How to Fly Like a VIP Without Owning a Jet

Good morning! Flybuyer started as a simple newsletter, but it’s grown into a full-service aircraft brokerage—and it’s time the logo caught up. I’ve got a few ideas brewing, but let’s be honest: my skills are better in the cockpit than on the sketchpad.

If you’re a graphic designer (or just love to doodle and have some ideas), I’d love to hear from you. Please shoot me an email at [email protected]. 🛩️

-Rob Roy

In today’s email:

• Chartering a Jet 101

• Around the Skies: No ban on 100LL—FAA makes it official, SpaceX Starship goes up in flames, FAA’s long descent into a controller shortage, Oshkosh goes old school, Commercial space goes lunar, Otto’s jet aims for net zero by 2030

• PilotTube: Meet the Family Behind One of America’s First Flying Cars

THE BUSINESS OF AVIATION

How to Charter a Private Jet Without Owning One

Chartering a private jet might sound like something reserved for billionaires and celebrities, but it's become far more accessible—and practical—than you might think. Whether you're heading to multiple remote locations in a single day or simply value time, privacy and flexibility, private jet charters offer a customizable travel experience with surprising reach. You're not buying a jet—you’re renting an entire flight, on your schedule, to your destination, with no airport chaos or middle seats in sight.

The process is simpler than most expect. First, identify your needs—how far you’re flying, how many people you’re bringing and how much luxury you want. Then, research reputable charter operators or work with a jet broker who can match you to the right aircraft and help negotiate costs. With instant quote tools now available online, it’s easier than ever to compare prices, find empty-leg deals and select the best option for your trip.

In fact, buddy of mine runs Peak Aviation Solutions, and he makes the whole process easy—finding the right jet, handling the details, and making sure everything just works. If you’re not sure where to start, he’s a great first call.

Once you book, it’s as seamless as signing a service contract and showing up at the FBO—a private terminal often on the quiet side of the airport. No TSA lines, no baggage claim and in some cases, you can drive right up to the aircraft. Many charters allow pets, custom meals and personal luggage preferences, offering first-class comfort without the commercial airline hassles.

Private jet chartering isn’t cheap, but for business travelers, remote site visits or those who just want to skip the grind of modern air travel, it’s a powerful alternative. With the right planning, it’s not just about luxury—it’s about efficiency and freedom in the air.

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AROUND THE SKIES

🛩️ The FAA isn’t mincing words: 100LL isn’t going anywhere—for now. In a new Q&A, the agency makes clear that no unleaded fuel meets the criteria set by the 2024 Reauthorization Act, especially for rotorcraft. That means federally funded airports must keep selling 100LL. Any attempt to ban it could trigger FAA enforcement and civil penalties.

🛩️ SpaceX’s Starship exploded on the test stand June 19, lighting up the Texas sky and pausing plans for its tenth flight. No injuries were reported, but the blast adds to a string of 2025 mishaps as the upgraded Block 2 rocket faces growing pains. Starship had been targeting a June 29 launch, but that now looks doubtful. Mars can wait—first, SpaceX has to get off the ground.

🛩️ A new report shows the FAA’s air traffic controller shortage is no fluke—it’s the result of over a decade of under-hiring, rising dropout rates and misallocated staffing. Nearly a third of ATC facilities are now below safe staffing levels. Researchers say funding alone won’t fix it unless the FAA also improves training, tracking and where it sends new hires.

🛩️ EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 will showcase the daring spirit of early aviation with three stunning pioneer-era replicas. On display in the Vintage area: a bamboo-framed Demoiselle from France, EAA’s channel-crossing Bleriot XI and a rare Morane-Saulnier Type L fighter.

🛩️ Private companies are turning lunar dreams into reality, one lander at a time. Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost just became the most successful commercial lander in history, delivering NASA science payloads, stunning images and groundbreaking tech to the lunar surface. It’s part of NASA’s broader CLPS program, which is using commercial missions to scout the moon ahead of the Artemis return. Landing on the moon is still brutally hard—but with more firms in the game, the next giant leap is looking a lot closer.

🛩️ Otto Aviation is aiming sky-high at the Paris Air Show, claiming its Phantom 3500 bizjet will hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2030—two decades ahead of global targets. Instead of batteries, the sleek, laminar-flow jet will run on sustainable fuel and slash drag by 35 percent, giving it the range of a Challenger 3500 at half the weight. With a $430 million move to Florida and plans to build 1,600 aircraft in the 2030s, Otto is betting big on a greener, faster future.

PilotTube

John and Heather Chirtea are blazing a trail as a rare father-daughter duo flying the BlackFly eVTOL—a futuristic, all-electric aircraft that’s part flying car, part sci-fi dream. With no runway needed and pure joystick control, it’s a personal flight experience like no other. They’re two of just five private citizens cleared to fly this ultralight marvel. For the Chirteas, the future of flight isn’t coming—it just took off.

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