiences–the world’s most discerning travellers, who are still making up for lost time.” Global Editorial Director, Divia Thani.

The Global Gold List 2023
La Mamounia Marrakech, Morocco
Babylonstoren Simondium, South Africa
Singita Kwitonda Lodge Musanze, Rwanda
Jabali Ridge Ruaha, Tanzania
The Datai Langkawi Malaysia
Ceylon Tea Trails Hatton, Sri Lanka
Oberoi Udaivilas Udaipur, India
The Leela Palace Bengaluru India
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand
Hoshinoya Kyoto Japan
Raffles Singapore
The Chedi Muscat Oman
One&Only Royal Mirage Dubai, UAE
Nihi Sumba Indonesia
Amansara Siem Reap, Cambodia
The Upper House Hong Kong
Six Senses Punakha Bhutan
The Jaffa Tel Aviv, Israel
Lake Hawea Station New Zealand
PumpHouse Point Tasmania, Australia
Ocean House Rhode Island, USA
The Mark New York, USA
Malibu Beach Inn California, USA
1 Hotel South Beach Florida, USA
Commodore Perry Estate Texas, USA
Halekulani Hotel Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
Cheval Blanc St-Barth St Barts, Caribbean
Jumby Bay Island Antigua
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort Vancouver Island, Canada
Hotel Esencia Xpu-Ha, Mexico
Tierra Patagonia Chile
Uxua Casa Bahia, Brazil
Jardin Escondido Buenos Aires, Argentina
Kinloch Lodge Isle of Skye, UK
The Savoy London, UK
The Goring London, UK
The Newt in Somerset, UK
Marbella Club Málaga, Spain
Santo Mauro Madrid, Spain
El Palace Barcelona Spain
Belmond Cipriani Hotel Venice, Italy
Belmond Caruso Hotel Ravello, Italy
Grand Hotel Tremezzo Como, Italy
Villa Igiea Palermo, Italy
São Lourenço do Barrocal Alentejo, Portugal
Hôtel de Crillon Paris, France
Le Meurice Paris, France
Hôtel du Palais Biarritz, France
Beau-Rivage Palace Lausanne, Switzerland
Deplar Farm Iceland
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam The Netherlands
Four Seasons Sultanahmet Istanbul, Turkey
Santa Marina Mykonos, Greece
Kyrimai Mani, Greece
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort South Carolina, USA
NoMad Las Vegas USA
Jumeirah Al Qasr Dubai, UAE

 

Our Favourite Events and Destinations for 2023 – Starting with Coachella Music Festival!

We want to start sharing with you some exciting ideas for 2023 excursions.

Why not fly into Palm Springs, California for the famous Coachella Music Festival, 14th – 23rd April 2023?

Nestled between the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains and Joshua Tree National Park on either side, the Coachella Valley is a very special place and well worth a visit!

Let Sentinel Aviation help you get there.

Our private charter team will ensure a seamless door-to-door service, meticulously planned and overseen from inception until well after landing. Sentinel Aviation delivers a superior, discreet and above all else, safe aircraft charter and management experience for its private clients. All clients are treated as individuals and provided with a seamless, door to door and all-encompassing private charter service. Every charter is meticulously planned and overseen from inception until well after landing. Sentinel also provides an exceptional, trusted, proven and completely integrated aircraft management service from purchase, through to crewing, operation, maintenance and sales.

Get in touch now!

Where are the Super Wealthy holidaying this festive season

Wealth intelligence firm, New World Wealth – Reports

The new benchmark of being super rich and wealthy are centi-millionaires, according to The Centimillionaire Report 2022. Centi-millionaires are ultra-high-net-worth individuals who have investable assets worth over $100 million (R1.7 billion).

While this new class of wealth is known to spend a pretty sum on things that interest them such as art collecting or yachting, they also use their money to travel to various destinations that some of us can only dream of.

