Flight Deck - Your Way In The Air

Private Jet Manufacturers Are Saying Have It Your Way.

As private jets transition from a mode of transportation to office, den, meeting room, and dining space, everything from the galley to the lavatory and everything in between is increasingly customizable. While obviously, what you can specify increases the size of the aircraft, buyers of new private jets will find a wider variety of options than ever before.

Both Embraer and Textron, which dominate the light jet market, enable buyers to customize entry-level jets. For example, the Embraer Phenom 300E offers three distinct cabin configurations ranging from six to eight seats. There are also three seat types, four sew styles, three carpet styles, and a trio of beautiful veneers. Small details, such as seat side panels, can be either leather or carbon fiber, as can the lavatory sink. For the exterior, there are over twenty paint schemes and more than a dozen colors.

To get started, you only need to visit Embraer’s website. This enables you to review and choose design options across its fleet of business jets, from the very light Phenom 100E to the midsize Praetor 500 and super-midsize Praetor 600. Textron Aviation Interior Design Manager Shelby Page says, “We love saying yes. The more we can say yes, the more fun our job is.” Its Citation CJ3 Gen3 allows for an additional seat in the cabin or an extended refreshment center with more than a half-dozen cabin interior schemes.

Of course, the bigger the jet, the more opportunities to give it your own distinct imprint. Bombardier makes the ultra long-range Global line of business jets. A spokesperson says, “To some owners, luxury might mean silk carpets; others will want a chrome-plated shower or golden dishware – or even dedicated library or karaoke spaces on board. Ultimately, the people at the Bombardier Center of Excellence bring the same level of passion and precision to every cabin, no matter how distinctive it might be.” On its Global 7500, you can configure four distinct living zones, including a master bedroom, a conference suite, and a lounge area. Walking into its design center in Montreal is like visiting your tailor, where walls are filled with an array of sustainable luxury materials, from flooring to wall coverings and everything else.

The Canadian OEM recently opened a customer center in Miami, Florida, providing easy access for yacht owners. Like Embraer, you can start at its website. Custom options for its entire lineup – from the Challenger 3500 super-midsize jet to the large cabin Challenger 650 and the Global lineup – are each represented.

French private jet maker Dassault Aviation claims its ability to customize your airplane as “the haute couture of private jets” and emphasizes “French flair finishes.” Its upcoming Falcon 10X, with its six-foot, eight-inch-high cabin and nine-foot, one-inch-wide cabin width, gives you a particularly impressive canvas. Options include custom sizing for the dining and conference area, your personal entertainment zone with a large screen, and a full queen-size bed in your owner’s suite. And yes, don’t forget your own shower.

Airbus Corporate Jets, which adapts the airliners of its parent Airbus to the private jet market, has elevated its interior offerings with the ACJ TwoTwenty. It offers 786 square feet of floor space and up to six distinct zones. The ACJ TwoTwenty Creative Studio uses virtual reality, so owners can better envision the options. ACJ also offers an online interface that will give you a good feel for the floor plan options. That includes executive lounges, club rooms, business lounges, cinema lounges, guest lounges, and bedroom and master bathroom options.