What Is The Difference Between Charter Plane And Commercial Plane?
When you are looking for a faster, more efficient way to handle flying, you need to know what a charter plane is. A charter plane is significantly different than a commercial plane. If you want to get the most out of your flying experience, you need to understand what the differences between a charter plane and a commercial plane actually are.
A commercial plane is restricted to a schedule and is owned by a commercial company. This means that you have to adhere to the schedule that they fly to. This can not only affect your travel plans, but also your business plans. A charter plane is owned by a private company.
These companies will be contacted by a private person and instructed with regard to the destination to which that person wishes to fly. The airplane will therefore only operate on the day that it is booked for and fly to the desired destination. This will give you the advantage if you need to get somewhere quickly or if you have an emergency situation that requires immediate attention.
Private planes and companies provide you with a fantastic service that commercial airlines cannot offer you. If you are in a hurry and need to get to a destination quickly, you can call on a charter plane taxi. Just like a taxi you would hail on the side of the road, this service is now available in the sky.
Some airplanes for rent provide this fantastic service – all that you need to do is give them a phone call and they will provide you with a plane to take you to and from your destination in a timely fashion.
You can enjoy a far more personal experience when using a charter plane. Commercial flights are designed so as to take as many people as possible to their destinations. This often means a lack of space and, of course, seats that are really only suitable for small children. When looking for a more private flying experience, you need to choose a rental plane. Instead of being forced to climb over people and getting squashed in your tiny seat, you can enjoy a spacious charter plane.
A charter plane is smaller than a commercial plane which means that there are less seats. Subsequently, you can sit back and relax in a spacious environment while being attended to by your very own air hostess. Rental planes also fly to destinations that commercial planes cannot get to. This is due to the fact that a rental plane is significantly smaller than a commercial plane and can easily land on a smaller landing strip.
Whether you choose to fly on a commercial plane or a private plane is up to you. Ultimately, you will experience a much more private and individualized service on a charter plane than on a commercial plane. A private plane is the only way to fly in style, with speed and convenience.
Knowing the Relevance Of Fixed Base Operators On Commercial Airports
For the uninitiated, FBO stands for Fixed Base Operator – a term that’s extremely relevant in both the general and commercial aviation sectors. The aviation industry is propelled by a number of companies and service providers, many of which are focused on helping different parties with vested interests.
FBO basically cater to the needs of general aviation, and depending on their profile, they may work with commercial carriers and other individual companies that require on-airport services. In this post, we will talk about FBOs and how their services are important and pertinent for the sector.
The need for FBO
It is very hard to generalize the scope of work done by Fixed Base Operators, primary because their roles at different airports can vary tremendously. They are, however, extremely important to the aviation customers they serve. As mentioned, an FBO may choose to work with a regular commercial airline, or they might be involved in airport maintenance as approved by the airport sponsor along with the overseeing regulatory authority.
FBOs are important because they provide a critical service, the supply of aviation fuels, at the airports they serve. Their services help in maintaining standards and services at an airport, and they can serve commercial carriers as well as the general aviation public.
Many FBOs are described as full service, meaning they provide additional services such as Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and Aircraft Charter and Management (ACM) in addition to the core FBO services of aircraft handling, fueling and hangaring. It largely depends on the nature of the airport and local demand for services.
Things to expect
FBOs serve in different roles. Almost all FBOs provide the core line services of aircraft handling, fueling and hangaring. Most also provide facilities with amenities for the flying public and flight crews, including general aviation terminals with customer service desks and seating areas, flight planning and pilot lounges and rest areas, and other amenities.
When it comes to commercial services, FBOs at many regional airports will provide commercial handling and fueling where there is not enough commercial service to rise to the level of a stand-alone third party provider. Although somewhat less frequent, FBO personnel can also provide some above wing services such as passenger ticketing, check in and gate agent services.
Working with a FBO
If you are an airport sponsor or someone who needs assistance with airport businesses, you should be careful about how you choose the best FBO management service. Expertise and experience matter the most in this sector, given that the cost of operations is getting higher as demand for higher service levels and better facilities continues to increase.
You need a team that knows your business goals and can offer dedicated assistance with complex aviation logistics. As a prospective client, you should carefully diligence their experience and capabilities, and you should always be able to contact their references.
FBOs are great at overcoming operational challenges, but working with the right service provider who understands your needs and meets your expectations is critical. Check online now to find the best FBOs in business.
Commercial Pilot – Why The Fat And Generous Pay?
