Inflatable Slots for STOL

Short Take Off and Landing Aircraft are extremely valuable in commercial, private, government and military aviation. It is important for safety and for performance. I propose inflatable slots to increase the short take off and landing performance of aircraft. I propose a kit, which can be installed on any aircraft, which can be run thru ram air and glued to the top of the wing and rapped around the leading edge.

I propose using some of the high tech materials being used today in military and industrial venues. Additionally I believe that Winslow Life Raft Company could provide a significantly valuable inflation system, which would generally be used to rapidly deploy Navy Seal type rubber rafts. The cartridges would be singular (one unit inflates both wings) to prevent failure of one side causing immediate loss of control. These rapid inflate cartridges would be for one time use for safety incase of loss of power or in case of minimal clearances of terrain on take off or severally restricted tolerances and critical take offs with regards to density altitude. The cartridge would be inflated prior to take off roll. In the event of an emergency cartridge would be deployed to slow the aircraft down and allow for a very slow airspeed on final approach and a very small landing distance. Additionally a secondary cartridge could be deployed on touch down, which would act as an airbrake causing the aircraft to come to an almost immediate stop.

Each system would contain ten rechargeable cartridges. For standard landings if desired the system would be filled with ram air rather than a cartridge. Cartridges only used for extreme take off performance safety factors or emergency landings.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; <a target="_new" href="http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs">www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs</a>

Leading Private Jet Charter Operators

Flying with the airlines can be a time consuming as well as risky proposition for businessmen as well as for people of wealth. If you absolutely, positively must get somewhere fast you are putting your trust in a system that is overcrowded, inconvenient, and failing when you fly with the airlines. What are your options? Rent or lease a private jet. The following list features some of the leading private jet charter operators in the U.S.

Atlantic Aviation Flight Services

Automotive Air Charter

Avjet Corporation

Business Jet Services

Clay Lacy Aviation

Delta AirElite

Elite Aviation

Executive Jet Mgt

FirstFlight Management LLC

Flightworks

Hop-A-Jet

Jet Aviation

Key Air

Million Air

New World Aviation

Petersen Aviation

Priester Aviation

PrivatAir

Regal Aviation

Richmor Aviation

TAG Aviation

The Air Group

Trans-Exec Air Service

One common thread with each of the operators is that they fly large cabin aircraft. This group is defined by -- but not limited to -- the following types of aircraft:

Gulfstream 450; 550

Boeing Business Jet

Canadair Challenger 604

Bombardier Global Express; 800

Falcon 2000

In each case you get the security of having two highly trained FAA licensed pilots and you can opt for a corporate flight attendant to provide cabin services and safety assistance. These are no King Airs, Lears, and Westwinds you will be flying. Many rent for $7000. per hour on up, but when you are talking about closing on a merger or acquisition in the morning in Dallas and being back in your Boston office in the afternoon, the price is inconsequential.

There are also several operations that will allow you to purchase a portion of a jet. No, you don't get a wing only, rather -- much like a timeshare -- you get to use a private jet operated by one of the providers. Chief amongst these specialized providers are:

Netjets

Flexjet

Flight Options

CitationShares

A third option is to approach one of the private jet aircraft brokers who will arrange the trip for you. Chief amongst these types of providers are:

Sentient

Gold Jets

Bluestarjets

Marquis Jet

AirRoyale

All in all, private flying is where it's at. If you live in the New York area, you can fly out of convenient Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and land at Van Nuys Airport near Los Angeles. By avoiding Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark airports you save precious time and land unruffled in L.A. Who can put a price tag on that?

Matt Keegan writes for business aviation and manages two very busy aviation related communities: <a target="_new" href="http://www.corporateflyer.net">http://www.corporateflyer.net</a> and <a target="_new" href="http://www.aviationemploymentboard.com">http://www.aviationemploymentboard.com</a>

Young Men Trying to Imitate the 9-11 Scenario, Part IV

In conclusion of this young man who crashed a single engine Cessna 152 into the Bank of America we see a whole chain of events; events, which should not have occurred at all. What can we do to prevent such kids from going astray in our society? Read the conclusion of my thoughts and perhaps you might find and answer to these questions.

We need to reward those who achieve success in everything they do, encourage kids to think, reason, adapt and overcome. Teach kids not to give up like our present generation having changed jobs every 3.2 years, change majors 5 times in college, change significant others every 3-4 years in marriage. We are not teaching stability, hard work ethics or even stick-to-it-ness. Our grandparents warned us of this, in their struggles of the depression, yet we have learned nothing as a society. We will face the same challenges without fixing the problem. History is repeating what we already know. And we are sitting here watching it unfold and placing blame on everyone else. That young man who crashed into that building is our fault, yours and mine, yes his too. Not just the FAA, FARs, and it is not government's problem, it is our problem as a society and the values we are placing on our youth. Do not expect government to fix it. If you ask government to fix it, they make more laws and more worthless rhetoric ensues at the podiums and in the halls of congress and every photo-op TV, Radio show, and newspaper. What about National Mentors Month. Why not show this as an issue. Give the CAP control over the problems. Let the older pilots talk with the kids, take them up in aircraft, show them, explain their experiences. Not to convince them to teach them all they have learned and let those young people come to their own conclusions and they will lead us into the future. They will live longer than we will and it appears they are smarter too. And give the CAP its credibility back, and their tax write-offs and their status symbols of calling themselves what ever they want. Colonel, Sgt, Major, whatever if it makes them happy. This gives them a since of status they may not have been able to achieve, it gives them respect they want and helps them help the kids. We need to set up plans to get this country back into tiptop shape. The longer we wait to fix it the worse it will be. The answer is not to put kids on Prozac and Ridlin, to put them in jail, humiliate them with trash pick-up on the Freeway. First we fix the problems then we should have a lot less kids to punish. There is also a group out of Houston of Helicopter Pilots, mostly law enforcement who take kids for aircraft rides. The Eagles program with the EAA took 400,000 young people for aircraft rides last year. This is a great way to show kids there is more to this world than meets the eye. Amelia Earhart got an airplane ride in her teens and she was hooked. Look what she did for women and women's rights with all her speaking engagements and notoriety. There are so many pilots and so many great people that are pilots. Not letting young people fly is like not letting Tiger Woods on a golf course, it's just stupid, yet that was not that long ago was it. I imagine if Hitler knew about Jesse Owens ability, he would never have been allowed in Munich for the Olympic games. We keep doing stupid things and the people we call experts keep making more dumb laws about stuff they do not know about. How many Congressmen had to wash airplanes to learn to fly at a young age? One maybe two. Do you honestly think they would vote for more laws in aviation? Certainly not, yet they are the ones who know about such, who are able to change policy. Why don't they stick up for what is right here and say something? If it were not for our victories in the air in previous wars we would not be able to maintain our countries freedom. We would not be here today. President Bush Sr. was 17-18 when he was shot down in a torpedo plane in WWII. On a mission that most did not come back from. He almost did not. Are we to say that our Presidents experience could never have existed in today's times? The answer is YES, that is what we are saying. Why are we saying that? Are we to believe that the media and all its crap and scare tactics are really the policy makers and the congress only votes for things that their brain dead constituency thinks is right? Based on what? The constituencies 5 hour per not TV addiction and 7 second TV switcher channel check mentality. The policy makers' vote for whatever the poles say is right.

It is okay to help our young people, those who put forth real effort to achieve the carrot once in a while. We should help them get there, whenever we can as long as they are truly striving for it. Let's make the American dream a reality, and let's boo off the stage the policy makers who use scare tactics, photo-ops and rhetoric to achieve new heights in political stature. We need policy makers with balls, those who will say no, those who take charge and those who believe in what America is all about. Those who forget should re-read the Constitution of the United Sates of America. We do not need any more rules in general aviation. Think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; <a target="_new" href="http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs">www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs</a>

Lockheed Loitering Missile Expandable Wing Concept

Smart Missiles are expensive, but effective. Efficiency in the the new paradigm of the net-centric warfare will yield results to those who pay attention and do not waste assets.

I propose that we add to the wing area of the newest Lockheed Martin Marietta Loitering Missile to allow for maximum loitering time in the battlespace and for possible safe recovery without damage in the event we wish to retrieve this ultra smart munitions due to lack of available targets.

At the wing folds out, it will have attached a webbing, which would inflate thru ram air and then close up. This would allow the missile to slow down and glide conserving rocket fuel on a ten-tier rocket canister system. On its downward assent to the target it would jettison the webbing, which would float to Earth will sending live video feed of the target kill and then self-destruct on landing thru incineration. I would like to see this munitions see its full potential and become a symbol of peace keeping to the free world, warning rogue nations that hostile actions is unacceptable starting today in this current period and those that partake in sponsoring international terrorism will be eliminated immediately. We must win the war on International Terrorism and those states, which sponsor it.

