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Small airplane charter provides the best value for a business trip where you’d like to fly somewhere in the morning, conduct your business, and then return home on your own schedule later the same day.

Consider a day trip to Ventura County.  You could drive, but you wouldn’t make it home in time for dinner, instead you’d have hotel costs and be on the road for twelve hours roundtrip.  You could take a Southwest flight to Burbank, rent a car, drive to your destination, and then hurry through your day and hope that your business is finished in time to get back to Burbank (through SoCal traffic) in time to make the last flight home…

Or, you could climb on board our safe and fast Cirrus SR-22 charter airplane and land at the Oxnard airport in about 90 minutes… just steps away from your destination.  Conduct your business, and then be flying home in the afternoon.  Home for dinner indeed.  No airport parking, lines, or hassles.  Just a productive day.

Feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to discuss private flying for you on your upcoming trip.  We serve all bay area airports with charter service.  Give us the opportunity to quote your next trip…you’ll be glad you did!

Charter is probably one of the best-kept travel secrets around. In fact, our research shows that only a small percentage of frequent business travelers have considered chartering an airplane. But now, the secret is out.

Each year, thousands of people all over the United States discover the benefits of air charter. And every day, more travelers are discovering just how smart charter can be.

Charter is about saving you time and, often, money on your business trips. Safety, security, convenience and productivity are key reasons why individuals and companies choose charter air travel.

Charter is the convenience of traveling on your schedule rather than the airlines’ schedule and flying to airports closer to your final ground destination. With the ability to fly in and out of more than 5,500 public use airports in the United States, air charter provides convenient access to your final destination. Selecting a charter operator is not difficult, nor does it require a vast knowledge of the industry or federal air carrier regulations.

Best of all, charter is having complete control over your travel environment, while enjoying the comfort, safety and security of a private aircraft. Charter aircraft operators are often referred to as on-demand or air taxi operators. The synonymous terms convey the key attribute of charter service – we’re there when you call, ready to conform to your unique schedule and needs.

To help you form your own opinion of what charter is – and what it can do for you or your business – let’s answer a few of the most common questions asked about charter to help you select an operator that can meet your needs. 

Charter is more than just passenger air transportation. Charter aircraft serve many critical niche markets such as just-in-time air cargo delivery, scenic air tours, and emergency medical transportation to name just a few. 

Find out more about QuikCharter‘s services and contact us for a quote on your next trip.

Imagine a flight over San Francisco and then landing near a beach, a romantic dinner at sunset, and a marriage proposal. That’s what happened to a lucky woman recently – she had no idea she was about to go flying until they got to the airport!

QuikCharter was hired as an Air Taxi to pick the couple up at Livermore airport, do a few low-altitude circles around San Francisco, and then deliver them to Watsonville where a limo was waiting. They were whisked off to a local beach, had dinner, watched the sunset, got engaged, and then re-joined the aircraft for a quick flight back to Livermore.

We were proud to be a part of their story and are very happy for them!

If you are interested in Air Taxi / Air Charter anywhere in Northern California, contact us for details. We look forward to hearing from you!

From the happy customer:

Thanks again for a great time on Friday evening.  My fiancé and I had a fantastic time.  Attached are some photos from our time on Friday.  I am attaching one of the sunset we got to experience, a few of the shots over San Francisco and the shot at the end of the evening.  Thanks, Scott

To Avoid Illegal or “Grey” Charters, Know these Details Before You Fly!

Have a friend or an acquaintance who has promised you a discounted / flat fee over fuel cost for a “charter” flight? You could be breaking the law by accepting. When money exchanges hands for air travel, there are some very specific rules that need to be followed as the flight will be classified as “commercial” and must comply with rules set by the IRS, FAA and DOT. Some helpful things to look out for are:

1. Make sure the aircraft is available for charter according to FAA regulations.
2. The cost of compliance for FAR Part 135 must be included in the trip cost. If the price is “too good to be true” it will most likely be at the risk of your safety.
3. Avoid faceless, nameless brokers. Know who your broker is and their reputation in the industry.
4. The pilot must be up-to-date in his/her training, and trained for the specific aircraft they are working.
5. Is the pilot regularly drug tested? Background checks complete? Know if the crew is properly managed.