Here are the top 10 destinations that centi-millionaires like to visit:
1. The Hamptons, US
2. Florida (especially Palm Beach and Miami Beach), US
3. The French Riviera
4. The Italian Riviera
5. The Algarve, Portugal, particularly the Golden Triangle
6. The Rocky Mountains (especially locations like Aspen, Vail, and Jackson Hole), US
7. Lake Como, Italy
8. Several ski towns in Switzerland
9. Locations that offer wildlife safaris especially in Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda
10. Tuscany, Italy

Centi-millionaires also frequent affluent suburbs and streets that are world famous, including:
– 5th Avenue in New York City, US
– Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, US
– Atherton in Silicon Valley, US
– Pebble Beach in Monterey, US
– Belgravia in London, UK
– Knightsbridge in London, UK

The rich and wealthy are also particular about the hotels they stay in, choosing to stay at hotel brands synonymous with luxury.
The hotels are The Plaza Hotel in New York, Bellagio Resort and Casino in Las Vegas and The Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.
Other hotel brands that centi-millionaires like to frequent that are not well known include Villa d’Este in Lake Como, and Hôtel de Paris in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.

Last Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet Rolls Off the Line After More Than 50 Years

Robb Report – Reports

Boeing is finally ready to retire the iconic 747 after half a century.

The American aeroplane manufacturer finished building the 1,574th—and final—747 at its widebody factory in Everett, Washington, just north of Seattle, on Tuesday 6 December, according to a press release. The jumbo jet’s completion ends more than five decades of production of the game-changing model.

Not many aeroplanes can claim the impact that the 747 has had since going into production in 1967. It was the world’s first twin-aisle passenger aircraft, something that helped it transform global air travel after it entered service in 1970. The jet’s four engines allowed it to transport hundreds of passengers at a time on long-haul flights. The final iteration of the jet, the 747-8, measures 250.2 feet in length, making it the longest commercial aircraft currently in operation.

The 747’s quartet of engines also made it well-suited for cargo flights. Although most airlines have stopped using the plane for commercial flights, it’s still popular with shipping companies. The final example to roll off the line was a 747-8 freighter. which can carry a payload of 133.1 tonnes—the last of four purchased by cargo carrier Atlas Air earlier this year. The plane has also served as the basis for several government and military planes, including the current Air Force One.

“For more than half a century, tens of thousands of dedicated Boeing employees have designed and built this magnificent plane that has truly changed the world,” Kim Smith, Boeing VP and general manager of the 747 and 767 programs, said in a statement. “We are proud that this plane will continue to fly across the globe for years to come.”

Production of the 747 may be over, but Boeing has no intention of getting out of the passenger plane game anytime soon. The company is currently building the 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner, according to CNBC. An even larger model, the 777X, is expected to be ready for customers in 2025.

Four Times Private Jets Were put to Good use

Travel Daily Media – Reports

Deborah Scott, finance director of component supply specialist Artemis Aerospace, reveals four times that private jets were put to good use.

Delivering essential medical equipment
During the pandemic, many countries lacked the medical resources and critical means to care for COVID-19 patients. Global air cargo carriers were under mounting pressure, with IATA estimating that they were oversubscribed by 30%.

To alleviate this pressure, a number of private jet companies turned their attention to supporting international COVID-19 response efforts by transporting tonnes of medical equipment, including face masks, PPE and medicines, to destinations in need of assistance. One such company was Vimana Private Jets, which delivered more than 300 tonnes of medical resources between March and July 2020.

Sending supplies to Ukraine
After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, private charter airlines aided with support efforts by delivering essential supplies to refugees, including food, clothing, toys, baby milk and nappies. Alongside this, aircraft were used to transport refugees out of war zones and away from danger to safety.

Helping patients access life-saving treatments
When patients are bedridden and need to access urgent support overseas or be repatriated, a conventional aircraft may not be suitable for their transfer. In these cases, renting a business jet is a necessity.

Unlike commercial aircraft, business jets offer the flexibility and space required for accommodating essential life-support machines and other medical equipment when transporting patients. When patients are immunocompromised, then using a private jet also helps to limit their exposure to other people and passengers, either on the ground or during the flight.

Delivering transplant organs
While transplant organs are often transported by conventional cargo planes, private jets are crucial to the transplant process when an organ’s viability outside the body is only a matter of hours long or when it needs to be delivered to a difficult-to-reach destination. Business jets offer the flexibility of quick turnaround times and are small enough to land in remote areas – essential for saving.

