Investment News Article

Jet Advisors President Featured in InvestmentNews Report

Kevin O’Leary talks status of aircraft market and a silver-lining


Broomfield, Colo. (PRWEB) February 11, 2009 – InvestmentNews correspondent Mark Bruno contacted Kevin O’Leary for a reliable overview of the current status of the aircraft market, especially after the negative press that corporations have been receiving. Although the numbers speak for themselves, O’Leary acknowledged a silver-lining in the industry’s slump.

O’Leary told InvestmentNews, in an article entitled, “Banks bail out of jets,” that the aircraft market has experienced a rapid decline in the past few months after its steady fall in months prior. In spite of this trend, O’Leary expressed that things are picking back up and the market will start to stabilize and then recover. This means that the current situation may be a great opportunity to buy. There are plenty of deals in the market and financing is becoming more readily available to potential customers. A purchase would be a great investment for when the market does turn around.

Bruno quotes O’Leary in the article multiple times: “There are so few buyers out there at the moment, yet the number of sellers is growing constantly,” and again explaining, “If you want to move something right now, you have to lower your asking price to a number where a buyer just can't say no."

O’Leary also mentioned the large numbers of corporate jets for sale, growing from four or five last year to well over 30, and for prices up to 40% less.

The article featuring Jet Advisors President Kevin O’Leary, “Banks bail out of jets,” was published February 15 in InvestmentNews, and is also available at http://www.investmentnews.com.


About Jet Advisors:
Jet Advisors was founded to assist Aircraft Owners/Buyers and Fractional Share Owners in managing their private jet needs. The Broomfield, Colorado-based company routinely handles private jet sales and acquisitions, fractional jet and private jet consulting. With one hundred years of combined industry experience and hundreds of aircraft transactions, Jet Advisors is able to provide the most accurate, insightful and objective information available in each unique private jet transaction process.

Contact:
Jet Advisors
(303) 410-1900
http://www.jetadvisors.com

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Rocky Mountain Airport Colorado Springs, CO

Runway Length 13,500
Runway Width 150
Elevation 6,184

Latitude 38 48'21"N

Longitude 104 42' 1"W


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Gulfstream G450

The Gulfstream 400 was a central figure in the large-cabin private jet lineup since its introduction to the market, and the Gulfstream 450 lives up to its standards. It can fly eight passengers and three crew members from Tokyo to Seattle at a speed of .80 Mach. Everything from its engines to its flight control systems are high-performing and reliable.
Between fourteen and eighteen passengers should ride comfortably in the Gulfstream 450’s 1,513 cubic foot cabin. Passengers can stand up in the 6.2 foot high cabin and will enjoy the 7.4 foot width and 45.1 foot length (an 18 inch increase from the G-III). The 169 cubic feet of baggage space is accessible in-flight. Two full-length closets for coat storage are located inside the two fully enclosed lavatories.

There are plenty of cabin features that should make transcontinental and transoceanic flights enjoyable. Standard and optional electronic offerings include a CD, VHS, and DVD player, two LCD screens, individual headphones at each seat for the cabin audio system, a fax machine, and satellite phones. In case those features aren’t enough, a full-sized galley, power plugs, work tables, and a LAN connection are included as well. Electronics, lighting, and the two-zone temperature control system can be controlled from several different locations in the cabin.
The Gulfstream 450’s Rolls-Royce Tay Mk 611-8C engines are built around the high-pressure engine core of the Spey RB.183-555, which has successfully documented thousands of hours of flight time in various other commercial and private jets. The Rolls-Royce Tay engine, however, gets 2,600 pounds more thrust on takeoff than the Spey. The Tay engines produce 13,850 pounds of thrust each, allowing a sea level takeoff in 5,450 feet.

Much of the Gulfstream 450’s speed and range capabilities can be attributed to some small improvements to the structure. A new wing design cut down on drag and allowed for an increased fuel capacity, totaling 29,500 pounds. Overall weight was reduced by about 500 pounds due to the use of Kevlar and graphite-epoxy composites in some parts of the cabin and engine nacelles.

The fully integrated cockpit is taken up entirely by four Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) that display all flight, systems, and navigation information. The full-color CRTs replace the mass of electromechanical instruments and displays that usually take up the control panel. Color radar, dual Flight Management Systems (FMS), navigation computers, and Engine Instrument and Crew Alert Systems (EICAS) are provided by Sperry Flight Systems. The new Enhanced Vision System (EVS) can create an infrared image of the view from the cockpit and displays it on the Head-Up Display (HUD) of the pilot. This image is accurate enough to show details like lights and reflective strips on the runway, enabling the pilot to fly and even land in low-visibility conditions.

