Technical stops for Private Jets

Fuel stops for Private Jets

Why are fuel stops sometimes required?

You may have heard the term 'Fuel Stop'; however, if you are unfamiliar with this terminology, you may be unaware of the meaning and what its effect can be on your travel plans. In simple terms, a fuel stop is required when the distance from airport A to airport B is further than an aircraft's capable range. Depending on the size of the private jet, the range of distance can vary.

To ensure you are guaranteed the highest possible safety standards when boarding a flight with GlobeAir, we would like to guide you through our fuel stop measures. Be sure to read the information below so that you can understand what variables can lead us to make a fuel stop and how it will impact your flight experience.

Factors that can affect the need for a fuel stop

Distance, flight time and weight

There are various factors that can account for the reasoning behind the need for a fuel stop when flying by private jet. Taking passengers safety into consideration, below are some of the points affecting the need for a fuel stop.

Distance and flight time: GlobeAir manages a fleet of 21 Cessna Citation Mustangs, which are classified as Entry Level Jets (VLJ). This means that our distance range is better suited for flights that are three hours or less. Although we do cater for longer flights, a fuel stop would be required for a longer flight time.

Weight: The weight of the aircraft can affect the performance during the flight. The heavier the aircraft, the more fuel is burnt in the air. The weight can be affected by the number of passengers, the weight of the luggage and the amount of fuel required for take-off.

There are basic guidelines available that can make it a little easier to calculate if a fuel stop is required:

• 1 passenger – 3 hour flight time
• 2 passengers – 2h40m flight time
• 3 passengers – 2h30m flight time
• 4 passengers – 2 hour flight time

Although this provides a simple outline there are many more factors that can affect the need for a fuel stop.

Variables out of our control

Weather, route and special airports

GlobeAir will always endeavour to make your travels as efficient and hassle-free as possible. Unfortunately, there are some factors that are unavoidable.

Weather: Many passengers are aware that weather conditions may cause a delay on a rainy day however in some situations, sunny or windy conditions can also affect the performance of the aircraft. When the temperature is higher the aircraft has less air which means less lift or if there are strong headwinds predicted, more fuel is required to perform the flight.

Special Airports: Some smaller airports are based in beautiful surroundings but are affected by special conditions which require a steeper takeoff or decline. This is due to weather and shorter runways. An example of this would be Lugano, if the weather is over 20 degrees celcius, we would need more fuel to depart due to the runway length and a fuel stop would be required in Milan.

Routing: When flying in certain directions, an aircraft is able to fly at different altitudes. Depending on the routing, an aircraft is required to operate at a certain level. An aircraft will fly faster at higher altitudes because lower air density makes it easier for them to do so. When flying from the South (E.g. Spain) to the North (E.g. UK), the aircraft will be at a lower altitude affecting the fuel performance and a fuel stop would be required to reach the final destination.

How does the fuel stop affect my flight?

Timing and performance

In general, a fuel stop can take anywhere between 25 - 40 minutes on the ground. At GlobeAir, we will always look at every detail of the flight during the planning stage and try to shorten the waiting time for you. Our dedicated operations team will arrange fuel upon arrival which allows for a quicker turnaround time.

A technical stop will also be required when departing from smaller French airports where customs is not available. In order to enter the UK, all passengers are required to clear customs. This allows GlobeAir to maximize efficiency and save time when arriving at your final destination, which will then allow passengers to disembark immediately upon landing.

Depending on the fuel supplier, sometimes passengers are required to depart the aircraft during the refuelling process. One crew member will need to remain on board to perform with specific operational requirements. During this time, passengers are able to visit the FBO (Fixed-Based Operator) and make use of the lavatory, stretch their legs or grab a bite to eat.

It is our top priority to ensure that your needs are met before you even arrive at your destination. To do this, we will consider every question and work on all details beforehand or day of travel should it be necessary. Making sure that you have the best options for each potential stop along the way is just one way in which GlobeAir helps increase productivity and efficiency while travelling.