MEBAA Show Redefines the Future of Business Aviation

Khaleej Times – Reports

The Mebaa Show 2022 drew to a close on Thursday, with a series of key deals and announcements made over the three days, all set to drive the business aviation industry forward.

The significant event in the business aviation calendar welcomed attendees from 95 countries across the three days, with an increase in international attendees compared to the previous Mebaa Show, marking a significant moment for the global business and private aviation industry.

Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, Founding and Executive Chairman of Mebaa – the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association, said:“This has been a remarkable Mebaa show and it has been incredible to see industry leaders come together to drive real change for the future of business aviation. At Mebaa we also want to empower the future leaders, and it was fantastic to welcome students who have an interest in our sector and provide them with the platform to network with industry players and learn more about the vast opportunities available to them.”

“The business aviation industry has grown significantly in the last couple of years, not only in the Middle East region where mega events such as Dubai Expo 2020 and the Qatar World Cup have led to increased demand, but also in many key international markets. Throughout the three days, we have seen an industry transition with significant levels of innovation, technological advancement and digital transformations right across the show, along with many key deals and new announcements, all showing that this sector growth is set to continue well into the future.”

Tim Hawes, Managing Director of Tarsus Group, said:“The ninth edition of the Mebaa Show has seen a lot of innovation and positive discussion, and we look forward to seeing the impact that the show has made in the coming months and years. A key highlight for this year was the launch of the BizAv Talks conference. It was brilliant to hear industry leaders and specialists from across the globe share their insights on some of the key themes shaping the industry, including sustainability, future aviation and emerging markets, and we were proud to see all audiences really engage with these discussions.”

The brand-new BizAv Talks conference featured sessions from over 45 industry leaders throughout the show, with day three focusing on the daily theme of ‘Accelerating private aviation with collaboration’. Sessions highlighted the importance of collaboration within the business aviation ecosystem to help open up new opportunities, streamline services and tackle issues facing the sector.

A huge number of exhibitors – including many returning, along with new industry leaders – connected with internationals visitors for insightful discussions while showcasing the latest innovation, technology, aircraft and solutions.

Carlos Brana, Executive Vice President, Civil Aircraft at Dassault Aviation, also commented:“Dassault Aviation presented our popular Falcon 8X very long range trijet at this year’s Mebaa show and exhibition, where it drew a lot of interest from the many prospective buyers and operators who also visited our chalet. Middle East owners appreciate the qualities of the Falcons and we were able to discuss face to face with guests our two brand new Falcon 6X and 10X programs. Just as importantly, Mebaa Show was an opportunity to look ahead and present our expanding regional product support network, which will include the company’s ExecuJet MRO Services unit at Dubai World Central to serve business jet operators in the Gulf region, opening in early 2023. We are delighted to support such a dynamic regional business aviation industry, with Mebaa Show at its heart.”

Meanwhile, Ammar ‘Jay’ Alhussari, Founder and CEO of Prime Trip Support, said:“The Mebaa show has been a very successful show for Prime, we have been extremely busy meeting clients, partners, and forging alliances. Our team has been full throttle since day one and there are no signs of it slowing down! We are very pleased with the level of interest we have garnered here at the Mebaa show and are impressed with the excellent organization.”

The Mebaa Show 2022 was held under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group.

 

 

VistaJet partners with AEG fuels for SAF

Air International Online – Reports
The VistaJet and AEG Fuels agreement builds on the aircraft charter provider’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2025.

AEG Fuels will provide sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced by OMV to charter provider VistaJet at Vienna International Airport in Austria under an agreement announced by the companies yesterday. The agreement builds on VistaJet’s April 2021 commitment to be carbon neutral by 2025.

That commitment calls for VistaJet to replace more than 200,000 U.S. gallons of conventional jet fuel consumption with a blended SAF, which is expected to generate more than 165,000 kilograms of CO2 reduction. Other carbon reduction activities by VistaJet have included using artificial intelligence to maximize fleet optimization and working to increase the adoption of carbon offsetting among the provider’s members by more than 85 percent.