If no target is found the weapon will come back and land refill the ten-tier rocket canisters and replace the rocket propellant, download the USB port memory stick with complete video feed for VR future training and then lock and load and fly again. It is time to win the war on Terror thru absolute technology using the best of American ingenuity and know how. It must be done. Think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; <a target="_new" href="http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs">www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs</a>

Cactus Fly-In, Casa Grande AZ

Every year in Arizona is the Cactus Fly-in which is one of the largest events in the city of Casa Grande AZ air show and fly-in, which is always well attended and a huge success. The event seems to be growing every year, much busier this year than last year even though general aviation has suffered due to 9-11. It is events like this that help us promote our general aviation business sector in the United States.

http://www.cactusflyin.org

The weather was great this year, not too hot and no rain. We are seeing a recovery in general aviation after many companies, especially FBO at smaller airports were forced out of business. Sure many of these services will be replaced, but the all in one type aviation services business will be tough, airport flight schools may opt out of other type services and concentrate on what they are good at and what is most profitable. We may see less bundling of services due to costs and outsourcing of other services such as aircraft washing which requires an extra lineman to do washing services on call.

There will be other small businesses fulfilling these niches thus a cost savings to the FBO (Fixed Based Operator). In airport business magazine in Feb there was an article discussing the plight of the FBO. Those FBOs still in business will need to hire niche companies so they can continue to bundle services for aircraft owners and chief pilots of corporate aircrafts and collect a small fee for finding these other smaller companies additional work.

In many cases such a strategy can save the FBO in increasing insurance costs. Let us take aircraft washing for instance by hiring an aircraft washing service, as it saves them on their insurance policies, whose agents typically would rather not attach a rider policy for aircraft washing since most underwriters are against washing due to problems associated with water entering fuel tanks accidentally or water freezing pitot tubes or static ports. Also common are electrical problems or avionics failures due to water entering where it shouldn't causing or attributing to a crash. Although there have not been too many NTSB findings where washing procedures cashed a crash, several have attributed to the comedy of errors usually associated with crashes, a multiplying of problems which eventually causes a crash. A separate company specializing in aircraft washing will have its own washing procedures and can help aviation safety with regards to washing.

The FBOs are adjusting their strategic marketing plans to meet the financial challenges in general aviation. Fly-ins and air shows like the Cactus Fly-In is a way all of us can show our support for our general aviation business sector. Think on it.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; <a target="_new" href="http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs">www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs</a>

Top Ten Secrets to Saving Big Money in the Airline Flights

Do you know that some people travel around the country and abroad, for both business and pleasure, and save bundles of money in the process?

They do that by using little known ways of really taking advantage of the most popular form of transportation - airline flights.

They don't rely on the ever-famous &quot;airfare price-wars&quot;. They don't rely on their travel agents to save money while flying.

Certainly, you should not dismiss these two methods. The price-wars can work to your advantage. But depending on them too much is a big mistake.

1. Call the airlines.

Call the airlines between midnight and 1 a.m. Monday through Friday to get cheaper tickets.

Most people never realize that at midnight, airline agents revise and load new fares into their computers. The best fares are just after they have done the updating!

2. Check into other airports other than the main one you use.

Many major cities have two airports. Check into surrounding towns and cities so you can compare airfares. You may save hundreds of dollars on your flights.

3. The early bird catches the plane.

The earlier you book your flight the more you save. Most special fares have restrictions of 7 to 30 day advance purchase. Usually non-refundable but they can offer deep discounts.

On the other hand, there are &quot;last minute&quot; deals too. Visit www.smartliving.com to get emails for last minute deals.

4. Get out of town on Wednesday.

Mid-week travel is usually less expensive. If you leave on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and stay over a Saturday night, you can garner terrific savings compared to Friday through Monday when most people fly.

Start taking your vacations Wednesday-to-Wednesday or Tuesday-to-Tuesday. You'll save a lot by choosing your departure and arrival dates this way!

5. Buying a one way or split ticket.

Let's say you travel from Boston to Dallas. It may be cheaper to get two separate tickets. You could buy one ticket from Boston to Nashville and one from Nashville to Dallas.

It all depends on the connecting cities and your airlines hubs. Just tell your agent you are willing to travel out of other airports and connect using regional airports to save money.

6. Open wide.

You should look into what is called an &quot;Open-Jaw&quot; ticket. These are used when a traveler is arriving and departing from different cities.

One ticket is purchased to cover both cities. Check with your travel agent or airline representative to see if this trick is available instead of two one-way tickets. Compare the price of each.

7. An excellent online service www.sidestep.com

You enter destinations and dates and SideStep quickly searches a couple of dozen affiliated regional and international airlines to find the best rates.

8. &quot;Code share&quot;.

Ask your agent if this flight is a &quot;code-share&quot; flight. That means the same flight is offered by two different airlines. Just copy down the name of the other airline and check into what they are charging.

Only one of the airlines is actually operating the flight. The actual operator always offers this flight for less, so book with them.

9. Sign up for the airline newsletters.

From weekend getaways to international flight packages the newsletter saves you money on travel and doesn't require that you constantly visit the airline website for the latest offering.

10. The airlines often slash their fares during sluggish travel times.

Scan your travel sections in the newspapers and talk to your agent about these low fares.

Is Your Travel Experience Limited by Your Credit Card? Alex Fir is providing 250+ pages of insider tips and tricks that teach you how to travel cheap and sometimes free. Visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.kosspa.com/cheaptravel">Cheap Travel</a>

Future Shuttle Launches

The military aircraft we have are all equipped with anti-SAM systems. These prevent SAMs, Surface-to-air-missiles, which are heat seeking from hitting the aircraft. The systems send out many very hot flare type pieces out of the back of the aircraft and fool the Surface to air missile into thinking that those are the targets, thus the missile goes after the chafe flares instead of the actual aircraft. Is it possible to have such a system for the space shuttle launch? Or can we send up fire works along the perimeters of the spectator areas to trick a missile fired by anyone with a hand held surface to air shoulder launched weapon? We know our Space Shuttle could be targeted by International Terrorists. Is there a way to use a similar type system to prevent lightning strikes on the shuttle so we may launch it during thunder and lightning storms? Perhaps using a skin coating, which will melt off as it is launched and gets up to speed, which would have the correct polarity to prevent a lightning strike?

Today we see a scrubbed launch of the Space Shuttle, for a couple of reasons, one being the storm clouds approaching and the need in case of emergency for the space shuttle to depart from the rockets and glide back to land in full visibility or VFR conditions. Therefore it supposedly needs a 20-mile radius of clear clouds to make the approach and turn around. However the shuttle should be able to be guided back thru the clouds via a ground system, augmented reality simulator like the Global Hawk. Additionally why would the astronauts need to see to fly the spacecraft/aircraft at that point? After all they practice such aborted launches after lift off in simulators, where they are not actually looking at the ground and also we have available now systems, which are even used in Business Jets for zero/zero visibility landings. Just because the space shuttle would most likely be doing a dead stick landings as it always does should not make any difference, as the runway at Cape Canaveral is huge and made for such emergencies.

True safety should begin with complete reality based thinking, back up systems and confidence in the abilities of the systems and those trusted to do their job. Think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; <a target="_new" href="http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs">www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs</a>

How to Get a Free Airline Upgrade on Your Flight

Everyone wants to buy a cheap economy ticket and get bumped up to business or first class. I mean who doesn't want more comfort, more legroom, better service and lounge access? The new generation of flat seats makes flying long-haul more comfortable than ever before.

Here are a few tips for maximising your likelihood of getting that elusive upgrade.

1. Become a member of your airline's frequent flyer program. If you can reach 'elite status' then you will greatly improve your chances of getting bumped up a class.

2. Avoid flying from your carrier's main hub. You will be competing against masses of frequent flyer members so your chance of a free upgrade is minimal.

3. Book a flight that is likely to have a full economy section. A few days before your flight, check the availability of business/first class seats by doing a pretend booking on the web.

4. Choose a destination that doesn't carry heavy business traffic. Also try to fly on wide-body aircraft with plenty of available first class seats.

5. This is a clich?, but you should dress well and have decent looking luggage. If you don't fit in with the flying elite the airline will not upgrade you. Turn up with an economy ticket and a backpack and you'll be sitting at the back!

6. Do not order a special meal as this cannot be upgraded with you.

7. Travel with someone holding a higher class ticket than you.

8. Fly premium economy class - you are 2 times more likely to be upgraded than in standard economy.

9. If you are flying away on honeymoon then contact the airline in advance and ask to be upgraded.

10. If you want a guaranteed business class flight then pay for one! Use your miles to purchase an upgrade or haggle a deal at the airport.

11. Read the 'Ultimate Airfares, Upgrades and Cheap First Class Flights Guide'. If you fly internationally this unique insider ebook will show you how to find amazing cheap flight deals and help you reach the elusive first class cabin.

By utilising these tips you may be sitting at the front of the plane next time.

Safe flying!

A must-read for any international flyers, the Ultimate Airfares, Upgrades and Cheap First Class Flights Guide is now available at <a target="_new" href="http://www.airtravelgenius.com">http://www.airtravelgenius.com</a>

Budget Airlines ? Cheap Airfares for Flights around Europe can Reduce Your Vacation Costs

Here's a good tip to help cut the cost of flying to many European cities and make your dollar go a little bit further.

With the current high value of the euro, it has become increasingly expensive for Americans to take a vacation in Europe. Since 2002, the euro currency has appreciated over 45% against the US dollar. By buying cheap flights from budget airlines you can reduce your European travel costs considerably.

Rather than getting a direct trans-Atlantic flight to your destination, you can often get a better deal by flying into a hub like London, UK and then using one of the many European 'low-cost' airlines to get around the continent. This will give you both freedom and flexibility to visit more places and perhaps save a good few dollars. The great thing about the low-costs is that you don't have to purchase a return fare, so you can customize your trip as you like.

