Benefits of Business Aviation?

One of the most advantageous aspects of business aviation is the operational flexibility.  There are three major areas that are distinguishable over the airlines.

1. The ability to change departure time in accordance with your needs.
2. Second the ability to utilize more airfields. There are over 5,000 airports across the United States, the airlines serve roughly 4% of those.
3. Third, the ability to not only avoid any traffic or weather delays but also to get you closer to your destination than the airlines.

Personal time savings is the most recognized and measurable financial benefit associated with business aviation.  Because an individual is worth more to a company that the sum of their compensation, time saved must be multiplied by a productivity factor to determine more accurately the financial benefits.

In a study done by PRC Aviation in Arizona, using eight of the most popular methods to compute the value of executive time, a productivity factor for corporate personnel was reached.

Multiplier: productivity factor:

Such a multiplier, more accurately identifies the actual hourly benefit a company derives from its employees. For example: a senior executive who earns $200,000 a year ( approximately 100.00 per hour) is worth $570.00 and hour to the company.   Additional, middle management or professional employees earning $65,000 a year (Approximately $32.50 per hour) have a value of $124.00 per hour to the company.

Average travel time to departure airport using business aviation is 20 minutes.

With business aviation there are no early check in times, no baggage check or claim, no security check points to cross.

Average time saved is roughly 2.5 hours per trip.

With the deregulation of the airline industry in the late 70's came more competition.  With increased competition came the need to increase efficiency.   As a result, the airlines made fewer direct flights and more connecting flights at major hubs.  This system did indeed increase the airlines efficiency, but the consequences of this "Hub and Spoke" system also increased the time needed to travel.  This is system used today by most major air carriers.

With respect to routing matters only, (the airlines schedule)  the average time savings using business aviation over commercial airlines (as found by PRC Aviation) was:

With business aviation, all flights are or can be direct flights, there are no delays associated with congested hubs.  Combining the operational flexibility and airline schedules your average time savings range from 3.5 hours to 5 hours per trip for each passenger.

Note: These time savings include any effects that weather, traffic or other factors which may cause delays for your plane, but not delays the airlines may be subject to in the hub and spoke system.  The hub and spoke system lends itself to more opportunities for delay.  As anyone who has flown can attest.   Some delays may not even be associated with your origin or ultimate destination. For example, if you leave from Manchester NH to Miami FL with connecting flight in Pittsburgh PA, the plane coming to Pittsburgh to bring you to Miami may be delayed in Chicago do to any number of unforeseeable factors. 

Business Aviation eliminates many of the delaying factors of commercial airlines, there is no need to conform to set schedules, avoid delays and missed connection, lost luggage or the numerous other factors which can not only cost you time, but money.  Because you have the ability to change almost every aspect of the flight you improve time savings.  Additionally, potential cost avoided by reducing the number of overnight stays that may be required, the avoided cost of the airlines, and the money saved from fewer ground transportation cost.

Equally important are the advantages that don't necessarily have a dollar amount fixed to them, but which can effect productivity. 

INTANGIBLE ADVANTAGES

An area that seldom, if ever, is considered is the mental and physical effectiveness of travelers. When subject to stress and abnormal schedules the effectiveness of individuals begins to be degraded. Although the degree may vary, it is significant enough to be a factor. There are seven elements of mental and physical performance that contribute to overall effectiveness of executive and professional personnel. These are listed below with a brief description of how each is important.

1. Utilization of intellect in evolving answers and arriving at solutions to objectives of meeting.
2. Preservation of stamina in becoming more persistent with less compromise of objectives that other participants in he meeting who have traveled by slower or more tiring alternate means.
3. Exercise of initiative in evolving and expressing viewpoints which are pertinent to corporate objective of meeting.
4. Maintenance of patience in analyzing views of other attendees and evidencing respect for their views regardless of inner feelings.
5. Reliability of perceptions in analyzing the motives and contributions of other attendees.
6. Alertness to opportunities in exploiting the developing themes as they evolve during meetings of partners and/or antagonist.
7. Measure of total effectiveness with respect to achieving objectives concerning results from the meeting.

With enhanced mental and physical Effectiveness, the ability to successfully complete objectives increases. This increase could be converted to either productivity and/or time saved thus a quantifiable benefit. However, the primary benefit, enhanced performance, is the real objective sought.

Utilization of time while traveling is largely a degree of personnel inclination and motivation. The completion of unfinished work, or meeting if traveling with company is common, however, en-route work in business aircraft is enhanced over commercial airline travel for several reasons.

1. Full privacy allows open reference to and use of proprietary information and materials.
2. Full opportunity for open discussions between members of a firm or with clients without risk of exposure of being overheard or a compromise of proprietary information.
3. Improved opportunity for air to ground communications
4. Modern aircraft cabins can be equipped with computers, fax, photo copiers and phones that enable you to work as though in your office.
5. More available time to devote to working, no waiting after take off and less time to clean up before landing.

Enhancement of customer relations is yet another area in which business aviation can contribute significantly. The ability to meet the transportation needs of customers or potential customers can improve the prestige and relationship of clients with the company. Some examples may include:

1. Transportation to and/or from a sales promotion, industry symposium, trade show, professional seminar, or other related event.
2. Attendance at an event sponsored by the business aircraft owner such as a visit to the factory, or business facility, to which selected attendance can be encouraged by availability of business aircraft transportation, and;
3. An emergency transportation need for whatever reason.

Because your are able to see more people, go more places in less time, are physically and psychologically more prepared you are making more and better informed decisions than is possible without business aviation.

Can you Benefit from Business Aviation ??