“Together as an industry we can reshape the way we conduct business,” said VistaJet founder and chairman Thomas Flohr. “At VistaJet, we are very proud of the progress we have made and we hope that others will adopt our recommendations. Businesses are rightfully being held accountable for their environmental impact and our agreement with AEG Fuels not only helps in reducing [greenhouse gas] emissions but goes hand in hand with our ongoing efforts to practice higher sustainability to protect the local communities in the countries we operate, spanning 96 percent of the world.”

Why some Middle East travellers are hooked to flying on private jets – Gulf News

Gulf News – Reports

Have travellers in the region become hooked to flying private? After a disastrous 2020-21, fueled by pandemic-triggered restrictions, the commercial aviation sector is finally posting signs of healthy recovery, according to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) recent monthly update. Most Middle East carriers have even resumed their operations to pre-pandemic levels.

However, despite supply chain and workforce challenges, the private jet aviation business, which picked up mainstream popularity mid-pandemic, continues to thrive.

And this may be because travellers who developed a taste for flying private don’t want to return to flying commercial, according to manufacturers and operators participating in the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association show, the region’s leading private business aviation event. Apart from health and safety reasons, mega events such as the Dubai Expo 2020 and the FIFA World Cup in Doha bolstered the demand for private aviation in recent times.

But, when it comes to the carbon footprint of travel, private jets are five to 14 times more polluting than commercial planes per passenger and 50 times more than high-speed rail, emitting two tonnes of CO2 in a single hour.

However, manufacturers have said they are increasingly committed to using and investing in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to offset their emissions, allowing them to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.

‘Can’t go back to flying commercial’
Carlos Brana, Senior Executive Vice President – Civil Aircraft at French manufacturer Dassault Aviation, told Gulf News: “For many businessmen, time is money.” Brana explained, “Once people experience the comforts of flying private, it is tough to return to flying commercial. The services are tailored to the needs of the passenger.”

He added: “You can complete long-duration flights in a short time. For example, private flying allows you to complete that journey in two days if you want to travel from Dubai – Jeddah – Qatar. That is not possible with commercials.”

The company exhibited its popular Falcon 8X at MEBAA. Large cabin Falcons like the 6,450 nm/11,945 km Falcon 8X make up a third of the 75 Falcons operating in the region. Brana explained how the company offsets its emissions: “We blend 30 per cent of SAF in all our flights. While we can electrify some systems, the engines still need traditional aircraft fuel.”

Boeing, the world’s biggest private jet manufacturer, said at least 820 Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) are in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Since its launch in 1996, BBJ has delivered 240 jets on 262 orders.

BBJ Marketing Director Alex Fecteau said: “A lot of people did move from First and Business class in commercial to private post-pandemic. Once you experience a BBJ, you go through a private airport and enjoy a five-star experience, and it is hard to go back.” Fecteau said in this region, travellers prefer large aircraft since they travel in large groups.”

What’s causing this shift?
With about 4,000 millionaires moving to Dubai yearly, demand and opportunities for business aircraft continue to grow. Two mega events – Dubai Expo 2022 and the FIFA World Cup in Doha – bolstered the demand for private flying in the region. Paul James, the Director of Sales and Aircraft Management at DC Aviation, said: “There’s also the option for shared charters. So, for events like the FIFA World Cup, we have seen a group of friends, for example, charter a flight to go check out the games.”

Rajgopal Nair, Director of Bluedot Charters and Air Ambulance Service Company, said: “We have witnessed exponential increase post-pandemic where the demand for private charter travel has increased to 200 per cent in 2022 alone. While some of it is FIFA driven, many premium and corporate travellers prefer this mode of travel for privacy, convenience and health safety point of view.”

Nair said: “Currently, at two flights daily, double what was witnessed pre-FIFA, with the increased demand, we have had to add aircraft to our fleet to meet holiday season and FIFA-led travel demands.”

Falcon Aviation Services upgrades its helicopter fleet with five Airbus H130s

Vertical Magazine – Reports​

Under the terms of a deal signed at the MEBAA 2022 show, Falcon Aviation Services will accept the helicopters over the next year for renewal of its fleet used intensively for Falcon Tours sightseeing helicopter flights.

The COO of Falcon Aviation Services, Capt. Ramandeep Oberoi said: “We are very pleased to add five brand new H130s into our fleet for our helicopter sightseeing tours operations. This will further our presence in the market and help us double this business in the coming years both in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.”