Global Express

The Global Express was the pioneer of ultra-long-range private jets. At the time of its release, no other private jet had a cabin nearly as large, nor could any jet make such long-range direct flights, like New York to Tokyo or Paris to Singapore. The Global Express offers everything an airliner does – range, comfort, and speed –- without the hassle.

The cabin of the Global Express is designed to be comfortable for the duration of long transoceanic flights. The cabin can be configured to hold between thirteen and nineteen passengers in a cabin that is 6.3 feet high, 8.2 feet wide, and 48.4 feet long. The cabin can be divided into three areas for conferences for increased privacy. Two fully-enclosed lavatories are in the cabin, one of which can be equipped with a shower, if desired. Extensive cabin insulation cuts down on noise and improved engines produce less audible vibration. There is a wide range of standard and optional cabin amenities, including a 17 channel satcom, fax machine, cabin entertainment system with VHS, DVD, and CD players, as well as individual video screens, and a full-sized galley.

The engines themselves are BMW/Rolls-Royce BR710A2-20 turbofans, which produce 14,750 pounds of thrust each on takeoff. The Global Express can climb to 37,000 feet in nineteen minutes. Its maximum certified flight ceiling is 51,000 feet, but it generally cruises around 42,000 feet –well above most commercial and private jets. For long-distance flights the Global Express can reach speeds of 488 knots, and reach 499 knots when cruising at high speed. Fortunately, one of the strengths of the Global Express is its ability to fly at high speeds without sacrificing range. Its maximum range is 7,000 miles (6,100 nautical miles) at a speed of .85 Mach.

The avionics and flight control systems were designed to be intuitive and easy to operate. Many systems require almost no input from the pilots. The cabin pressurization system, for example, automatically adjusts the cabin pressure throughout the flight. All that the pilot has to do is enter the altitude of the runway of the initial and final destinations. The cabin is rated to 10 psi, meaning it can maintain a sea level cabin while at an altitude of 26,500 feet. Engine startup is very simple as well, as is the fuel balance system, which automatically adjusts the fuel levels in the two wet wing tanks. Besides being easy to fly, the Global Express is very reliable. Most of its critical systems has two or three backup systems.

The avionics system used in the Global Express is the Honeywell Primus 2000XP suite. It has six 7 x 8 inch screens. Some screen display flight and environment information, while others are blank (to minimize distractions) except when notifying the pilots of an emergency. The avionics system comes standard with a triple LASEREF IV inertial reference system, a GPS receiver, avionics computers, nav/comm radios, and can be configured to include almost any piece of avionics equipment desired.

Learjet 36

The Learjet 36 is the new and improved version of the Lear 35. The 35’s boasting rights came from its range, and the Lear 36 only expanded on that asset. It can fly 1,530 miles (1,330 nautical miles) nonstop. That means direct flights from San Francisco to Honolulu. Good handling characteristics, low fuel burn, and fast cruise speeds are part of the Lear 36’s assets as well.

A maximum of six passengers can travel in the Lear 36’s cabin. It is 12.9 feet long, 4.9 feet wide, and 4.4 feet high. There are 40 cubic feet of baggage space, enough to hold about eight standard-sized suitcases.

The real strength of the Learjet 36 is its range, takeoff, and cruise capabilities. Two Honeywell TFE731-2-2B engines provide 3,500 pounds of thrust, allowing the Lear 36 to take off in 4,972 feet. The maximum take off weight is pretty high as well at 18,300 pounds.

Components of the TFE731-2-2B engines are used in much higher-performing jets as well. Their pressure compressors were taken from the Garret 660-series engine, which is used on 747s. Their turbine components come from DC-10s, and the high-pressure impellers are a modified version of the one used in the TPE 331 and T76 engines.

The Learjet 36 is has a relatively long range for a private jet, and can cruise at speeds as high as 451 ktas, or 424 ktas with four passengers. Fuel consumption is excellent: the 31A burns only 177 pounds of fuel per hour. For comparison’s sake, that’s 14 pounds fewer than the Hawker 400XP and 64 pounds fewer than the Citation VI.

