They’re typically much smaller, lighter aircraft – does this mean private jets have more or less turbulence?
Private jets tend to fly higher than standard commercial aircraft specifically to avoid pockets of turbulence. This can often be as much as twenty-thousand feet higher than a standard airliner. However, the minor turbulence you’d feel in a large aircraft would be multiplied in a small, private jet.
Read on to learn more about the comforts – or discomforts – or flying in a private jet.
Stable and Stylish
Private jets have long been a staple of the super-rich. They’re exuberant and extravagant, and offer true exclusivity in the skies.
The ownership costs of a private jet are staggering, and we’re not just talking about the initial purchase. On an annual basis, you’ll need to consider storage, maintenance, fueling, staffing, and taxing or regulatory fees.
At the lower end of the scale is the Cirrus Vision, the smallest and cheapest private jet in the world. It commands a cost of two million dollars for an outright purchase, and it can only seat five adults.
It’s driven by a single engine, the world’s first private jet to be powered in such a way. The plane is unique in more ways than one, and it apparently took ten years to be designed in full.
Reportedly, the plane was built to be piloted by the owner. It was considerably underpowered, being capable of flying at a maximum altitude of just 28,000ft.
At that height, it would likely experience heavy turbulence, should an air pocket or thermals be hit.
The next cheapest jet on the scale was the Cessna Citation CJ3+, with a base cost of eight million dollars. It could accommodate nine passengers and fly as high as 45,000ft.
So, for an extra six million dollars, you can try to avoid those patches of heavy turbulence.
Flying True
While private jets typically fly much higher than commercial airliners, they are still prone to pockets of turbulence. Their substantially smaller size and lighter weights mean they feel this turbulence much more acutely.
When you’re in a commercial airliner, the turbulence you feel might shake a tray, or spill a drink. On a small, private jet this turbulence will feel much more severe, and the plane might buck more considerably.
However, private jets are much less restricted in flight, meaning they can circumnavigate bad weather much more easily. If the pilot spots bad weather ahead, or they receive reports detailing such, they can simply amend their flight path.
In a report on jetex.com, it was revealed that global warming was causing more air turbulence on a global scale. They stated that a 2007 study revealed that clear-air turbulence over North America and Europe had increased between forty and ninety percent.
If the weather is bad enough, a private plane has the ability to land at more or less any airport in the world. They can even land at small, privately-owned airstrips.
Top-Tier Travel
As the twenty-first century marched on, private air travel became more affordable and common. In 2020, COVID-19 caused a shutdown of commercial airlines all around the world.
In response, many private airlines bolstered their ranks and lowered their prices. All of a sudden, there were millions of customers who still needed to travel from country to country.
Thankfully, chartering a private jet isn’t as expensive as you might think. They tend to be booked on an hourly basis, and auxiliary costs like fuel, airport taxes, and crew often come included in the price.
You’re left with the freedom to pick your own flight path and destination and relax in the privacy of your own aircraft. The journey wouldn’t be any slower either, as private jets can be faster than commercial airliners.
Private jets are built to accommodate all types of weather, temperature, and conditions. They wouldn’t fly if they couldn’t take it.
An article on privatefly.com explores the conditions under which a private jet can operate. These include temperatures of up to 53 Celsius, or as low as -100 Celsius.
They can withstand snow and ice, high and turbulent air, rain, fog, and thunderstorms. While some of these weather conditions may prove turbulent to flying, they don’t make it impossible to do so.
So, sit back, relax, and spend a few thousand dollars flying in style to your target destination.