Southwest airlines successfully pioneered the low-cost concept in the US in the 1970s. In the last few years the number of budget airlines in Europe has grown significantly and you now have a number of major hubs all over the continent. These include Frankfurt (Germany), Dublin (Ireland), Brussels (Belgium), Rome (Italy) as well as London. The main players are Ryanair, Easyjet, Airberlin and Skyeurope but there are many more smaller operators. European budget airlines have had excellent safety records so far.

The network of budget airlines in Europe is quite extensive covering the whole of the continent from both east to west and north to south. Consider that just 10 years ago your only options were to take a very over-priced flight with a national carrier or alternatively sit on a train or bus over very long journeys.

Example

You want to fly from New York to Rome, Italy in the fall. Cost of flying is $575 via Spain with Iberia or $625 direct with Alitalia. However you can also fly the more competitive route to London for $400 and then book a return flight from London to Rome with Ryanair for the special offer fare of $55. Total cost $455 plus free stopover in London if you wish. Thus saving $170 or $120 off the cheapest direct and indirect scheduled flights, respectively.

Please note, flights to London from North America will arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick airports. The budget carriers generally operate out of London Luton or Stansted airports. Both are 1 hour north of the city and can be reached by bus or train.

Expensive to stay in London? Yes, but Easyjet founder Stelios Haji-Iannou has now branched out into the hotel business and his easyhotels chain now offer small rooms in Central London from just $35 per night if you book ahead.

To get the very best fares on budget carriers you should:

<li>Book as far in advance as possible. As the plane fills up the ticket price rises.</li>

<li>Fly very early or very late in the day.</li>

<li>Fly midweek, Tuesday and Wednesday being the cheapest day. Avoid Friday and Sunday evening as these can be expensive.</li>

<li>Avoid flying just before holidays and to destinations holding major events such as big soccer matches, as demand will be heavy.</li>

<li>Check budget airline websites regularly for special offers where you can sometimes get 'free' flights. Unfortunately these are not really 'free', you will have to pay the taxes and charges which will vary for each airline.</li>

A caveat about low-cost airlines. Sometimes they will not be cheaper than the full service carriers especially if you are booking at short notice. So do make price comparisons.

Also, check how far the airport is from the city centre. &quot;Frankfurt&quot; Hahn used by Ryanair is actually around 80 miles from Frankfurt. Fine for a leisure trip but possibly inconvenient if you are flying in on quick business.

You should always allow plenty of time for connections. Because of the low cost nature of the business the budget carriers won't hold your hand if there are any delays or problems. However, most flights are usually on schedule.

In summary, budget airlines in Europe will allow you to both travel around very cheaply and reach some of the more out-of-the-way destinations such as Estonia and Slovakia that you might never have considered before.

Fly like a millionaire! Secrets of low airfares, airline upgrades and cheap first class flights at <a target="_new" href="http://www.airtravelgenius.com">http://www.airtravelgenius.com</a>

Airline Security; Stewardesses The Last Line Of Defense!

Introduction:

It might come as a chock to many people, including the Stewardesses, but the fact remains that in today's Airline Industry, the Stewardess is the last line of defense!

In the 11th of September terrorist attacks, on the WTC and Pentagon, the first victims were the Stewardesses. Savagely attacked by the terrorist on their way to the cockpit's and tortured to pressure pilots, to comply with the terrorists demands.

More mundane, but daily occurrences in the International Airline Industry, is unruly passengers. Who endangers the safety of co-passengers and the aircraft due to mental disturbances, alcohol consumption, stress or disregard for airline regulations, such as remaining seated during takeoff and landing etc. or smoking in prohibited areas on smokeless flights. Stewardesses are expected to deal with these travails, as first responders and can if necessary call on the Pilots for help, if the situation is beyond their control. However, first the Stewardesses have to intervene and are often the victim, of verbal and physical abuse from the unruly passengers.

After the 9-11 attacks pilots; should show precaution before leaving the cockpit, to assist in calming or restraining unruly passengers. The incident could well be a diversion to get the pilots to open, the now locked cockpits, whereupon conspirators of the unruly passenger/s will attack to get access to the cockpit.

Onboard Security:

On the majority of flights, there are no Air Marshals, so problems have to be faced by the Stewardesses. Who either have deal with the matter on their own, or wait for the pilot or co-pilot to assist, or occasionally call upon the assistance from other passengers. As these problems, have been around for decades and will be in the future, it is simply necessary for the Stewardesses to receive training in Self-Defense and Arrest techniques. These skills should simply be part of the standard Stewardess training program, with regular retraining.

Stewardesses have not always just been service minded, multi language, pretty women; when the Icelandic Airline was originally established, all Stewardesses where former Nurses, as that was thought to be necessary, in order to deal with any medical emergencies. My opinion is that today, a similar concern is valid and that is that the Stewardesses, should be able to deal with current security threats as well. It would also be wise, to continue the current trend of adding more Stewards to the crews and preferable to the level of half of the crew.

To give the Stewardesses an extra advantage, a non-lethal weapon such as a mini stun-gun or expandable baton, could be issued and used together with handcuffs etc. CCTV should be installed, with cameras placed in strategic positions, could be supplemented with RF frequency pen-type cameras carried on the Stewardesses uniforms. Monitors should be place in all crew areas; this would give added security, not only to the Stewardesses but also to the pilots, who would be able to respond earlier, to a potential security threat from unruly passengers or terrorists.

Now, some will argue that training Stewardesses, to deal with terrorist incidents are wrong and the focus should be on passenger and baggage security screening. To those I will say yes, I fully agree, to the necessity of pre-screening of passengers and baggage and an increase in Airport security procedures is necessary. However, the current efforts are focused primarily, on simply throwing in more security personnel and making them federal employees, which in reality has done little to actually increase security. This is a fact that is evident by the many cases of persons carrying weapons onboard aircrafts anyway.

This fact has repeatedly been proven by security inspections, where security agents, have boarded aircrafts with weapons and explosives etc. There is also the fact, that the Airlines often have little control over the actual Airport security and close to no-control at foreign Airports. In many foreign airports the airlines simply have to rely on the local security and the occasional inspections, by official institutions such as the FAA etc.

There is also the real threat, of terrorist co-operators working within the Airline service industry, which has access to the Aircrafts and could place weapons or bombs onboard the Aircraft, to be used by the terrorists. And finally, the violent unruly passenger, will always be part of the environment the Stewardesses faces. Perhaps these incidents can be reduced, by enforcing higher penalties and prison terms on those who violate Airline regulations in any manner. But these procedures are going to take time and meanwhile the problem remains, in the hands of the Stewardesses; Our last line of defense!

Dan Sommer is the author of the SD Agent, a Surveillance Detection Manual, he has been part of the process of designing, implementing and training a SD team for a European Embassy. His 17 years security career started in 1986 and he has active experience from military, security, close protection, counter assault team and surveillance detection operations. Since 1994 the author has been writing training material's for security companies and police departments. He has been instructing courses world-wide for security officers, bodyguards, police officers, counter assault teams and surveillance detection units. Dan currently acts as the International Director of the World Federation of Bodyguards and has a private business as a Security & Protection Consultant. His work can be viewed at his website <a target="_new" href="http://www.DanSommer.Biz">http://www.DanSommer.Biz</a>

Airline Security; Stewardesses The Last Line Of Defense!

Introduction:

It might come as a chock to many people, including the Stewardesses, but the fact remains that in today's Airline Industry, the Stewardess is the last line of defense!

In the 11th of September terrorist attacks, on the WTC and Pentagon, the first victims were the Stewardesses. Savagely attacked by the terrorist on their way to the cockpit's and tortured to pressure pilots, to comply with the terrorists demands.

More mundane, but daily occurrences in the International Airline Industry, is unruly passengers. Who endangers the safety of co-passengers and the aircraft due to mental disturbances, alcohol consumption, stress or disregard for airline regulations, such as remaining seated during takeoff and landing etc. or smoking in prohibited areas on smokeless flights. Stewardesses are expected to deal with these travails, as first responders and can if necessary call on the Pilots for help, if the situation is beyond their control. However, first the Stewardesses have to intervene and are often the victim, of verbal and physical abuse from the unruly passengers.

After the 9-11 attacks pilots; should show precaution before leaving the cockpit, to assist in calming or restraining unruly passengers. The incident could well be a diversion to get the pilots to open, the now locked cockpits, whereupon conspirators of the unruly passenger/s will attack to get access to the cockpit.

Onboard Security:

On the majority of flights, there are no Air Marshals, so problems have to be faced by the Stewardesses. Who either have deal with the matter on their own, or wait for the pilot or co-pilot to assist, or occasionally call upon the assistance from other passengers. As these problems, have been around for decades and will be in the future, it is simply necessary for the Stewardesses to receive training in Self-Defense and Arrest techniques. These skills should simply be part of the standard Stewardess training program, with regular retraining.

Stewardesses have not always just been service minded, multi language, pretty women; when the Icelandic Airline was originally established, all Stewardesses where former Nurses, as that was thought to be necessary, in order to deal with any medical emergencies. My opinion is that today, a similar concern is valid and that is that the Stewardesses, should be able to deal with current security threats as well. It would also be wise, to continue the current trend of adding more Stewards to the crews and preferable to the level of half of the crew.

