As the VLJ Moment Comes Upon Us …

… there is enthusiasm, and skepticism. This came through loud and clear during a recent week in Chicago and Oshkosh, WI. At the annual Oshkosh AirVenture show, put on by the Experimental Aircraft Association, the very light jets were the story. Eclipse received its temporary type certificate from FAA in a highly publicized moment, and Honda introduced its VLJ entry, the HondaJet. For the VLJ manufacturers, the orders are there; the financial backing is there. But what is the potential?  A number of companies foresee a network of air taxis around the country, utilizing VLJs. And, when it comes to VLJs, therein lies the real potential for the aircraft, say some. But when one considers the traditional model of business aircraft, this doesn’t fit. One answer is that VLJs will create a new market, ala the fractional ownership companies, who have different expectations. They’ll accept the fact that there are no onboard restrooms, and little room in which to work (a cornerstone of bizjets).  Live in a market like Austin, TX, and you learn all about regional jets. They connect you to markets non-stop and they provide additional flight time options – three RJ flights a day versus one flight on a 737. But they provide a horrible environment for working. Using a laptop becomes pretty much impossible. And therein lies the key question about VLJs.  In Chicago, an interview with Andy Priester reinforced this thought. Andy is the third-generation COO of Priester Aviation, a prominent charter firm for decades. Priester isn’t considering any VLJs for its air taxi business, at least not yet. Says Andy, “What I don’t know is the level of creature comforts that those people are going to demand. Will they be willing to live with the lack of creature comforts, just because of the size of the VLJs, and still be willing to pay the price? I’m not suggesting that they won’t be; I just think it’s going to be interesting once the model is started, what type of response they’re going to be getting.â€Â One thing is clear: It’s a different aircraft, a different market, a different business model.  Thanks for reading.  jfi