How Fractional Business Jets Ownership Works

Most of us, as we were growing up, never dreamed that we might someday own our own jet. Many of us still don't believe such a thing is within our reach; "private jet" sounds like something that would automatically be too rich and expensive for anyone we know.

You may be surprised how cheaply you can get into owning a private jet, if you use an option called "fractional ownership." If you're a little confused as to how that would work, think of timeshare vacation rentals. You pay for the right to use the apartment or condo for a certain amount of time each year.

With fractional jet ownership, you buy a certain amount of time each year that you can use the aircraft. Most fractional jet ownership programs are set up so that you can use a different jet if "your" plane is not available when you need it.

Your exact ownership agreement may vary slightly, but usually a 1/4 ownership gives you 200 hours a year, 1/8 100 hours, and 1/16th, of course, 50 hours. This is the amount of time you own, and you'll pay a fee to own that time. This includes the aircraft, crew, scheduling and maintenance.

How much? You may be surprised to find that you can get into a jet like a Citation Ultra, on a 1/16th share ownership, for as little as $80,000. You'll also pay an hourly fee for time in the air, and a monthly management fee, similar to what you'd pay a timeshare condo.

An alternative to fractional jet ownership is Blue Star Jet's Sky Card, which allows you to always have access to a jet without the annual contract and maintenance fees.

Whether you choose to actually own a portion of a jet, or go with a service like Blue Star Jet's, you actually can afford a private jet. If your business involves a lot of travel and you need to get where you're going quickly and without hassle, "owning" a private jet may be exactly what you need to grow your business effectively.

And let's face it. Whether you truly "need" a private jet or not, if you can afford it and will use it, having a private jet is pretty cool. You'll really feel you've arrived with your business's success when you have a private jet. Even if you only have 1/16th of a jet, that's more than most people have.