DC4MS

Several Destination Clubs offer partnerships with private jet charters such as Marquis Jet Card that charges about $5,000 per flying hour.

I wonder why none of the clubs has contracted with a company like Avantair that provides a similar sized plane, yet uses a much more fuel efficient engine and design. They also have a fractional program for the Piaggio Avanti P.180 aircraft, but I have no idea what a typical cost per hour is for this airplane.

NeilGoBlue

I'm personally a big fan of the Piaggio Avanti P.180 aircraft.. I can definitely see myself owning a fractional piece of one in the next few years...

As I was doing my research I kept asking 'why is this plane not more popular than it is?'

Several people responded that since it wasn't a Jet, it had a 'stigma' about it..

Maybe if you are used to a gulf stream 550.. but geez.. it seems like great plane to me.. maybe TedPilot can chime in...

Kagehitokiri

if i were a club, besides discounts/benefits with major fractional/charter card players, which probably have standard affiliate/etc programs by now, id wait and see what happens with VLJs.

Tedpilot

Neil - I also think it is a great aircraft. But like anything great it also has some issues. Positives: For a turboprop it has great range, carrying capacity, size and is supposedly very quiet. Negatives: Think Ferrari...a great car, but stay close to where it can be fixed as parts "on the road" are hard to come by and every aircraft eats parts faster than you'd ever imagine. Amplify this by the fact that there are very few of these aircraft around in the U.S. That being said, I'd think that AvantAir has a good supply network and likens to stay to their neck of the woods where qualified service maintenance people and high-wear items are readily available.

From a pilot's perspective it would be fun to fly. Aerodynamically it is a different beast than 95% of the aircraft out there. However, not having anti-skind brakes would make me nervous no matter how good the reversing mechanism is from the engines.

A few key questions I'd ask AvantAir:
1) Dispatch rate/on-time rate and what their definition of that is.
2) Credentials and age of their average pilot. Also least experienced/youngest.
3) Landing fees for the islands...that can get pricey sometimes.
4) If the FAA still certifies it as a single pilot aircaft; saftey being AvantAir's primary concern, do they always disptach the aircraft with two fully qualified pilots?

Ted

3DH

Attached, you will find your answer... it was included in an email I was sent upon inquiry.

Attached Images

avanti_p180.jpg (122.2 KB, 8 views)

__________________
"Boutique" is better! Another extremely satisfied LUSSO member!

NeilGoBlue

Thanks Ted..