Look at virtually all air taxi firms today, including planned startups, and you will see an operation acquiring planes designed and produced by the various aircraft manufacturers of the world: Adam, Cessna, Cirrus, Diamond, Eclipse, Embraer, Honda, etc.  They are picking their vehicle from a menu of models from these manufacturers, and are thus somewhat limited in that the most desirable attributes for an air taxi could be sprinkled around among all of them, but not necessarily all in one of them.

Suppose an air taxi company discovers through extensive market research that none of the VLJs (Very Light Jets) are satisfactory for widely acceptable air taxi service.  Instead, it develops a market and product specification and solicits established manufacturers based on the promise of attracting a very large market -- it designs a plane for air taxi service.   Enter Earthjet, a new venture implementing this unique model.  Drill down in their website to the proposed four-passenger aircraft description, and note the stand-up cabin, solid cockpit safety door, a large tray table that doubles as a desk -- features not seen in the VLJs beginning to appear on the market now.  From their October press release: "The air taxi plane can be larger and more capable, yet cost no more than the microjet/VLJ pricing levels advertised today." 

This custom aircraft will be built by an established airline/business jet manufacturer, and be available in about three years.  Meanwhile, Earthjet is expected to begin U.S. operations this year with regional rollouts using other models.  International service will follow with Master Franchise rights already being acquired.

Also, note the three per-seat flight prices -- it can't be much simpler.  One to watch with a unique approach, Earthjet.

1/16/07
 

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