Several aviation experts yesterday proposed using private jets to operate an “air taxi” — a customized flight service targeting business travelers — but aviation officials said this might not be feasible given current regulations.
Lin Chin-e (林清一), a professor at National Cheng Kung University, promoted the concept of an air taxi service at a seminar hosted by the Aviation Education Foundation to discuss regulations governing personal aircraft.
Lin said it was expensive to own a private jet as it would cost about NT$1.5 million (US$45,600) to maintain. But with an air taxi, businesspeople could enjoy the convenience of a private jet service without having to pay for maintenance and other miscellaneous costs.
“Business groups could invest in an air taxi by purchasing the aircraft, while leaving the maintenance and management to an air taxi operator,” he said. “Different air taxi operators could jointly solicit customers by organizing an online ticketing system.”
An air taxi service also gives businesspeople the advantage of being able to choose the time of their departure and arriving at an airport near their destination, Lin said.
The cost for using these charter flights would help big companies save money in the long run, he said.
To avoid compromising comfort, Lin said the service was better suited to flights under three hours.
However, Billy Chang (張國政), chairman of the Aviation Education Foundation and a former director-general of the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), said the proposal could run counter to existing aviation regulations.
Chang said the local aviation sector is divided into three categories: airlines, general aviation and private aviation.
Airlines like EVA Air (長榮航空) or China Airlines (中華航空) operate passenger or cargo flights on a regular schedule for the general public, he said.
Daily Air (德安航空) or private jet owners offer flight services to a niche market or special class of customers. Daily Air owns licenses to provide helicopter and commercial charter jet services.
“At present, only airlines can solicit customers and sell tickets,” Chang said. “In that case, they are legally qualified to offer an air taxi service. Others can't.”
Lee Dong-yang (李東陽), a CAA official, said that the cross-strait aviation pact only allows airlines from Taiwan and China to offer cross-strait services.
“Both sides have not allowed aircraft with a capacity of below 19 passengers to target businesspeople. These aircraft can only be used for humanitarian or medical charter flight services,” he said.
A number of Taiwanese entrepreneurs are reported to own private jets, including Hon Hai Group chairman Terry Gou (郭台銘), Ruentex Financial Group chairman Samuel Yin (尹衍樑) and Evergreen Group chairman Chang Jung-fa (張榮發).
Taipei and New Taipei City government officials are aiming to have the first phase of the Wanhua-Jungho-Shulin Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line completed and opened by 2027, following the arrival of the first train set yesterday. The 22km-long Light Green Line would connect four densely populated districts in Taipei and New Taipei City: Wanhua (萬華), Jhonghe (中和), Tucheng (土城) and Shulin (樹林). The first phase of the project would connect Wanhua and Jhonghe districts, with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Chukuang (莒光) being the terminal stations. The two municipalities jointly hosted a ceremony for the first train to be used
MILITARY AID: Taiwan has received a first batch of US long-range tactical missiles ahead of schedule, with a second shipment expected to be delivered by 2026 The US’ early delivery of long-range tactical ballistic missiles to Taiwan last month carries political and strategic significance, a military source said yesterday. According to the Ministry of National Defense’s budget report, the batch of military hardware from the US, including 11 sets of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and 64 MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems, had been scheduled to be delivered to Taiwan between the end of this year and the beginning of next year. However, the first batch arrived last month, earlier than scheduled, with the second batch —18 sets of HIMARS, 20 MGM-140 missiles and 864 M30
Representative to the US Alexander Yui delivered a letter from the government to US president-elect Donald Trump during a meeting with a former Trump administration official, CNN reported yesterday. Yui on Thursday met with former US national security adviser Robert O’Brien over a private lunch in Salt Lake City, Utah, with US Representative Chris Stewart, the Web site of the US cable news channel reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. “During that lunch the letter was passed along, and then shared with Trump, two of the sources said,” CNN said. O’Brien declined to comment on the lunch, as did the Taipei
A woman who allegedly attacked a high-school student with a utility knife, injuring his face, on a Taipei metro train late on Friday has been transferred to prosecutors, police said yesterday. The incident occurred near MRT Xinpu Station at about 10:17pm on a Bannan Line train headed toward Dingpu, New Taipei City police said. Before police arrived at the station to arrest the suspect, a woman surnamed Wang (王) who is in her early 40s, she had already been subdued by four male passengers, one of whom was an off-duty Taipei police officer, police said. The student, 17, who sustained a cut about
RSS