QuikCharter holds an Air Carrier certificate from the FAA and operates charter flights properly under Part 135 flight rules.  Be sure you’re comparing apples to apples when shopping prices.  Again, if a quote sounds too good to be true (vs. other charter quotes), that operator probably is not complying with FAA, DOT, and IRS rules for charter flights. Ask them. Then call us to book your trip.

Have Questions? Call Customer Service at 888.908.7845 or e-mail us.

Have an important meeting in another city but don’t want to miss dinner with the family? An Air Taxi can turn a long drive or flight with connections into a pain-free day trip. Avoid the extra time and money spent in airport security lines, driving in traffic, or overnights in costly hotels. Reserve a plane to get you to and from your home base quickly, just in time for dinner.

Contact Us today for a quote.

Traveling light?

Our Air Taxis accommodate up to three passengers with light luggage. One passenger rides “shotgun” and shares the excellent view with the pilot; the large windows of our Cirrus Air Taxis affords all passengers great views of the scenery below. Our least expensive offering, Air Taxis are great for short trips to those hard-to-reach places; they can access virtually any airport on the continent.

For Cirrus Air Charter, talk to QuikCharter in San Jose. Contact us for a quote today.

Business aviation is essential to citizens, companies and communities across the U.S. It is vital to job creation, to business efficiency and productivity, to keeping communities connected with each other and the world, and to supporting worthy humanitarian endeavors. Explaining the industry’s value in these areas can be done not only through words, but through illustrative imagery. The infographics below provide some examples. Feel free to share these infographics via Facebook and Twitter. Click the image or here to get more images and larger sizes.

Scott Reisch is a seasoned pilot and trial attorney who flies a Piper Malibu all over the state of Colorado – and sometimes beyond – to make court appearances and meet with clients, saving time and money for his clients as well as his law firm.

“The plane is a time machine,” said Reisch. “I learned to fly because it was something I wanted to do, but the airplane has really turned into a very valuable tool for work.”

Years ago, when Reisch and his family were returning home to Colorado from a trip to Texas, he spotted a small airplane flying the same direction as they were driving – and making much better time. “The plane was flying as the crow flies, while we had to stick to the roads,” said Reisch.

The next day, he went to his local airport to sign up for flying lessons.

Reisch is the founder of the Reisch Law Firm, a personal injury and criminal defense law firm with headquarters in Denver. Reisch and several of the firm’s five attorneys regularly have to travel around the state to appear in court on behalf of their clients.

“A car trip to Telluride, where I sometimes have to go, can easily take six or seven hours, and usually means an overnight stay,” said Reisch. “It’s an hour each way in the Malibu, which saves on travel time fees for our clients and means that we are back home that same night.”

The aircraft, which is hangared at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC), is Reisch’s third airplane, and he hopes to eventually purchase a small turboprop or jet aircraft, to save even more travel time. Reisch will sometimes fly clients or their relatives to a court appearance, and if he is not available, he hires a pilot to fly other attorneys as needed.

“I’ve even flown the opposing counsel on occasion,” added Reisch. “Talk about a captive audience.”

Reprinted with permission from NBAA – No Plane, No Gain General Aviation awareness ongoing efforts.

To learn more about Air Taxi / Air Charter services in San Francisco and San Jose, contact us for information and a quote.

QuikCharter took a day trip to Long Beach to attend the NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) regional forum. At this event, we looked at bigger and faster airplanes so that we can plan for future growth. And with the convenience of private plane travel, we had our executives home with their families in San Jose before dinner!

We also joined Avinode, the business-to-business air charter broker network. Now, when airplane charter brokers perform search queries, we’ll show up in the results.

Often, we are the lowest-cost charter option because of our economical aircraft. Why charter a jet when you just have 1-3 people taking a day trip? We operate the Cirrus SR22 – the safest, most advanced, and most luxurious single-engine piston aircraft ever built.

The call came in after hours Friday night.  The customer wanted to book a last minute trip to leave Saturday morning to celebrate his wife’s birthday on Catalina Island.  He had heard from friends that you could land a small airplane on the island.