Airbus Helicopters Head of Africa Middle East, Arnaud Montalvo, said: “We’re delighted to receive this important vote of confidence from a highly professional operator which already has long experience with our helicopters.”

The good looking H130 is an intermediate single-engine helicopter with a spacious cabin for one pilot and up to seven passengers which is popular with pilots who love its sporty and safe flying qualities.

It is the quietest helicopter on the market in its category, helped by Airbus’ Fenestron shrouded tail rotor and automatic variable rotor speed control which make it a friendly neighbor in cities with a noise signature 6 dB below international ICAO limits.

The H130’s simple design, use of composite materials and the experience drawn from Airbus’ mature Ecureuil family contribute to reduced maintenance costs and high availability.

Located at Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen Executive Airport and Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport, Falcon Aviation Services provides a wide range of operational and aviation support services, which include oil and gas aviation support, maintenance repair & overhaul (MRO), bespoke business jet charters services and helicopter sightseeing tours, fixed base operator (FBO), aircraft management services and continuing airworthiness management (CAMO), heliport management and Inspection, among others.

Overall Aircraft Charter Rates Swing Higher in November

Aviation International News – Reports

On-demand, average hourly charter rates moved lower for light and heavy jets, but were higher for turboprops and midsize and super-midsize jets between October and November, according to private aviation charter marketplace JetASAP. Based on 1,983 quotes fliers received through the JetASAP app, fliers saw an overall 4.5 percent increase in hourly rates.

Specifically, light jet hourly rates fell 3 percent to $6,812 while heavy jets edged slightly lower by 0.3 percent to $13,916. However, rates for turboprops climbed 12 percent to $3,839, followed by a 9 percent increase for super-midsize jets to $11,723. Midsize jet rates increased 5 percent to $8,215.

“During the month of November our clients received an average of 7 quotes per trip request, which is a strong sign the industry is getting back to normal after unprecedented demand last year,” said JetASAP founder and CEO Lisa Kiefer Sayer. “Even with the rate increase in pricing as we expected, we are seeing great quotes come through the app.”

Gulfstream G700 Arrives for MEBAA Debut on World Tour

Aviation International News – Reports

Gulfstream Aerospace (Static A12) is showcasing the five-cabin-zone G700, the U.S. company’s forthcoming ultra-long-range flagship, this week at MEBAA 2022 in the model’s debut appearance in Dubai. Boasting what Gulfstream claims would be the tallest (6 feet 3 inches; 1.90 meters) and widest (8 feet 2 inches; 2.49 meters) cabin in a purpose-built business jet, the 7,500-nm G700 is expected to enter service in mid-2023.

The G700 on display features a corporate-configured cabin along with what Gulf-
stream terms an “ultra-galley” with more than 10 feet of counter space; a grand suite with fixed bed and bright, spacious lavatory with shower; circadian lighting system; and new seat design. “It really shows the flexibility of the design that our team has created,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns.

The twinjet arrived in Dubai during a world tour aimed at demonstrating the precocious maturity of the aircraft model, which has been in flight testing since early 2020. Gulfstream’s G700 tour began following the aircraft’s NBAA-BACE debut in Orlando, Florida, in October and includes some 20 cities on six continents, with visits to Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, for the Future Investment Initiative and Bahrain for the Bahrain International Airshow already in the logbook.

With a Mach 0.85 long-range cruise speed and Mach 0.90 high-speed cruise, the G700 set eight international city-pair speed records during flight tests and established another on this tour for a flight from Istanbul to Van Don, Vietnam, where the model had its Asia-Pacific debut last month at an event hosted by the Gulfstream sales representative Sun Air.

“Vietnam and Southeast Asia are strong developing markets for Gulfstream,” said Burns, adding that the company is “bolstering resources to support customers there, including field service coverage from Gulfstream customer support and the Gulfstream FAST field and airborne support teams.”

Gulfstream is also enhancing support for customers in Africa, recently announcing plans for an authorized warranty facility in partnership with ExecuJet Aviation Nigeria in Lagos to provide spare parts and warranty and maintenance service for the G450, G550, and G650/650ER. The 275,000-sq-ft (25,548-sq-m) facility will include an international departure/arrival terminal, FBO, and maintenance operations.