To give the Stewardesses an extra advantage, a non-lethal weapon such as a mini stun-gun or expandable baton, could be issued and used together with handcuffs etc. CCTV should be installed, with cameras placed in strategic positions, could be supplemented with RF frequency pen-type cameras carried on the Stewardesses uniforms. Monitors should be place in all crew areas; this would give added security, not only to the Stewardesses but also to the pilots, who would be able to respond earlier, to a potential security threat from unruly passengers or terrorists.

Now, some will argue that training Stewardesses, to deal with terrorist incidents are wrong and the focus should be on passenger and baggage security screening. To those I will say yes, I fully agree, to the necessity of pre-screening of passengers and baggage and an increase in Airport security procedures is necessary. However, the current efforts are focused primarily, on simply throwing in more security personnel and making them federal employees, which in reality has done little to actually increase security. This is a fact that is evident by the many cases of persons carrying weapons onboard aircrafts anyway.

This fact has repeatedly been proven by security inspections, where security agents, have boarded aircrafts with weapons and explosives etc. There is also the fact, that the Airlines often have little control over the actual Airport security and close to no-control at foreign Airports. In many foreign airports the airlines simply have to rely on the local security and the occasional inspections, by official institutions such as the FAA etc.

There is also the real threat, of terrorist co-operators working within the Airline service industry, which has access to the Aircrafts and could place weapons or bombs onboard the Aircraft, to be used by the terrorists. And finally, the violent unruly passenger, will always be part of the environment the Stewardesses faces. Perhaps these incidents can be reduced, by enforcing higher penalties and prison terms on those who violate Airline regulations in any manner. But these procedures are going to take time and meanwhile the problem remains, in the hands of the Stewardesses; Our last line of defense!

Dan Sommer is the author of the SD Agent, a Surveillance Detection Manual, he has been part of the process of designing, implementing and training a SD team for a European Embassy. His 17 years security career started in 1986 and he has active experience from military, security, close protection, counter assault team and surveillance detection operations. Since 1994 the author has been writing training material's for security companies and police departments. He has been instructing courses world-wide for security officers, bodyguards, police officers, counter assault teams and surveillance detection units. Dan currently acts as the International Director of the World Federation of Bodyguards and has a private business as a Security & Protection Consultant. His work can be viewed at his website <a target="_new" href="http://www.DanSommer.Biz">http://www.DanSommer.Biz</a>

Sex in a Cessna, Part I

If you have never had sex in a Cessna or other small aircraft then you probably might wish to read this article. It is fun, exhilarating and can get a little tricky if you do not do it correctly. Yes, in fact there is a right way and a wrong way to have sex in a Cessna. The reason I chose Cessna for this article is not because it is the only aircraft I have done it in; but because it is the most popular light aircraft. If you are two guys reading this article, I do not have any pointers for you, as I am into only the heterosexual endeavors in that regard.

First you will need to find a practice area in your region and you will of course as the saying goes be at least a mile up; for proper mile-club initiation. Also make sure on the sectional chart that there are no nearby VORs or common flight paths. One of you will need to be glancing out the windscreen from time to time to look for traffic. Remember something the size of a bug coming at you at 300 knots; closing speed, will get pretty big pretty fast and they might not see you.

Once you are in position, not sexual position; first we need to get the aircraft trimmed up in stable flight. If you are in an aircraft with auto-pilot and not very bumpy air you will enjoy the experience much more. If you have 3-axis autopilot sex in a Cessna can me a lot of fun and you will most likely wish to do it often. If you have only a 2-axis auto pilot there will be times when you will want to adjust the controls from time to time. It is okay if you are a little nervous the first time, this is a good thing and keeps you on your toes. This promotes safety and of course added excitement for the sexual encounter.

Once you have the aircraft in level flight and trimmed up and/or auto pilot set. Slide the seat all the way back and lock it into position. Next remove your pants, both of you. Take them all the way off; do not, I repeat do not put them only down to your ankles. If you get into turbulence you will need to be able to put your feet back on the rudder pedals and if they are bound up with your pants around your ankles this will cause a problem. Trust me on this point please; yes it was exciting, but I will never do it that way again. Think about this a second.

End of Part I.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; <a target="_new" href="http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs">www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs</a>

Airport Travel Tips: Reducing Waiting Times

Key Travel Tips

Following these tips will help you reduce your wait time at the security checkpoint.

Before you go to the Airport

? Do not pack or bring Prohibited Items to the airport.

? Place valuables such as jewelry, cash and laptop computers in carry-on baggage only.

? Tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop.

? Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the alarm on the metal detector.

? Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal or have thick soles or heels. Many types of footwear will require additional screening even if the metal detector does not alarm.

? Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film.

? Declare firearms & ammunition to your airline and place them in your checked baggage.

? If you wish to lock your baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock.

? Do not bring lighters or prohibited matches to the airport.

? Do not pack wrapped gifts and do not bring wrapped gifts to the checkpoint. Wrap on arrival or ship your gifts prior to your departure. TSA may have to unwrap packages for security reasons.

While at the Airport

Each adult traveler needs to keep available his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID until exiting the security checkpoint. Due to different airport configurations, at many airports you will be required to display these documents more than once.

? Place the following items IN your carry-on baggage or in a plastic bag prior to entering the screening checkpoint:

o Mobile phones

o Keys

o Loose change

o Money clips

o PDA's (personal data assistants)

o Large amounts of jewelry

o Metal hair decorations

o Large belt buckles

? Take your laptop and video cameras with cassettes OUT of their cases and place them in a bin provided at the checkpoint.

? Take OFF all outer coats, suit coats, jackets and blazers.

Marisol Boatwright is an Independent Travel Agent with Global Travel International. She has years of experience in the travel agency business and wants to help people with their travel needs. Whether it be for hotel or air reservations, auto rentals, cruises, or vacation packages, Marisol will be able to help.

<a target="_new" href="http://boatrighttravels.globaltravel.com">http://boatrighttravels.globaltravel.com</a>
mailto:boatwrim@bellsouth.net

How to Overcome Jetlag

Jetlag seems to be every traveler's worst nightmare ? especially if you're going away for just a short while.

What causes Jetlag?

Jetlag is a condition that arises from crossing multiple time zones in a relatively short time and consequently disturbs your natural body clock or circadian rhythms. Other contributing factors include lack of exercise, dry atmosphere and alcohol.

What are the symptoms of Jetlag?

Arriving at your destination feeling tried, groggy and disorientated are the most common symptoms. Many people also find it difficult to concentrate and have very erratic sleep patterns. Waking up in the middle of the night or feeling a need to take nap during the day can be frequent.

Because of the dry atmosphere aboard aircraft, Dehydration can also be a major problem.

How long do the symptoms last for?

Jetlag symptoms can last for just a few hours ? all the way up to a week (for more acute cases). Generally though, travelers find on a normal flight between the US and Europe, the effects of Jetlag last for a couple of days. As a guide, for every time zone you cross, allow for a full day of recovery. Symptoms also vary by age. Children are far less susceptible.

How can Jetlag symptoms be reduced?

Before you depart, make sure that you get plenty of sleep. Eat well and avoid alcohol. Allow for plenty of time before departure. Stress is one of the worst culprits. Also, try taking some zinc supplements as it's been proven that people with higher zinc levels tend to suffer less.

While traveling, drink plenty of water. Stay away from alcohol, fizzy drinks and coffee. These drinks only exacerbate jetlag causing dehydration, tiredness and headaches. Drink plenty of water. Chamomile tea is very calming. Eat Lightly. The last thing your body needs it to digest a large meal. Exercise - &quot;Economy Class Syndrome&quot; is caused from inactivity or sitting in the same position for an extended time. When the time permits, get up and walk around the aircraft.

Specific exercises and stretching techniques can be accessed through:

http://www.airnz.co.nz/resources/inflight_exercises.pdf

Try and get some sleep. Sleeping onboard will not only help to pass the time, but can help you feel refreshed upon arrival. A travel neck pillow will assist in your sleeping, providing excellent head support. Avoid sleeping pills at all costs.

When you arrive, getting a quick nap will seem very attractive indeed ? but resist this temptation. Go to bed at your normal bedtime (based on local time). This will force your body to adjust to any new time zones far quicker.

Article by Travel J - Traveler's Resources & Information - http://www.travelj.com

Sarah Moore has been in the travel and tourism industry for over 20 years and is currently working with one of the worlds largest coach networks. Sarah is also the webmaster of TravelJ - A Traveler's Resources & Information Network - <a target="_new" href="http://www.travelj.com">http://www.travelj.com</a>

Entering Business Aviation, Part IV: Crafting a Resume

Writing a r?sum? can be one of the most daunting parts of any job search. Quite frankly, it is one of the most important elements in helping you finding work. A good r?sum? can ease doors open while a poorly written one will certainly shut these very same doors. In aviation, there are certain things that must be included in a r?sum? to help you get noticed: getting noticed is, of course, the first step in securing an interview which may lead to employment.

There is no "one-size fits all" r?sum? that will guarantee success. In my many years of reviewing pilot and, later, flight attendant r?sum?s I have seen submitted anything from multipage treatises to two paragraph summations. As a private flight attendant, your r?sum? should fall somewhere in between: a one page copy is the preferred length in this industry.