The Problem

The customer was frustrated because he was trying to coordinate a commercial airline flight from San Jose to Los Angeles Saturday morning.  He then would have to take a taxi from LAX to the ferry terminal.  There were only two ferries leaving from Los Angeles on Saturday so that meant being at the ferry terminal by 9am or 2:55pm.  They wanted to spend as much time on the island as possible so the 9am ferry was a must – which meant they needed a 6:45am departure from San Jose would land them in Los Angles in order to give 55 minutes to exit the plane, grab a taxi, and make it to the Ferry terminal.  Assuming everything worked as planned, they would arrive on the island in time for lunch.

Their return trip would be just as daunting.  In order to provide time to explore the island, the only option was to leave on the 5:15pm ferry in order to make a 7:25pm flight to land in San Jose at 8:30pm on Sunday night, just in time to go to bed for work the next day.  We learned of this elaborate schedule because the customer handed us his meticulously prepared itinernary during our chat as we flew him directly to the island.

The Solution

Catalina Island Airport in the Sky serves over 16,000 aircraft a year.  We were able to offer the customer the opportunity to leave from San Jose and land on the island in 95 minutes.  They could depart when they wanted and were able to minimize the travel headache and maximize time spent on the island, all the while knowing they would be home at a reasonable hour on Sunday in order to have time to relax.

We departed from the Bay Area Saturday morning at 11:20am and arrived on the island at 12:55.  They had the option to dine on buffalo burgers or tacos at the airport restaurant but chose to take the shuttle into town right away.  They saw buffalo roaming and a fox on the ride into town.  The bus driver was a fantastic tour guide and the ride was a great way to see the 88% of the island that is protected from development.

Upon arriving in the city of Avalon, there were hotel opportunities, restaurants, shops, walking paths, beaches, bars, golf, movies, and other activities – including the Wrigley Casino (not a gambling establishment), and plenty of outdoor activities.  We departed the island at 5:00 on Sunday and arrived back in the Bay Area before 7:00. The customer’s wife and child had a fantastic time and there were happy faces all around.

The Transportation Stats

If they would have chosen to fly a commercial airline, riding in a taxi to the ferry terminal, and taking the 1:15 minute ferry ride to the island, the total cost for two adults and one child would have been $975.  Total travel time including arriving at the airport an hour early, going through security, riding in the taxi, and sitting on the ferry would have been 7:45  Time spent on the island would have been 31 hours.  Time spent away from home would have been 38:45.

By choosing to fly with QuikCharter Air Taxi, the total travel time was 3:20.  Time on the island was 29:40 because the customer chose not to leave until 11:20 am on Saturday vs. the 6:45am commercial flight that would have been required.  Total time away from home was 31:40.  If the customer was willing to spend the same amount of time away from home as the commercial option, they could have spent up to 36:45 on the island.

This was a quick trip.  The customer wanted to provide as much entertainment as possible during the short weekend.  He spent about $300 more than a commercial travel option in order to pack 7 hours more of activities or peace and quiet into his trip.  They did not have to leave San Jose at 5:45am and were able to get home on Sunday and a reasonable hour.  They were rested and relaxed during their flight and were able to enjoy the scenic views of Monterey Bay, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, and Santa Barbara while traveling to their destination.

Many people choose to stay on the island longer.  Would you like us to give you a quote for your next getaway?  The increased value provided for this trip is similar when considering trips to Napa, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Yosemite, and many others.  Contact us and let’s chat.

file

In the April 2012 issue of Flying magazine, the cover story says that the 2012 Cirrus SR22 is the most sophisticated single-engine civilian airplane ever built. We’re sure the folks at Cirrus are thrilled, as are we (since we get to provide Air Taxi / Air Charter in this amazing airplane!).

We were able to obtain a pdf copy of the cover page and the article. Here’s a link to the file. Enjoy!

Don’t forget to contact QuikCharter for your air transportation needs in Northern California.

Fly safe – be sure you book with a certified Part 135 Air Taxi!

Recently a charter customer was considering her options for a weekend getaway to the Pacific Northwest. Specifically, a trip to the San Juan Islands for some rest, relaxation, and whale watching was in mind. She called QuikCharter and was pleasantly surprised about how easy we made the decision to book.