Following MEBAA, the G700 world tour will resume on a route that will cross Europe, Africa, Australia, and South America.

The G700 inherits the flagship mantle from Gulfstream’s best-selling G650/650ER, but with a longer fuselage. Next up is its longer-range (8,000 nm) sibling, the G800 with the same fuselage as the G650, and this will follow the G700 into service within six months. But certification of both was delayed due to new FAA software validation requirements for the digital flight control system.

Phebe Novakovic, chairman and CEO of Gulfstream parent General Dynamics, said in late October the company believes that “we will certify [the G700] this upcoming summer, but much depends on available FAA resources.

“When we give you sort of our best guess on when the certification is, that’s a result of a lot of things that we control and that we can talk about with certainty,” she said, “but ultimately, this is an FAA issue, and it’s the availability of their resources, and they are the regulator and they’re going to control it.”

The FAA started the type inspection authorization process for the validation in early October. Novakovic noted the company and regulators have “cooperated very well,” that the software system makes this “the most mature aircraft to enter the FAA certification process,” and internal testing preceding the FAA review revealed no issues that would delay approval.

Meanwhile, Gulfstream is also developing the G400, introduced last October as “the first new entrant to the large-cabin class in more than a decade,” according to the company. Expected to enter service in 2025, performance specs call for a range of 4,200 nm at Mach 0.85 or 3,950 nm at high-speed cruise of Mach 0.88. First flight is scheduled for early next year.

A member of the previously introduced G500/G600 family, the G400 shares its larger siblings’ high-speed wing and winglets, Pratt & Whitney Canada 800GA-series engines, Symmetry flight deck with fly-by-wire controls and BAE active sidesticks, and fuselage cross sections (6 feet 2 inches high by 7 feet 7 inches wide).

While the G500 and G600 are follow-ons, respectively, to the G450 and G550, the G400 fills a slot in the Gulfstream lineup as a slightly larger, more advanced alternative to the super-midsize G280, “conceived and designed with direct customer input,” according to the company. It offers what Gulfstream calls “long-range, high-speed performance; cabin comfort; and environmental efficiency unrivaled in its class,” along with a 30 percent gain in fuel efficiency over the G450.

All you need to know about de-icing your private jet

The annual panic in the UK begins, as a little bit of cold weather approaches. Are your clients educated in the whys and wherefores of aircraft de-icing and anti-icing when it comes to private jet charter?

Here are 10 points for clients to consider (less Point 10) when it comes to cold weather operations:

1. All aircrew undergo annual cold weather operations training both online and practically in the simulator. If clients are concerned about ice/snow on the aircraft, we urge them always to speak to the aircrew. There’s no silly questions when it comes to cold weather operations in aviation.

2. De-icing/Anti-icing is never normally included in a charter quote, it’s an extra and charged after the event. Depending upon weather conditions, aircraft might only require de-icing.

3. De-icing is the removal of any frozen or semi frozen moisture from critical external surfaces of an aircraft on the ground prior to flight.

4. Anti-icing is the protection of those surfaces from any frozen or semi frozen moisture for the period between treatment and becoming airborne. The fluid is anyone of 4 types applied depending upon weather conditions.

5. Larger aircraft operators offer “de-icing” insurance in some shape or form. A good Charter Broker will look at the weather forecast ahead to assist you with your decision making.

6. De-icing and Anti-Icing are invoiced according to amount of fluid and type of fluid used in litres. The bigger the aircraft the bigger the bill and it can run into thousands of Euros.

7. Airport operations slow up during cold weather operations. De-icing and Anti-icing have a “hold-over” time – ie; the time between completion of de-icing and anti-icing, and the time by which the aircraft must be airborne.

8. If an aircraft is not airborne by the end of the “hold-over” time, the aircraft must return to the de-icing apron to be completely de-iced and anti-iced again – an additional expense for charter clients. Now let’s talk about that de-icing insurance again….

9. Aircraft generally cannot use their in-built anti-icing systems to de-ice themselves on the ground, it can only be used for airborne pro-active anti-icing operations, and can only normally be turned on just prior to thrust increase for take off.

10. The callsign of the de-icing team at Vienna’s Schwechat airport is “Iceman” – True.

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