Private Jet Operations To Resume At DCAThe resumption of general aviation operations at Washington Reagan National Airport is several steps closer to reality following recent legislative and regulatory progress, and is likely to be realized this summer. Late last month, the Transportation Security Administration outlined a plan that would permit "certain pre-cleared general aviation operations, including corporate aircraft, charter flights, and on-demand operations" to use the airport, which has been off-limits to non-commercial flights since the Sept. 11 attacks nearly four years ago. The DCA Access Standard Security Program—developed in conjunction with various federal agencies—allows 48 general aviation flights into the airport per day, down from roughly 95 before 9/11. All GA flights into DCA must either depart from or first stop at one of 12 gateway airports: Boston Logan, Chicago Midway, Houston Hobby, Lexington, Ky., Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York LaGuardia, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle-Tacoma, Teterboro, N.J., West Palm Beach, Fla., and White Plains, N.Y. Law enforcement personnel must be aboard each flight and TSA has authority to inspect all GA crews, passengers and related property. TSA said GA flights at DCA would resume 90 days after it publishes final rules, which it expects to do shortly. TSA's announcement followed recent legislative action calling for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to develop such a plan. Specifically, the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation Committee approved a bill first introduced in February
(BTN, March 21) and now awaiting action on the House floor. A similar provision was contained in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2006, approved last month by the House and now being considered by the U.S. Senate.
Sentient Jet Acquires Charter Jet CompanyPrivate jet membership company Sentient Jet this spring announced it had acquired Atlantic Aviation Flight Services, an executive charter and aircraft management firm claiming 350 U.S. clients. Atlantic operates several aircraft types from bases in seven East Coast states and California. Meanwhile, Norwell, Mass.-based Sentient also aligned with Air Partner, a U.K.-based private aviation company. The companies said the partnership would benefit corporate clients by providing an integrated, global network with core operations in Europe and North America, and reciprocal membership in both programs.
Private Jet Companies Grow FleetsExecutive Jet Management last month said it added three aircraft to its charter fleet, which now exceeds 100 jets spread across 60 locations. The company, which added 26 jets last year, said 2004 charter revenue grew 35 percent. EJM said recent aircraft additions would help satiate demand for the NetJets fractional ownership program. Another fractional ownership company, Bombardier Flexjet, this month said it would take delivery of another 51 aircraft during the next three years. The company said the number of new owners in its program increased 67 percent in 2004 from 2003.
Charter Res System Signs Agency ClientsCalling itself the private jet GDS, New York-based BusinessJet Class recently announced agreements with several travel management companies, including The Travel Authority in Jeffersonville, Ind., Valerie Wilson Travel in New York, and Worldtek in New Haven, Conn. According to a BusinessJet Class spokesperson, the system is Internet-based but mimics a global distribution system in its agency interface and ability to aggregate availability from various pre-screened charter operators and aircraft management companies.