Joint Venture Will Offer Affordable, On-Demand Regional Air Travel

COLUMBUS, OHIO – Two central Ohio companies – Waypoint Corporation and Lane Aviation – have teamed up to launch a regional air taxi service with Very Light Jet aircraft that will operate from Port Columbus International Airport. Set to begin service by peak travel season this summer, the new on-demand travel option will be among the first of its kind in the nation.

“Waypoint’s air taxi service is as convenient as hailing a cab. Imagine a small business jet for your own use at the price of airline travel,” said Waypoint President and CEO Steven Brechter. The service will provide an affordable option for business and leisure travelers and will complement existing travel options, including commercial airlines. “Travelers can go on their own schedule, from anywhere to anywhere, with short notice, in a private jet aircraft that belongs just to them for the duration of their trip,” said Brechter.

Utilizing state-of-the-art Very Light Jet (VLJ) aircraft, the Waypoint/Lane Aviation partnership fills the gap between the airlines and traditional charter flights. “With its spotless safety record, Lane Aviation is one of the most respected aviation charter service companies in the country,” said Brechter. “By partnering with Lane, we get a safe and professional operation to fill an aviation niche that is currently not being served.”

Lane Aviation President Tom Deuber added, “We are excited about our partnership with Waypoint, because it gives us the opportunity to lead the way and make our mark on the next generation of air travel. At Lane, we have 73 years of serving charter customers, and this revolutionary venture allows us to enhance our services to offer a unique and desirable aviation product.”

Founded in 2005, Waypoint Corporation is among the leaders in the next-generation air taxi revolution. Waypoint will be providing air taxi and VLJ management services throughout the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic States.

Now in its 73rd year of business, Lane Aviation is a full service Fixed Based Operator with two locations: Port Columbus International and Rickenbacker International airports. With 120 employees and 138,000 square feet of hangar space at Port Columbus, Lane offers complete line and fueling services, aircraft parts and maintenance, aircraft sales, airline support services and on-demand air charter.

September 25, 2007

COMPANIES FORM AIR TAXI GROUP

NGAMC is the new aviation acronym on the block, according to air-taxi operators DayJet, Jet-Alliance, Linear Air and SATSAir, very light jet OEM Eclipse Aviation, their suppliers and the communities the air-taxi operators serve. The goal of the Next Generation Air Mobility Coalition is to “develop public policies unique to their emerging industry by spurring the visibility, growth and acceptance of the next generation of air transportation.” Advising the new association is Dr. Bruce Holmes, who recently retired from NASA, where he served as the director of the Advanced Planning Office at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., and led the development of the Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments (AGATE) alliance and the Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) technology strategy. NGAMC will be managed by Washington, D.C.-based Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates, with its chairman, former Congressman Bob Walker, also an advisor.

Friday, September 21, 2007

AVWEB'S FRIDAY PODCAST:
ALL HAIL THE AGE OF VERY LIGHT JETS! NOW ABOUT THOSE ROSY PREDICTIONS WE'VE BEEN HEARING ...

The age of the very light jet (and the version of the air taxi business it has spawned) is upon us, and it's now time to find out if the bold predictions of some of the players will come true. Phillip Butterworth-Hayes is an analyst with PMI Media, a British and German firm that studies the aviation market, and he's released his second report on VLJs just in time for the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention in Atlanta next week. AVweb's Russ Niles talked with Butterworth-Hayes about the report and where the VLJ sector is heading.

POD Click here to download this podcast