Originally Posted by
831pilot
JOS,
To clarify- would this be the first aircraft to your company or the first jet? Sounds like it's the former.
How was the company handling the travel needs up to this point- airlines or chartering? You are diving headfirst into a potential purchase of a long range jet as your first airframe into the department. Plus, you seem to have a pretty good idea of your travel needs/expected utilization.
This will be my first plane. Been doing airlines. Will be flying around 3-400 hrs Per Year. Will be flying in and out of the Caribbean and to London and Europe for business as well, hence "over the water" comment below.
Since I will be hiring a management company to handle the operations, we need a minimum of 2000-3000 NM range. I want to go with used and the best jet for the dollar. But naturally I do not want to spend more than I have to. I have been looking at several brands from Nextant, Gulfstream, Challenger and Falcon. I really really like the 3 Engine Falcons for the extra security if an engine goes out over the water or mountains; also like the short field performance specs that I have read as well.
I am thinking of going with a 2000 NM (or so) Nextant 400XTI to dip my toes in the water as economical as possible, then after a year, step up to a longer range Falcon. But we will see. I will weigh everyones advice and speak with several management companies.
As for management companies, what is your and everyones review on Signature? They have an site at the airport where we will flight from and at most of the airports we will flight into.