The Wild Lives Of China's Young New Millionaires

Source: Journeyman Pictures

China Just Opened A Luxury Hotel In An Old Russian Aircraft Carrier

The Varyag, a former Soviet aircraft carrier

that was just relaunched by China

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Flexjet launches first Learjet 85 fractional ownership programme

A Hypersonic Jet Will Fly At Mach 20 Over California Tomorrow

NASA's space program may be kaput, but that doesn't mean the government is no longer experimenting with shooting things into space.

Luxury Product Vendors Now Targeting Private Air Travelers

Nowadays, the executives and people of such stature are more and more leaning towards private traveling than using the commercial alternative. The reason being, that, they get their much desired privacy and a VIP treatment of the highest of standards. Keeping I mind this growing trend of private air travel, luxury product vendors have now focused their attention to this new sales opportunity.

The world’s only in-flight shopping website, Private Shoppe has announced that, six new luxury bands have now entered in to a deal with the online shopping service, wherein these brands will be advertising and selling their products via this service. The Private Shoppe list is unique in itself because of the fact that, only selected brands and products are allowed to be placed in the catalog, So far, the Creative Director and Lifestyle Editor for Private Shoppe, Deedee Morrison has okayed only handful of luxury brand, such as Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream, Elan Residences, Heritage Shortbread, Turbosonic, Waggoner Chocolates and Wine Soiree to be featured on the online catalog.

The Private Shoppe service scours the globe for some of the most luxurious products and brands to be showcased in the highly coveted online service. This ranges from as simple a product as family-made shortbreads to incredibly luxurious estates. The exponential growth in private air travels and charter flights has convinced Private Shoppe and vendors alike, that the next big step in luxury products sales is the private air travel.

According to David Bannister (Executive, Private Shoppe),

Via EliteChoice
Luxury News / Golden Choice by Lux Creative International

China’s New Status Symbol: A Pilot’s License

1,600 Official Private Pilot Licensees

Currently In China

As Jing Daily has noted before, as luxury cars and villas have become the norm for the wealthiest of the wealthy in China, many have looked to buy another, far more exclusive, ultra-luxury item: a private jet. Although China has nearly 100 legally registered private jets, it is believed that there are 300 or more currently criss-crossing the country (either legally or illegally). Counted among China’s burgeoning jet-set are scores of business execs and entrepreneurs, Hong Kong media mogul Run Run Shaw, actor and comedian Zhao Benshan and celebrities like filmmaker Feng Xiaogang, actress Fan Bingbing and actor Chen Daoming.

But with the development of China’s private aviation industry has come another status symbol: a pilot’s license. Despite pricey training costs, which range between 60,000-80,000 yuan (US$9,278-12,371) — upwards of three times the country’s annual per capita GDP — ChinaLuxus noted this week that 1,600 budding pilots have already obtained official licenses in China, with the site suggesting that the actual number is far higher. Sort of a frightening prospect, but someone has to pilot the much-discussed “black flights” taking place across the country.

At present, provinces like Heilongjiang, Guangdong and Hainan have opened low-altitude flight space, with much of China projected to make more airspace become available as early as 2015. Despite these restrictions, demand for pilot training has increased gradually since the opening of China’s first private flight school in the 1990s, with wealthier individuals in the country’s top-tier cities now signing up for lessons as a recreational or lifestyle activity.

But getting an official license is neither cheap nor easy. At the Civil Aviation Flight University of China in Guanghan, Sichuan province, students pay 70,000 yuan (US$10,825) in training fees, and must complete 40-45 days of continuous study as well as more than 35 hours of actual flight time. Still, the university’s regulations and comparatively high cost of training, as well as the broader regulations that accredited pilots must go through before their first licensed flight, may partly explain the proliferation of “unofficial” pilots. According to industry sources, before flying legally, new pilots must take three steps, as proscribed by civil aviation law: First pilots need an official license issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China; Second, pilots need a secondary pilot’s license issued by “relevant departments” in their region; Finally, a pilot needs to get permission for their flight plan from all air traffic control departments.

With these measures in place, and so much red tape to cut through, it’s almost no surprise so many pilots and private jet owners in China would rather pay the fines, which the New York Times noted “can range up to 100,000 renminbi, or about $15,400.”

Via jingdaily

Luxury News 
Golden Choice by Lux Creative International