It is almost irresistibly attractive – you get to wear a gorgeous white-clad uniform, you are regarded highly in the eyes of the public, you only need to make a few flights per day, and you get to enjoy a fat and generous salary on your payday. Yes, these are just some of the advantages of being a commercial pilot.
As such, a lot of people aspire to be one. The American Airlines for example pay rookie pilots a salary of 31,000 USD. The pay can go up to as much as 123,000 USD for experienced pilots (10th year in service). Delta and UPS reportedly pay their experienced pilots a salary of more than 200,000 USD.
It is definitely not easy to ignore those numbers. And getting to fly something like an Airbus Jumbo Commercial Plane is like a childhood dream come true. But why exactly are pilots paid premium? Here are some of the reasons:
Education Cost
Needless to say, the education attainment requirement for pilots is high. Especially for pilots that fly commercial planes, they are usually required to have at least taken advanced mathematics subjects. Aeronautical engineers usually have an advantage.
And while it is true that those with only an associate’s degree or GED equivalent may be qualified as a pilot, most top brass airlines nowadays prefer those that have a 4-year bachelor’s degree. If you have a 4-year bachelor’s degree with a strong background in mathematics (engineering, physics, etc.), you can say that you have an advantage.
Flight Training Cost
This is what really turns down most aspiring pilots – flight training courses cost a lot! You have to rent the plane, pay the instructor, and provide other peripherals required. Most families cannot afford to send their children to flight training schools.
Another problem is the number of training hours required – aspiring pilots are required to have at least taken 250 hours of flight time. And this is surely going to cost a lot. With such a costly training, it is only natural commercial pilots are paid well.
Life Risk
A 2011 statistics shows a fatality rate of about 1 for every 1.6 million flights. This is relatively low compared to the previous decades. And most people only have to face that risk once in a while. But for a pilot, he / she has to face that risk almost every day.
And the risk is relatively higher when the plane takes off during a weather depression. It is also partly because of this risk that commercial pilots are paid better than most other white collar jobs.
Additional Skills Required
In some instances, a pilot is not only required to possess advanced mathematical knowledge and skillful piloting skills. Many airlines nowadays require their pilots to learn additional skills which may include among others the following: communication skills, fluency in several languages, proper etiquette, and such.
This is in order to improve customer relations. Passengers typically feel more at ease with a pilot who can communicate himself more efficiently and with more confidence.
Everything You Need To Know About Commercial Aircraft Passenger Services
Most large commercial airports deal with numerous challenges each day. Besides the runway traffic, efficient passenger traffic remains one of the major concerns. Commercial carriers need to handle their passenger traffic flow efficiently and economically.
Typically, aircraft passenger services are offered either by commercial airlines directly or by airport management companies which work at an airport. In this post, we will examine more detail to understand these services better.
The basics
The process of check-in to departure at a commercial airport has evolved for every passenger and crewmember. Ensuring smooth coordination in this process is extremely critical, not only for the customers but also to allow airport and airline personnel to perform their essential duties. Commercial carriers coordinate with airport management staff and other service providers to streamline passenger flow. These services include:
– Keeping track and maintaining a flow of check-ins, arrivals, and departures. Besides check-ins, such services also include assistance for cancellations and changes in itineraries.
– Support crew and passengers for boarding and de-planning (if required).
– Assuring special help and support for disabled passengers.
– Helping minors, who are unaccompanied by adults or guardians
– Monitoring departure control systems
– Core services required by travelers, such as ticketing and sales at an airport.
– Offering additional assistance for other areas, such as charges for extra baggage.
– Arrival baggage services.
– Special services related to lost baggage.
– Assistance that might be needed additionally by customers in certain situations.
Aircraft passenger services are extremely relevant and necessary for smooth commercial airport operations.
Finding a service provider
The passenger service experience defines and determines the brands of commercial carriers, airport sponsors and management, and other stakeholders, and it’s important to choose an airport management company that understands the complicities and demands of this industry. If you need a professional management company or other on-airport service provider, you should diligence two areas:
- First, the company should be experienced and must have the infrastructure and capabilities to handle the projects assigned to them. The professional service provider should be able to document a strong track record of proven results and offer references from this experience history.
- Also, you should review the specific experience of the concerned company. Keep in mind that the concept of professional airport management is different in various parts of the world. Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) serving in this role are more customary in North America and Europe, while other geographical areas use different structures.
Passengers remain the lifeline of the aviation industry, and commercial service providers and airlines have to ensure efficient, value-based services for them. This also ensures smooth and efficient passenger flow at commercial airports.