When considering the cost and travel time required via a commercial flight to Seattle, renting a car and taking a ferry to San Juan Island, small airplane charter made sense. We could fly directly from San Jose to Friday Harbor in just under four hours. The commercial scenario would have taken twice that or more. This time savings allowed the customer to begin enjoying the weekend many hours sooner and in a much more relaxed state of mind.

The couple boarded our Cirrus SR22 charter aircraft without the delay or hassle of airport security or delayed airline schedules. They relaxed and even took an un-interrupted nap on the flight up. Upon landing at the Friday Harbor airport (just five minutes from their hotel) a quick taxi ride had them checking in early and finding time to wander the streets of town before dinner.

On the departure day, it was just as easy. There was no fixed-schedule ferry boat back to Seattle. No Seattle traffic. No hassles at Sea-Tac airport. We arrived home in the Bay Area before the commercial flight would have departed.

As you consider the benefits of charter airplane travel, don’t forget to include the value of your time in your analysis.

Contact us today to chat about your next trip and for a quote!

65% of air taxi passengers are new to business aviation, and it has become clear the business aviation cost-benefit analysis has changed.

“Our mission is to transform regional travel by providing new air travel options for people who value both their time and freedom from hassles,” said Linear Air CEO Bill Herp. (Silicon Valley Air Charter is a preferred vendor with Linear Air.)

Hidden Costs of Airline Travel

The success of these new air taxi/charter models relies on something everyone knows – time is money. But it is more than that. It is what they save the passengers with the hidden costs of airline travel. The loss of the out-and-back-in-one-day business trip forces more overall travel expenses including hotels and car rentals. Still, that is only half the story. Cancellations and delays provide the business case for these new companies.

Airline Schedule Problems Drive The Issue

Airline cancellations and delays have become the norm and are expected to rise exponentially. The United States Travel Association (USTA) reported in 2013 cancellations and delays cost passengers $8.5 billion in time lost, missed connections and missed travel activity each year.

Read the full story by Kathryn Cready in Forbes here.

Why not become a “first timer” with Bay Area based QuikCharter. Let us show you how easy and efficient air taxi can be. Contact us today.

Aircraft charter customers frequently remark how relatively affordable chartering a Cirrus SR22 can be.

When a customer is used to paying five figures for a jet or turboprop charter, they’re often pleasantly surprised how much more economical using a single-engine piston aircraft can be, when their trips are shorter and passenger count is lower.

QuikCharter’s Cirrus SR22 can move 1-3 people with light luggage quickly, throughout the state. Our aircraft operates at a fraction of the cost when comparing to any type of jet or even a turboprop.

Next time your trip calls for a short haul with just a couple of passengers, give us a chance to quote your trip in our luxurious Cirrus SR22. Sure – there’s no bathroom and you can’t walk around the cabin, but you’ll save a significant amount of money and get to your destination (and home again) safely and quickly – just like with the bigger aircraft.

Contact us for a customized quote today.

Dreading the drive to SFO – San Francisco International Airport?  Non-existent or few connecting flights with inconvenient timing?

Charter a Cirrus and make your SFO connection with ease and enjoy the ultimate in convenience.

General Aviation is alive and well at San Francisco International Airport.  Our 4-seat charter airplane can depart from just about any airport in Northern California and land at SFO, and then it’s just a quick and free shuttle ride to the commercial terminals.

Imagine getting to SFO without Bay Area traffic jams and no parking cost, hassles, or wasted time.

Maybe you’re starting a business trip and you need to get from Redding to SFO.  Forget the long drive.  We’ll fly you from Redding to SFO in under an hour.

Maybe you’ve got a leisure trip planned and you live in the Central Valley, Monterey, or Central Coast.  We’ll fly you from any regional airport (Modesto, Stockton, Sacramento, Merced, Fresno, Bakersfield, Monterey, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, and many others) – direct to San Francisco international Airport.

When you return home, we can be waiting at Signature Flight Support SFO to connect you with your closest municipal airport.

Give us an opportunity to quote your next trip – air charter to SFO with us!  We’ll show you how incredibly convenient it is.