The top part of your r?sum? must include the following:

1. Your name

2. Your complete address: house or apartment number, street, city, state, zip and country if applying internationally.

3. Your home phone number.

4. Your cell phone or secondary number such as a fax machine.

5. Your email address.

This information should be centered for easy reading and your copy should be on white or off white paper. No fancy fonts, no loud colors, nothing to make it stand out. Why? More than likely it will be trashed if it is not visually appealing. Trust me: in business aviation, which is generally a very conservative field, the flamboyant self promoter is often ignored.

What follows next is open to debate. Some human resources people insist that you need an Objective on your r?sum? while others do not. If you do include an Objective, please write a strong and positive statement of your career and job objective, concentrating on your strengths and how you can add value to a potential employer. When creating your objective, use clear and concise language. One of the advantages of including an Objective is that it tends to set the tone for the entire page. Leaving one out is sometimes preferable if you are applying for different positions. Always state in the Objective what you can contribute to the company and not what you want to get out of the company.

After you write your Objective, you should follow up with your work history. Please, if you have been working for many years, you might want to consider limiting your information to the last ten years. A r?sum? is not your job history, rather it is a summation of who you are and what you bring to the table. Save the nitty gritty details for the application form. This is particularly important if you are over 40: do not kid yourself by thinking that age discrimination does not occur. You want to get the interview and then work on getting the job during the interview. In some situations you will not even get the interview if someone finds out that you are 49. Is this legal? Usually, no. Is it provable? You probably will never find out.

After including your work history, you will need to list your training. If you completed FACTS, Alteon, FlightSafety, etc. then spell it out. Include training locations, dates, and a brief synopsis of the training. For example, "emergency egress training, emergency medical procedures, food safety and culinary arts, wine service, etc." Do not write several paragraphs but do include some information about what was accomplished during your training. Taking other types of training related to the field can and should be mentioned as well including: food service, wine courses, language training, etc. The training section could easily be titled "Education" and include college degrees and other post high school training as well.

References: Please do not include references on your r?sum?! If you feel the need to mention references, please conclude your r?sum? with something like this: References furnished upon request. That's it. Nothing fancy. If you do mention that references will be included at a later time please make sure that you have at least three, be prepared to present them upon request, and make sure your references know that you are using them as references.

Hobbies: Hmmm.... I am not sure why some people feel the need to include details on how they spend their free time. Perhaps they are trying to tell the person reading the r?sum? that they are a well rounded person. In my opinion, save those details for your interview.

Other personal information: In most states giving out one's marital status, age, height and weight is illegal. If you are applying for work overseas the company or agency may want this information in addition to a full length picture of yourself and a headshot. I have heard objections from some about this particular practice. Remember: the U.S. Bill of Rights stops at our borders. If you want to work internationally, you must respect local laws and customs. Your opinion will probably not shape what they want; if you do not like it then do not apply.

College and universities are key institutions where many get their first try at crafting a r?sum?. I like what the University at Buffalo School of Management has to say about writing a r?sum?:

Do:

* Do try to fit your r?sum? on one page

* Do leave an appropriate amount of margin space (1/2 ? 1 inch is good, no less than ? inch)

* Do use positive action verbs to highlight your skills

* Do use the present tense for current activities and the past tense for previous experiences

* Do place important items in the most prominent areas of your r?sum?

* Do proofread your r?sum? for spelling, punctuation, grammatical, and typographical errors

* Do make sure your r?sum? is neatly typed and letter perfect

* Do be honest and accurate in the facts you give on your r?sum?

* Do be Positive!

Do Not:

* Do not write R?SUM? on top of the page

* Do not use "I," "Me," or any abbreviations!

* Do not date the r?sum?, attach advertisements, or list salary requirements

* Do not leave out volunteer or other experiences where you have demonstrated relevant skills

* Do not give any false information

* Do not include reasons for changing jobs

Have others proofread your copy and do not be offended by their suggestions or comments. Consider all comments and suggestions for change; if you are rigid about your r?sum? you may be too rigid for this industry. Remember, there is no "one-size fits all" r?sum?; your copy, however, should accurately reflect what you are all about and what you can do for the company.

Matt manages the Aviation Employment Board a job resource center for aviators: <a target="_new" href="http://www.aviationemploymentboard.com">http://www.aviationemploymentboard.com</a> In addition, he manages the very successful Corporate Flight Attendant Community at <a target="_new" href="http://www.cabinmanagers.com">http://www.cabinmanagers.com</a> and <a target="_new" href="http://www.corporateflyer.net">http://www.corporateflyer.net</a>

5 Tips for Stress Free Long Haul Flights

The world is becoming smaller by the day. Flying long haul to distant locations for business or pleasure is becoming increasingly more popular. There are more aircraft, more airports to fly to and more people ready to spend half a day or longer in the air. It is quite simply easier and cheaper than it used to be fly long haul. Unfortunately, the experience of traveling to the other side of the world can very often be a stressful and exhausting affair, especially for the uninitiated or unprepared. This doesn't have to be the case. Just follow this guide to a stress free long haul flight and you can sit back and enjoy the whole experience!

Step 1: Do Your Homework:

A little bit of homework will certainly help you to discover the right airline for you. The Internet is an excellent resource in this regard, but don't ignore you're local travel agent who may have a wealth of customer experience with various airlines.

You might want to find out who is going to offer the most leg-room, what the quality of food is like and how reputable their customer service is. Most airlines now offer some sort of in-seat entertainment such as Singapore airline's Krisworld system (Always very good) and I particularly enjoyed Japan airline's onscreen camera views allowing you to see forwards from the nose of the aircraft or down over wherever you are flying. These systems are good way to kill a few hours of any flight.

Of course the price is important and shopping around really pays off. Don't be afraid to go straight to the airline and check out any special offers they might have as well as using high street and Internet based agents.

Step 2: Airport Time:

You will usually be expected to check in 2 hours in advance of your long haul flight although it always pays to arrive a little earlier than this as most people will arrive in the queue around this time. You are better off spending 3 hours sat in the departure lounge with a good book than standing in the check-in queue!

Of course the earlier you are the better chance you have of reserving a good seat. Many airlines are now introducing services on their websites that allow you to reserve seats, order meals and allow you to check-in via automated express check-in systems; the best way to do it by far.

Step 3: Enjoy the flight:

On a 19 hour flight it is important to keep yourself occupied. The obvious solution is a good book. I always start a book a few days before I fly so that I'm already 'into it' before I get on the plane, ensuring a pre-planned slice of escapism.

These days we are blessed with in-seat technologies to keep us entertained, these will often include the latest blockbuster films, video games and all sorts of TV shows and in flight information. I still find, however, that the trusty book is the best way to kill some time.

The holy grail of long haul flight is being able to get some quality sleep. Air quality, light sources, noise and cramped upright seating is certainly not conducive to falling asleep. An <a target="_new" href="http://www.ezysleep.com">Ezysleep inflatable travel pillow</a>, for example is designed to deal with the issue of supporting your neck whilst upright but there are other things you can do. Ear plugs and an eye mask can help deal with light and noise so combine them with your travel pillow for some quality sleep.

If the food isn't up to scratch, make sure you're prepared with some healthy snacks and a good supply of water. It might be free but alcohol and coffee are very dehydrating and this is the last thing you want in an already arid environment. Stick to the water and fruit juices.

Most importantly, enjoy the flight! Enjoy that time away from the mobile phones and the boss and the traffic and relax. You're 40,000 feet away from everything, make the most of it!

Step 4: Stay healthy:

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a constant worry for long haul travelers. Although extremely rare, it is a very dangerous condition. The condition is avoided by ensuring that the blood flow around your body is kept moving.

Do the exercises advised by the in-flight video and magazines, take regular walks to the galley, the toilet or just up and down the aisles and drink plenty of water.

Step 5: Avoid Jet Lag:

The best way to avoid, or minimize, jet-lag is to start planning whilst on your flight. Set your watch to your destination time as soon as you can and do your best to sleep when it's night time where you are going, even if that means missing onboard meals.

Keep drinking that water so you're not dehydrated when you land. When you get to your destination, don't hit the hay straight away. Try to stay awake until the evening and you'll give yourself the best chance to adjust quickly to your new time zone.

Based in the UK, James Wittering looks after online marketing for the Ezysleep travel pillow people. He also has a home in South Australia and finds the flight back considerably more comfortable with an <a target="_new" href="http://www.ezysleep.com">inflatable travel pillow.</a>

Cracking Aircraft Windows with Directed Sound Waves

Today our modern military scientists have found many uses for directed energy beams. Some of these uses include communication, non-lethal weapons and high-energy lasers. Directed sound waves and harmonics maybe the answer to stopping manned aircraft in the battlespace on its way to find our blue force as its next target. Using such directed waves we can penetrate and crack aircraft canopies, rendering the aircraft useless to continue the mission. Or so disrupt the enemies mission that it is forced to turn back completely and abort or even force the enemy pilot to eject immediately.

Currently we have talking glass technologies, which vibrate windows and can be used to whisper sounds. These same technologies, which are currently produced with acoustic transducers attached to the windows can also be replicated from a distance with directed sound. Since glass, Plexiglas etc are brittle a certain type of vibration will cause them to crack and thus a breach in the aircraft at altitudes above a certain height become immediate problems for the pilot, taking precedence over mission and going to the heart of a human's need for self preservation.

