VLJ MAGAZINE | VLJs Make The Dubai Airshow | Light, Interest, Aircraft, Very, Jet

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About the editor

Bill Strait William Strait is President and CEO Private Jet Group International. His company's Private Jet services include specialized aviation business consulting, capital solutions, insurance brokerage, targeted training solutions, and provision of qualified flight crews. All of which are in great demand by the rapidly growing international very light jet marketplace.

Bill is a veteran aviator and corporate manager with over thirty years of civilian flying experience in the general aviation, corporate, and commercial sectors. He has logged more than 20,000 hours of safe flying experience while traveling to more than 50 countries and is an active Captain on the MD-11 for a major international freight carrier. His professional path to this level includes type ratings in the G-1, DC-9, B-727, B-757/ 767, and seaplanes plus instructor pilot ratings in the B-727, B-757, and B-767.

His passion in life is aviation and his personal goal is to help those interested in aviation fully realize their dreams-whether it be to discover flying or to create a successful aviation business. It was this entrepreneurial aviation spirit that caused Bill to become one of the early promoters of the very light jet market sector through his publication of this online magazine. As its managing editor, Bill is now recognized as a key leader in this exciting Private Jet aviation business sector.

Captain's Log

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VLJs Make The Dubai Airshow

I joined record crowds of aviation enthusiasts form around the world in welcoming Very Light Jets to United Arab Emirates Dubai Air Show this week. Amid the celebration of business jets, airliners, and military hardware, the VLJs were well received.

Although billed as an airshow, the business at hand was the signing of purchase orders and wiring of funds to close big aircraft orders. The announcement of the largest aircraft order in history at the opening of the show set the pace. Record attendance in the blistering heat was a fitting backdrop for soaring interest in Very Light Jets.

Every nationality appeared to be in attendance and the focus was on closing aircraft orders.

ATG displayed the Javelin mock-up at their pavilion and there was quite a showing of interest in the fastest of VLJs.

I was able to discuss worldwide interest in Citation Mustang with Cessna’s Sr. Demonstration Pilot, Jim Perry. Jim said that Citation sales were up across the board and that the focus was on production.

Vern Raburn, Eclipse CEO, shared a few minutes and was off to meetings.
Company Spokesman Andrew Broom and I discussed the great opportunities ahead for Eclipse in the domestic and international markets.

Cirrus Design’s Director Fleet Support Jeffrey Edberg and VP Sales John Gauch shared a few minutes between Customer relations to talk about the great successes of their Personal Light Jet, “The Jet”

I flew the MD-11 into Dubai from Hong Kong for the show. It is not my personal aircraft but perhaps I will fly my own Very Light Jet here in the next year or two.
I am off to Bangkok, Mumbai, and Cologn in a similar MD-11 and will be in search of more Very Light Jet stories for you, the loyal and valued readership, of VLJ Magazine™.

Thank you for your time and interest.