What are the best mid-sized jets in the market? It all depends on what you’re looking for, of course
As aircraft become more sophisticated, differentiation all boils down to how you want to customise your jet.
In terms of performance, cockpit systems, safety features and technological advances, most business jets in the market today are practically on a par with each other. What differentiates them would probably be the passenger experience – how comfortable is it to fly in, what amenities and in-cabin enhancements are on offer – those little details that make flying in a business jet a wonderful experience. Even here, there is a great deal of similarity.
Most – if not all – jet manufacturers can now customise cabin interiors using the latest in virtual reality technology – from the colour and pattern of the carpets, to how seating is arranged onboard, to the leather accoutrements and finishing. Galleys now allow for fully catered meals, inflight entertainment systems are top-of-the-line and Internet connectivity is practically de rigueur so passengers can remain in touch with the rest of the world. For more client-specific requests, one can hire aircraft interior design companies who can create a oneof-a-kind interior for clients, subject to safety standards, of course.
This level of customisation though requires a larger cabin and a larger aircraft to carry it. Mid-size business jets – those carrying about 10 passengers – sit at that sweet spot with cabins that offer greater space and comfort than smaller light lets, as well as offer greater speed in range. For those in the market for one, here are three that caught our eye.
How high can you go?
Introduced in 2014, Embraer’s Legacy 500 offers its eight to 12 passengers one of the largest cabins in its class, with a full suite of in-flight entertainment, a fully equipped galley, seats that convert into beds all while traveling at 43,000 feet, well above any weather and commercial traffic. The Legacy 500 can fly at speeds of up to 862 kph and travel as far as 5,788 km.
While the Legacy 500 cruises at 43,000 ft, the cabin maintains an altitude of 6,000 ft calculated to be more comfortable than the 8,000 ft of commercial airliners. The lower cabin altitude reduces the chances of altitude sickness whose symptoms can include headaches, lack of appetite, lack of energy, nausea, fatigue, and sleeplessness. This coupled with the disruption to our internal body clocks is what causes jetlag. The increased comfort brought about by the lower cabin altitude results in passengers arriving at their destinations more rested and with greater energy levels to tackle whatever business awaits them.
Currently the only available commercial airliners with a 6,000-ft cabin altitude are the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350XWB.
Like most jets in its class the Legacy 500 uses club seating in its cabin. The berthable seats can swivel 180 degrees and recline flat and join with its partner seat to form a full-length bed. The tradeoff is that there are only enough beds for half the seated passengers.
Cabin control
The Cessna Citation Latitude became available in 2015, developed from customer responses for a larger stand-up cabin compare to the Citation Sovereign Plus. It offers seating for up to nine people, a full stand-up aisle and a lavatory large enough to change clothes in. It also includes berthable seats to allow passengers a restful sleep. It flies as fast as 826 kph to a destination 5,000 km away.
The Latitude features the Clarity interface system. This allows the passengers to control the cabin, lighting, temperatures, in-flight entertainment system, and monitor the flight via an app downloaded onto the passengers’ own smart devices. The app tells passengers where they are, their speed and altitude and how long till they arrive at their destination. There is even a feature for seatto-seat text messaging from one passenger to another via their own smart devices.
Flexible layout
The Dassault Falcon 8X is the flagship product of the Dassault Falcon business jet family, flying its up 16 passengers at speeds as fast as 956 kph and as far as 11,945 km. Even with its large size, the advanced wing design of the Falcon 8X allows it to fly into and out of airfields that usually only accepts smaller aircraft.
Because it is such a large plane, this allows the 8X to have a lot of flexibility in its cabin, to suit passenger requirements. It has three zones: Zone 1 has club seating, allowing passengers to enjoy fine dining catered by the full service galley just forward of Zone 1.
Zone 2 in the middle of the cabin can feature conference seating with four seats sharing a large table, allowing some passengers space to work out details of a project. If not needed for work the conference seating and table can be converted in to a double bed with the addition of an inflatable mattress.
Zone 3 at the back of the cabin can be fully closed off from the rest of the plane allowing passengers to either watch a movie or have the divan converted into a double bed and sleep thus not be bothered by or bothering the other passengers. Part of Zone 3 is the master lavatory with plenty of storage, a large well-lit vanity, and space to stretch out. There is even a factory option for a full shower stall.