A few other details make the Lear 36 a popular private jet. First of all, it meets FAR part 36 noise standards, making it a kind of “good neighbor” at airports. Furthermore, the avionics system is completely redesigned from previous models, giving pilots an uncluttered control panel that is easy to work with. Pilots have also commented on its agility and excellent performance capabilities.

The Learjet 36 is a high-performing business jet that meets the standards of excellence of a private jet in the Lear series. It is rare to find private jets that can fly as fast, as far, or as economically as the Lear 36.

Learjet 45

New models of private jets come out every year, but it’s only once in a while that a jet is released that is truly innovative. The Learjet 45 is one of the rare jets that seamlessly integrates new technology with a tested and successful older design. Its speed and economy are to be expected – it is a Learjet, after all – but the rest of its small features add up to a high-quality private jet. The Learjet 45’s cabin holds eight seats, usually in a double club layout, with plenty of room to swivel, recline, and track. The cabin’s length and width is 59 inches and 61 inches, respectively. Don’t be mislead by the measurements; the interior of the Learjet 45 was designed to offer the most usable passenger space possible so the passengers don’t feel claustrophobic.

Other fine points of the cabin’s design make it useful and comfortable, from work tables that fold down from the walls to an extra pressure relief port on the door for added passenger safety. The noise level in the cabin never exceeds 72 dB and a two-zone temperature control system ensures that both the cabin and the cockpit are kept comfortable. An external compartment provides 80 cubic feet of baggage space.The Learjet 45 can fly 2,471 miles (2,147 nautical miles) nonstop and can cruise at 517 mph. Two AlliedSignal TFE731-20AR turbofan engines provide 3,500 pounds of thrust each on takeoff.

The standards for anti-ice systems were stiffened by the FAA while the Learjet 45 was still in the design phase. It comes as no surprise that the resulting private jet had the most advanced anti-ice system of any light- or mid-sized jet. The engine anti-icing system was completely redesigned for better ice removal. Bleed air load balancing software increases the engines’ total thrust, and improves the rate of climb while the ice removal system is in use. The software distributes the bleed air system between the two engines so that they perform uniformly. The Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics system includes four large-format EFIS (ERO Frequency Information Systems) and a 3-D approach navigation system through a Universal UNS-1C FMS. For the first time in a Learjet, there are no restrictions on the lateral and vertical approach guidance simulations.

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For more information about the Learjet 45, or for help in purchasing or selling a Learj45, contact Kevin O'Leary at 303-410-1900.

Learjet 31A

For those unfamiliar with Learjets, their name is a synonym for speed. The Learjet 31 can reach a cruise speed of .81 Mach after climbing to its cruise level in just 28 minutes -- way beyond the capabilities of any competing light private jets. It has great runway performance and a low fuel burn, making it a great candidate for efficient, fast private jet travel.

The Learjet 31A’s cabin can carry up to eight passengers in its 17.1 foot-long cabin. Sixty-seven feet of baggage space are available, or about the equivalent of six sets of skis and four golf bags.
Two Garret TFE 731-2 engines provide 3,500 pounds of thrust each, giving this jet the ability to outperform the rest of the private jets in its class. It has a range of 1,610 miles (1,400 nautical miles) with four passengers, and performs well even in extreme temperatures and at high altitudes.

It can take off in 3,280 feet at sea level at its maximum take-off weight, significantly surpassing other light jets’ runway performance. Another area in which the Learjet 31A outperforms its competitors is in its climb rate – it can reach an altitude of 47,000 feet in only 28 minutes. Furthermore, at cruise altitude it flies at .81 Mach (458 ktas), making it the best light private jet in the speed category as well.

The Learjet 31A has excellent in-flight performance. Its rapid acceleration and rapid response capabilities make it a favorite among pilots. This jet is known for its smooth flights and good performance even outside the recommended flight envelope.

The strong point of the Learjet 31A is its avionics system. The Bendix/King suite has a KFC 3100 autopilot system, complete with automatic climb and descent modes that control the jet’s flight for the best possible performance. The control board is configured to make the pilot’s job as straightforward as possible – systems and circuit breakers are grouped together by function and have small EFIS displays to summarize activity. The layout of the controls makes the systems easier to read and cuts back on clutter. The Learjet 31A’s systems are so comprehensive that it meets the FAA safety standards mandatory for major airliners.

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For more information about the Learjet 31A, or for help in purchasing or selling one, contact Kevin O'Leary at koleary@jetadvisors.com or at 303-410-1900