What is a 'Very Light Jet' or VLJ?
The newest innovation in aviation is a small plane that has taken on the
name 'Very Light Jet' or VLJ for short. While VLJ is the most common
term you will see used to reference this modern breed of aircraft, it is
also regularly referred to as a light jet, micro light jet, microjet,
mini-jet, personal jet, personal plane,
private jet or private plane.The NBAA defines VLJs as single-pilot jets
that weigh 10,000 pounds or less. They generally have two engines, five or
six passenger seats, automated cockpits and cost half as much as the most
inexpensive business jet now in service.
Very light jets can land on runways as short as 3,000 feet, compared with the 4,000
or 5,000 feet required by the smallest jets now being flown. The FAA says
there are more than 5,000 small, underused airports in the United States.
Hoping to capture a piece of this emerging market, no fewer than 8 companies
are currently designing, testing and manufacturing their own very light jet
model. A few others have tried and failed. (See the manufacturer links
at the upper right of this page.)
Be on the look out for much more news about:
The most likely use for micro light jets will be to serve as corporate
planes. Smaller companies that would never have considered purchasing
a private plane will now contemplate owning a microjet due to its
significantly smaller price tag and operating costs. Larger companies
with existing aircraft will likely begin to sift these new very light jets
into their fleets rather than continuing to buy the larger, more expensive
hanger hogs.
New companies have also been spawned and are preparing for the arrival of
the VLJ. They are ready to claim their piece of what is expected to
become a billion dollar industry in very short order. TaxiJet (taxijet.com),
DayJet (dayjet.com) and Pogo
(flypogo.com) are just a few companies
that will be providing air taxi services to and from mid-sized cities.
No matter what you call them these light weight 4-8 seat planes are
definitely the hottest thing in aviation!
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In the News...
Smaller jets may transform flying
THE DAILY HERALD (UTAH)
Called "microjets" or "very light jets," they've been likened to SUVs with
wings. With two engines and seating capacity for five or six people, they cost
half as much as...
2006: The year of the very light jet
AVIATION INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Call them what you want–very light jets (VLJs), compact jets, minijets,
microjets, personal jets or even Barbie jets–they’re no longer...
VLJs Turn Short Final
THE PILOT JOURNAL
As the market comes to a boil, three finalists are vying to become the first
certified Very Light Jet. Those three are...
There's Change in the Wind
AIRPORT BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Of the array of light and very light jets being proposed, Eclipse Aviation, Adam
Aircraft, and Cessna Aircraft Company were most notable...
Air Taxi, Anyone? Business Jets Sell Briskly
THE NEW YORK TIMES
...very light jets, priced in the $2 million range,
that some enthusiasts say will be the foundation...
Faster, lighter, cheaper
THE BOSTON GLOBEOne of the most breathlessly anticipated
revolutions in US aviation is poised to take off in 2006, as new super-fast,
relatively cheap airplanes called ''very light jets" finally go into
service...
On-demand airline could alter travel to midsize cities
USA TODAY
...new kind of on-demand airline that could alter
the way people travel between midsize cities...
Your Air Taxi Is Almost Ready
BUSINESS WEEK
Boston startup Linear Air is out to get a jump on
this new form of point-to-point flying in "very light jets," which may debut
in 2006...
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