Recently a Delta Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing after the airplane's windshield cracked. Often flights with breaches in the pressurization system are forced to land or fly below twelve thousand five hundred feet where the oxygen percentages in the air are livable for humans. When even a crack appears pilots must take action as the concerns of loss of cabin pressure take priority.

A weapon of this type, which can crack windshields of aircraft would deter manned aircraft from entering a safety zone containing our military or civilian assets. Such a weapon would be inexpensive to use and save millions of dollars in anti-aircraft missiles, which often fail to hit their mark when the enemy has sufficient counter measures.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; <a target="_new" href="http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs">www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs</a>

The History of the Aircraft Wash Guys, Part Two

The continuation of the history of a small service franchise business in the aviation sector; whose humble beginnings began in the middle of a recession. This proves that anything is possible and that with enough will and entrepreneurial spirit no matter what the condition of your industry sector, you can succeed in America. Now then to continue the saga; Twelve year old Lance Winslow, the founder is almost twenty years old and is making a name for himself at several local airports. It is still a long road ahead but slowly the journey progresses like it has for countless young entrepreneurs before him. We continue:

One day when Lance sold an aircraft to Dave, who Founded The LA Title Company (A Real Estate and Title Company) The gentleman had worked for California Land and Title Company for ten years prior and he took a interesting in the self motivated young man. Lance and Dave talked about franchising and a possible partnership to franchise the business. Both loved the idea, Lance because it was his dream and Dave because he loved the aircraft washing services, which he contracted through Lance after he bought the plane from him. One day after having lunch in Lance's office they started doodling on a napkin the basic idea for the franchise in aircraft washing. The Founder of LA Title company liked the synergy of aircraft sales and aircraft washing for built in clientele. They also discussed washing cars and trucks, but Lance had barely gotten a driver's license so he could finally drive off the airport onto a public street although he had picked up some juicy accounts already.

Later he changed the name of the business to Aero-Auto Wash to encompass all types of washing, from Aircraft to Cars. At that time we washed for Evergreen Airlines, Evergreen Airspur, Offshore Oil Helicopter Companies, GTE Flight Services, FBOs, Jet Charters, Fractional Jet Companies, Flight Schools, Flying Clubs, Confederate Airforce, Civil Air Patrol, FBI, Military, Air National Guard, US Air Force, FAA Certified Repair Stations, Commuter Airlines, Air Ambulance Services,Air Charter and countless general aviation private owners with everything from EAA Biplanes to Aerostar 601s.

Lance even washed for Mr. Delorean, several movie stars and many founders of large companies; one of the coolest jobs around. Lance found synergies in the different washing businesses. Someone who owned an airplane most likely owned a business, was a farmer, high-ranking executive and if not certainly knew others who were. Thus built in clientele in nearly every industry and after flying around all over California he noticed things on the ground that needed his services. Mr. Winslow still uses aerial pictures and mapping to target accounts to this day.

The business plan on a napkin franchising idea lay dormant from 1985 to until 1993 when Lance went to go re-visit the Founder of LA Title at his Burbank, CA corporate high rise office building. Lance was ready to go for his dream and needed to get some venture capital about 1-2 million. At that time the Founder of LA Title was not interested seeing the enormity of such an undertaking and instead provided Lance with his expertise and advice for free and a confidential copy of the LA Title Business Plan for Lance to review and use to help him devise a winning business plan. Lance searched around for venture capital for about a year and gave up in disgust, venture capitalists were too dumb to understand the incredible opportunity in the marketplace; he thought. To compound things they did not think a guy who left school could handle such an undertaking. Lance had quit college to run the expanding business. He felt college was superficial and that he had more experience and a better sense of reality than the textbooks of yester year being taught by Professors who had never actually run a business of any kind. By that time Lance had been operating in many other industries such as Agriculture Cleaning, Concrete Cleaning, Fleet Washing, Auto Detailing, Car Washing and of course Aviation.

www.tractorwashguys.com

www.concretewashguys.com

www.truckwashguys.com

www.carwashguys.com

www.detailguys.com

Lance was looking to take all his knowledge and bring it to the market on a big scale starting in California and then the Sun Belt States and eventually into Europe. Without any success in finding venture capital, Lance continued his business, got into politics and at nights, sometimes all night writing up plans to fulfill his mission. Spending countless sleepless nights writing over 1 million words into manuals, marketing plans, Business Plans, etc. he was convinced that he had to move forward. Lance Winslow's business plan got so big 400 plus pages that he could not even call it a business plan anymore and named it FranPlan. During this time Lance also became involved in motorcycle street racing, the speed did not bother him much, so he did quite well. Lance also got into trouble for flying under a bridge although his friend an FAA Examiner gave him a warning, "If you ever try anything like that again, I'll have you thrown in jail, now get the hell out of here!!"

End Part II

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; <a target="_new" href="http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs">www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs</a>

Cactus Fly-In, Casa Grande AZ

Every year in Arizona is the Cactus Fly-in which is one of the largest events in the city of Casa Grande AZ air show and fly-in, which is always well attended and a huge success. The event seems to be growing every year, much busier this year than last year even though general aviation has suffered due to 9-11. It is events like this that help us promote our general aviation business sector in the United States.

http://www.cactusflyin.org

The weather was great this year, not too hot and no rain. We are seeing a recovery in general aviation after many companies, especially FBO at smaller airports were forced out of business. Sure many of these services will be replaced, but the all in one type aviation services business will be tough, airport flight schools may opt out of other type services and concentrate on what they are good at and what is most profitable. We may see less bundling of services due to costs and outsourcing of other services such as aircraft washing which requires an extra lineman to do washing services on call.

There will be other small businesses fulfilling these niches thus a cost savings to the FBO (Fixed Based Operator). In airport business magazine in Feb there was an article discussing the plight of the FBO. Those FBOs still in business will need to hire niche companies so they can continue to bundle services for aircraft owners and chief pilots of corporate aircrafts and collect a small fee for finding these other smaller companies additional work.

In many cases such a strategy can save the FBO in increasing insurance costs. Let us take aircraft washing for instance by hiring an aircraft washing service, as it saves them on their insurance policies, whose agents typically would rather not attach a rider policy for aircraft washing since most underwriters are against washing due to problems associated with water entering fuel tanks accidentally or water freezing pitot tubes or static ports. Also common are electrical problems or avionics failures due to water entering where it shouldn't causing or attributing to a crash. Although there have not been too many NTSB findings where washing procedures cashed a crash, several have attributed to the comedy of errors usually associated with crashes, a multiplying of problems which eventually causes a crash. A separate company specializing in aircraft washing will have its own washing procedures and can help aviation safety with regards to washing.

The FBOs are adjusting their strategic marketing plans to meet the financial challenges in general aviation. Fly-ins and air shows like the Cactus Fly-In is a way all of us can show our support for our general aviation business sector. Think on it.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; <a target="_new" href="http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs">www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs</a>

Laser Beam Guidance for Oshkosh Air Show

The Federal Aviation Administration is devising a method of alerting pilots who enter a restricted airspace to leave immediately. To do this is will use a laser beam pointed at the aircraft in a certain color. This is something new, but the concept is probably something, which came from the VASI light system for glide paths on landing. VASI is Vertical Air Situation Indicator.

General Aviation pilots are familiar with the sayings; &quot;Red over red you're Dead.&quot; The VASI lights had a set of green and red lights three rows. If you only saw green in the middle you were on a proper glide path, but if you saw the red only you were too low and liable to hit something and ruin your whole day, bite the farm or not walk away from that landing.

Each year at Oshkosh Wisconsin is the annual Experimental Aircraft Association, the largest event of its kind in the world. Planes fly in from all over and converge at Oshkosh. There are always a few deaths and mid-air collisions and hundreds of near misses. I propose the FAA allow the EAA to use the laser system to alert pilots that they are on the proper approach and heading. Thus preventing any crashes.

