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THE AIR FORCE ONES OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR
The BBJs by Boeing Business Jet are the largest personal aircraft in existence, made by transforming American-built airliners into flying suites by Sergio Barlocchetti - ph. courtesy by Boeing Media
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Larger windows, lighter materials and furnishings whose shape is no longer determined by rigid, outdated aeronautical norms. Boeing adopts innovations and offers an almost limited range of interior layouts
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I
t’s hard to describe Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) simply as
said at an international show, “Our owners group wants resources
business jets. They are, in fact, airliners furnished as apartments
to work, they’ve given us a free hand to organise the flights and sell
and offices, and their size, facilities and capacity make them
free seats during the redeployment of the fleet at starting points”.
attractive to heads of state, VVIPs and anyone who can afford
A flight from New York to Los Angeles costs around 190,000
one. Boeing has been transforming its aircraft originally created
dollars, only 20% more than it would cost aboard a rival aircraft
for passenger transport into business jets for decades now, but it’s
like the Gulfstream 650, but with much more space available. The
not only about personalised furnishings and livery – BBJ aircraft
BBJs are the only business jets that can carry an entire football team
involve adapting on-board facilities to include luxury toilets,
or a film crew over long distances. When configured for sixteen
rooms with king-size beds, providing independence and also the
people one of these aircraft can cover almost 7,000 nautical miles,
opportunity for the crew to rest and relax on long-range flights.
hosting guests in a cabin that is 10.5 feet wide, 7 feet high and
The BBJs are based on different models from the Boeing range,
almost 80 feet long, enabling them to remain on board for over
but the most popular is the adaptation of various versions of the
twelve hours. The bedrooms include en-suite toilets and shower,
B-737. However, it’s not unusual for the largest airports to host
and the cabin also provides a private office, conference table and
Boeing 777 models transformed into flying palaces. Usage differs
a full galley where a star chef can work without having to make
from that of normal business jets, and is mainly based on the sale
too many concessions to a lack of space and equipment. In practice
of available flight hours, so the fleet can spend as much time as
it’s possible to enjoy all the creature comforts found in a suite
possible in the air in order to offset costs. A few years ago Jason
at a luxury hotel, including a full shower enabling passengers
Middleton, CEO of Silver Air, one of the operators in the sector,
to sleep, wake up, wash and have breakfast, arriving at their
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A welcoming lounge, a table for meetings or dining, armchairs that convert into beds and are operated via a tablet or smartphone, plus a bedroom with owner’s cabin and open bathroom or dedicated shower unit. The BBJ also features higher standard cabin sections for collaborators, with full broadband satellite connectivity
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destination rested and refreshed. Furnishings play a significant role, as taste cannot be dictated – some clients demand a classic style, alternating between sumptuous and baroque, while others prefer more rational, modern lines with an almost infinite range of colours and materials available. There is, of course, no list of options, starting with on-board connectivity provided across the planet by ultra-high speed satellite links, because on board a BBJ everything – or almost everything – is possible, even a system for rapid loading and unloading of the client’s car. As can be imagined, on BBJ flights the role of pilots and flight assistants differs from the one they would play on traditional flights, including business flights. They must be trained to operate systems that do not exist on other aircraft like extended fuel reserves, everything to do with A colonial-style lobby to separate the spaces and create a small social area in flight. The American designer’s intention is to overcome the limitations on movement and socialising imposed on board airliners
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on-board hospitality and even equipment carried as a defence against air attacks and missiles. Almost an Air Force One, in fact, but a private one, where cost cannot be calculated from a list but assessed on the basis of the model, features and accessories requested.
www.boeing.com/commercial/bbj