Currently you have probably heard on the news that the FAA wants to use these lasers to prevent pilots from entering restricted airspace, especially around Washington DC or Crawford TX, etc. The Military would also like to keep general aviation pilots away, so they do not have to shoot them down. The whole thing is a bit controversial. Airplane Owners and Pilots Association states their position:

&quot;Safety of the nation's pilots should be the highest priority for government agencies charged with regulating the use of lasers. While AOPA does not believe that lasers pose a significant safety issue that warrants the use of temporary or permanent airspace restrictions, general aviation pilots should be aware that higher power lasers are more readily available, and at least one study shows that they may cause temporary vision changes from lasers. Because general aviation aircraft often fly at relatively low altitudes, today's strongest lasers may pose a threat to the safety of the flight in all flight regimes.&quot;

The FAA assures the AOPA, EAA and other pilot's association not to worry it will not be using any high powered lasers like was used against the Delta Heavy on its way into Salt Lake City or the many others we heard about in the news. Many pilots blamed the AFRL Air Force Research Lab for doing some sort of tests and the conspiracy theorists of course blamed the UFOs and aliens? Hard to keep everyone happy these days. The AOPA http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/air_traffic/lasers.html also noted that:

&quot;AOPA has also learned that the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is evaluating the use of laser beam technology to visually alert to aircraft that violate the security-restricted airspace around Washington, D.C. Very few details have emerged about this research project; however, AOPA is concerned about the safety of general aviation. According to NORAD officials, the ground-based laser system uses safety-tested low-level beams of alternating green and red laser lights to alert pilots that they are flying without approval in designated airspace. This system would be used when the aircraft in question cannot be contacted on VHF voice radio by ATC. According to the FAA, a preliminary test of the system showed that the laser illumination is "eye safe." However, the FAA contends, and AOPA agrees, that a number of important steps must be taken before the system is fielded. A special advisory must be developed to alert pilots of the new system, operational procedures must be developed, and a broad education and outreach effort must be made to the pilot community. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is aware of this research and the need to prevent potential safety hazards to pilots.&quot;

So with all this said it does appear that a low intensity laser beam guidance system might come in very handy as 50,000 private aircraft converge on this years Oshkosh air show in less than 4-days? Think on this and see you there. Oshkosh 2005; http://www.airventure.org/

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; <a target="_new" href="http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs">www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs</a>

Helicopters - The Multi Utility Machines

The vertical lift technology of helicopters has far more utilitarian aspects to its credit than only being an effective mode of transport. In India, civil helicopters are performing transportation business, be it executive or offshore. But, with Indian skies opening up to international aviation and domestic aviation getting global, it is time we understand that helicopters are the connecting links towards its success. Helicopters can reach where nothing else can. Helicopters can perform EMS (Emergency Medical Service), Law Enforcement, Power Line Survey, Fire Fighting, SAR (Search and Rescue), ENG (Electronic News Gathering) at the same time as connecting the remotest places to the center. While effort is on to improvise our country's infrastructure by introducing metro rail, building expressways, modernizing railways, building better airports, it is time to incorporate helicopter services as well. Heliports along the expressways and railway tracks will enable timely rescue services in case of accidents.

We need to understand that there is a difference between getting there and getting there fast. There is a distinction between supporting lives and life support. In the western countries EMS is a very common service where in case of any medical requirement or accident, helicopters provide air ambulance service. Since India's telecom has become excellent with mobile network available even in the oddest of places, it is possible to have a hotline to connect to this service and make EMS helicopter available wherever required. It is a good idea for insurance companies to integrate with the management of EMS by integrating with various agencies. For example, the toll tax collected at expressways can incorporate a small amount of insurance money to insure passengers of availing EMS in case of any mishap. Credit card companies can also get their customers insured for this service. Hospitals can offer this service to the corporates who would not mind insuring their employees for EMS in case required. Options can be explored. The government needs to integrate with all the relevant sectors to make this happen. EMS is very common in the developed nations and it can be done here as well. It is definitely required to manage the second largest population of the world.

Another very important segment where vertical lift technology makes its presence almost inevitable is homeland security or law enforcement. The helicopter is often referred to as a &quot;Force Multiplier.&quot; Studies have shown that helicopter teams have a felony arrest rate as high as six to ten times that of car teams alone. The helicopter has also been shown to support, or &quot;back up&quot;, as many as twenty-six ground vehicles within its geographical area of responsibility. The aerial vantage gives the helicopter about 15 times the surveillance capacity of a ground unit. This vantage point plus the speed in which a helicopter can get a trained police observer over a crime scene (usually less than two minutes), provides the containment that essentially assures an arrest. A police helicopter can also be shared between public service agencies for duties such as traffic survey, fire control, EMS, environmental surveys, zoning and other public service missions. In 1948, NYPD (New York Police Department) placed its first helicopter into service, a Bell 47 D and since then there has been a significant evolution in Air Borne law enforcement. This evolution should bring in a change into India's law enforcement as well. The first step in this regard would be to look beyond that the helicopter is an expensive luxury. The helicopter has been proven by police departments around the world to be very cost effective means of increasing the efficiency of a department's existing resources, when properly utilized.

Other utility functions, which can be performed by a helicopter, are fire fighting, Electronic news gathering, power line survey, offshore oil and gas support, aerial application and air tourism. While heli tourism, offshore support and to some extent ENG has become possible in India, we still have to explore their use in India into fire fighting, power line survey and aerial application.

Helicopters play a leading role in fire fighting support. It provides observers a platform to assess a situation and provide ground units and other aircraft a clear description of the problem and how to combat it. Pinpointing location, moving equipment, finding water sources and rescuing victims from high-rise buildings can also be done much faster.

Electronic newsgathering is another major area of thrust for helicopter use these days. As our society becomes media savvy everyday, new agencies and media groups need to get news faster and crispier. Thus, helicopters are used to reach the place of incident faster and report from there on. Already, some news agencies are using helicopters for ENG but with news channels multiplying everyday, the use of helicopters can be exploited much more. The 2010 Common Wealth games being held in Delhi are a good platform to exploit the use of helicopters to their maximum potential in providing live and express coverage.

A helicopter best performs power line, pipeline, and fibre optic line patrol. Its excellent visibility and the ability to fly low and slow, or hover and land make the helicopter the best patrol aircraft. Cathode protection surveys utilizing a helicopter in the remote access areas can actually save companies money over the conventional methods. Surveys can be accomplished 4-5 times faster using a helicopter.

Helicopter Missions are endless. They respond to accidents, coordinate disaster relief, make traffic surveys, fly Air Medical missions, track suspects and stem the growth and distribution of narcotics. It is time for India to look towards these machines beyond their present image of corporate transport to an indispensable source of support towards modernizing infrastructure of India.

Mehnaz Ansari

Airline Security; Stewardesses The Last Line Of Defense!

Introduction:

It might come as a chock to many people, including the Stewardesses, but the fact remains that in today's Airline Industry, the Stewardess is the last line of defense!

In the 11th of September terrorist attacks, on the WTC and Pentagon, the first victims were the Stewardesses. Savagely attacked by the terrorist on their way to the cockpit's and tortured to pressure pilots, to comply with the terrorists demands.

More mundane, but daily occurrences in the International Airline Industry, is unruly passengers. Who endangers the safety of co-passengers and the aircraft due to mental disturbances, alcohol consumption, stress or disregard for airline regulations, such as remaining seated during takeoff and landing etc. or smoking in prohibited areas on smokeless flights. Stewardesses are expected to deal with these travails, as first responders and can if necessary call on the Pilots for help, if the situation is beyond their control. However, first the Stewardesses have to intervene and are often the victim, of verbal and physical abuse from the unruly passengers.

After the 9-11 attacks pilots; should show precaution before leaving the cockpit, to assist in calming or restraining unruly passengers. The incident could well be a diversion to get the pilots to open, the now locked cockpits, whereupon conspirators of the unruly passenger/s will attack to get access to the cockpit.

Onboard Security:

On the majority of flights, there are no Air Marshals, so problems have to be faced by the Stewardesses. Who either have deal with the matter on their own, or wait for the pilot or co-pilot to assist, or occasionally call upon the assistance from other passengers. As these problems, have been around for decades and will be in the future, it is simply necessary for the Stewardesses to receive training in Self-Defense and Arrest techniques. These skills should simply be part of the standard Stewardess training program, with regular retraining.

Stewardesses have not always just been service minded, multi language, pretty women; when the Icelandic Airline was originally established, all Stewardesses where former Nurses, as that was thought to be necessary, in order to deal with any medical emergencies. My opinion is that today, a similar concern is valid and that is that the Stewardesses, should be able to deal with current security threats as well. It would also be wise, to continue the current trend of adding more Stewards to the crews and preferable to the level of half of the crew.

To give the Stewardesses an extra advantage, a non-lethal weapon such as a mini stun-gun or expandable baton, could be issued and used together with handcuffs etc. CCTV should be installed, with cameras placed in strategic positions, could be supplemented with RF frequency pen-type cameras carried on the Stewardesses uniforms. Monitors should be place in all crew areas; this would give added security, not only to the Stewardesses but also to the pilots, who would be able to respond earlier, to a potential security threat from unruly passengers or terrorists.

Now, some will argue that training Stewardesses, to deal with terrorist incidents are wrong and the focus should be on passenger and baggage security screening. To those I will say yes, I fully agree, to the necessity of pre-screening of passengers and baggage and an increase in Airport security procedures is necessary. However, the current efforts are focused primarily, on simply throwing in more security personnel and making them federal employees, which in reality has done little to actually increase security. This is a fact that is evident by the many cases of persons carrying weapons onboard aircrafts anyway.

This fact has repeatedly been proven by security inspections, where security agents, have boarded aircrafts with weapons and explosives etc. There is also the fact, that the Airlines often have little control over the actual Airport security and close to no-control at foreign Airports. In many foreign airports the airlines simply have to rely on the local security and the occasional inspections, by official institutions such as the FAA etc.

There is also the real threat, of terrorist co-operators working within the Airline service industry, which has access to the Aircrafts and could place weapons or bombs onboard the Aircraft, to be used by the terrorists. And finally, the violent unruly passenger, will always be part of the environment the Stewardesses faces. Perhaps these incidents can be reduced, by enforcing higher penalties and prison terms on those who violate Airline regulations in any manner. But these procedures are going to take time and meanwhile the problem remains, in the hands of the Stewardesses; Our last line of defense!

Dan Sommer is the author of the SD Agent, a Surveillance Detection Manual, he has been part of the process of designing, implementing and training a SD team for a European Embassy. His 17 years security career started in 1986 and he has active experience from military, security, close protection, counter assault team and surveillance detection operations. Since 1994 the author has been writing training material's for security companies and police departments. He has been instructing courses world-wide for security officers, bodyguards, police officers, counter assault teams and surveillance detection units. Dan currently acts as the International Director of the World Federation of Bodyguards and has a private business as a Security & Protection Consultant. His work can be viewed at his website <a target="_new" href="http://www.DanSommer.Biz">http://www.DanSommer.Biz</a>

Jet Lag ? 5 In-flight Tips

The secret to combating jet lag, and arriving at your destination with little or no jet lag, lies in sound preparation well in advance of your date of travel. This, however, is only the foundation of your "anti jet lag" plan and all of your sound preparatory work will be wasted if you don't also ensure that you follow a sensible routine during your flight.

Here are just five of the many things that you can do during your flight to reduce, or eliminate, the effects of jet lag:

1. Make sure that you get adequate rest.

Many people find that they can't, or simply don't want to, sleep during their flight. This is fine, although trying to get some sleep can certainly be helpful. If you can't, or don't want to sleep, then you should at least ensure that you take the opportunity to rest and should also try to plan your rest so that you will be aligned as far as is possible with the time at your destination.

If, for example, your twelve hour flight will get you to your destination early in the morning, try to get some sleep during the second half of the flight.

2. Make use of simple, natural sleep remedies.

If sleeping during the flight proves difficult, even with the use of such things as ear plugs and an eye mask to help simulate nighttime conditions, you may be tempted to resort to the use of sleeping pills. Don't succumb to this temptation!

A discussion on the rights and wrongs of using sleeping pills is beyond the scope of this article (although I do cover the subject in depth in articles and elsewhere on http://help-me-to-sleep.com) but, suffice it to say, that the use of sleeping pills during your flight will add to the problem of jet lag, rather than assist in reducing its effects.

There are however a number of natural sleep remedies available today which can provide a very effective solution. Of these chamomile and lavender, often taken in the form of a tea, are perhaps the best known. If these don't work in your particular case, then a slightly stronger and extremely good alternative would be either valerian root or melatonin.

3. Relax to soft, soothing music.

As an alternative to sleep, or indeed in addition to sleeping, try listening to soft, soothing music in preference to watching the in-flight movies. Even better; try some form of gentle meditation or relaxation exercises. This will not only help reduce the effects of jet lag, but will also help maintain a normal level of blood pressure and good circulation throughout a long flight.

4. Ensure that you take some exercise.

Although it can be tempting to stay in your seat throughout the flight, getting up from time to time and strolling around the cabin will refresh your body and promote both mental and physical activity. Some light exercise, particularly for your legs, will also help prevent the possibility of deep vein thrombosis ? clots forming in the legs.

5 Keep yourself well hydrated.

The artificial environment created within the aircraft cabin by both pressurization and forced ventilation can lead to dehydration and so it is extremely important that you maintain your fluid levels. Drink plenty of water or fruit juice, but avoid tea and coffee and other caffeinated drinks. You should also avoid carbonated drinks and alcohol.

One part of the secret to arriving refreshed at your destination after a long flight is to ensure that you take the opportunity to rest and relax during the flight and that you avoid stimulants. Taking the simple steps outlined here will certainly go a long way towards preventing jet lag.

Copyright 2005 Donald Saunders

Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related publications on the subject of <a href="http://help-me-to-sleep.com/index.html" target="_blank">coping with insomnia</a> and <a href="http://help-me-to-sleep.com/jet-lag/index.html" target="_blank">overcoming jet lag</a>. Drop by his website today and pick up your free copy of "How To Get A Good Night's Sleep".

A Look at Fractional Jet Ownership

We've all experienced it - the commercial flight. After a mad dash to make it to the airport on time, including the hours allotted for getting through security, where you'll have to take off your shoes, empty your pockets, and prove that your laptop is not a bomb, you sit and wait for a couple hours before they decide to start boarding, and give you the privilege of sitting in the cramped seat that you paid a couple hundred dollars for.

The mega-rich have always had the option of private aircraft available to them. If you're Donald Trump, you can think nothing of equipping yourself with a Boeing 727 that costs probably close to $50 Million (not including the costs of pilots, flight attendants, support staff, insurance, fuel, maintenance, etc.). For others, however, the idea of a private jet has been outside the realm of possibility. An exciting concept in private aviation, however, is allowing private jet travel to make more sense for those who have seriously considered it as a possibility.

Fractional jet ownership is a fairly new concept. It is based on the idea that an individual can purchase a fraction of a plane, and pay management and operation fees to a company that will be responsible for safety, pilot training, hiring of crew, and all those other things that you don't want (or wouldn't know how) to deal with. Fractional ownership can substantially cut the costs of owning your own aircraft.

Fractional jet ownership is provided by a number of companies, including Cessna's CitationShares, Bombardier's Flexjet, and NetJets, the company that started the trend. As consumer interest in fractional jet ownership has increased, so has the competition between these companies. CitationShares and Flexjet are owned by aircraft manufacturers, their respective fleets composed mainly (if not entirely) of the planes they make. NetJets, on the other hand features a broader spectrum of aircraft, and is the industry leader. As such, that's who we'll be focusing on today.

It is true that the fractionals substantially cut the costs related to owning an aircraft. That's not to say that private jet ownership is for everyone, however. The primary target of the fractionals consists of those who have considered owning (or sharing) a jet, but found the arrangements too complicated or expensive to justify, as well as those who are used to first class air travel, but want to make a step up. The fractionals are also an attractive deal for mid-sized companies who need the convenience of a private aircraft without the premium price. According to NetJets's website, purchasing a 1/8 share in a Raytheon Hawker 400XP would set you back $793,750 plus a $10,582 monthly maintenance fee, and an hourly charge of $1,501. That 1/8 share works out to about 100 occupied hours per year. Yeah, it's expensive, but when you consider the price of seven first class tickets from New York to Miami, it suddenly becomes more reasonable. In fact, as a little experiment, I attempted to get the price on such a flight on very short notice. NetJets claims that your plane will be waiting on the tarmac within 6-12 hours notice. With a commercial carrier, I was unable to find a next-day flight, I was unable to find first class seating, and on one airline, I was informed that a return flight wouldn't be available until a week after the date I requested. If short notice flights are commonplace in your life, NetJets offers the solution.

Let's say, however, that you aren't interested in a small aircraft like the 400XP. What if you want something that can fly from New York to London non-stop? Well, just step into one of NetJets's large cabin aircraft. If you are lucky enough to afford these multi-million dollar jets, you will enjoy the highest degree of luxury. The Gulfstream 550, for example, is the latest and greatest in Gulfstream's line of long-haul private aircraft. Aboard, you will find a satellite telephone, video monitors, a DVD entertainment system, data ports, a fax machine, and whatever else you need to run your operations (or enjoy some well-deserved down time) at 30,000 ft. Naturally, the Gulfstream 550 also offers a full service galley, as well as a flight attendant for you and 13 others.

The final frontier in fractional ownership is the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ). If you've ever flown on Boeing's popular line of 737 airliners, you know how big the BBJ is. That's because the BBJ is actually a gutted 737, which is then outfitted with the latest in in-flight luxury. In fact, the BBJ is even available with a boardroom, bedrooms, and a shower. Yeah..... a shower. Nothing says success like the ability to roll out of bed, take a shower, eat a nice breakfast - all while you cut through the air at 528 mph. If the $50,000,000.00 price tag (full price) is a little disturbing, owning a fraction with NetJets can take a large chunk out of it.

Fractional shares start at 1/16 of a share, which can be as low as $369,875 in a Hawker 400XP. That's 50 hours of flying time. For those who don't want the commitment (or the cost) of buying a fraction, NetJets has implemented a lower-cost solution that they call the Marquis Jet Card. The Marquis Jet Card starts at $109,900 for 25 hours in a Cessna Citation V. With the Marquis Jet Card, required notice jumps up to 10 hours, which is still much better than anything the airlines can offer. The card offers the convenience of chartering an aircraft, with the peace of mind that you get from NetJets's safety standards. Other fractional carriers also have prepaid jet cards, so this is a [somewhat] affordable solution for those who don't want to deal with the monthly or upfront costs of ownership.

If you decide that fractional ownership is for you, be warned, you should thoroughly investigate the pilot training, safety procedures, aircraft, and management services that each company offers before making a decision. The big three, NetJets, CitationShares, and Flexjet, offer excellence in each, but some newer fractional start-ups may not be up to snuff. Remember that your security and safety is paramount, and if you feel that it's inadequate with a particular company, take your business elsewhere. If you're serious about making a fractional jet purchase, and live nearby to their operations, don't hesitate to ask for a tour of their aircraft and facilities, they should be more than happy to accommodate you. Many fractional operators hold regular events around the country in which prospective buyers can take a look around the aircraft and the service that they offer.

Fractional jet ownership offers the best of luxury, security, and functionality without the premium total ownership requires. If you've been considering buying or chartering private aircraft, fractional ownership just may be for you.

Jonas Elmerraji is the founder and editor of growFolio, the world's first free online investment and business magazine. Issues are available online at <a target="_new" href="http://www.growfolio.com">http://www.growfolio.com</a>