The fly-by-hire business takes wing

For most gulls, it is not flying that matters, but eating. For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight. More than anything else, Jonathan Livingston Seagull loved to fly.

"" Richard Bach, in Jonathan Livingston Seagull

It is a safe bet that barring those gripped by the fear of flying, there are very few on terra firma who are not like Jonathan Livingston Seagull -- especially if the flying involved is in a private plane.

With affluence spreading, an increasing number of people, belonging to the corporate, political and celluloid worlds are queuing up for personal flights of fancy.

Private charters afford the benefits of speed, security and sheer luxury -- at a fraction of the cost of owning a jet.

Top names in the business in India include the Mumbai-based Taj Air of the Taj Hotels Group and Million Air of the JK Group, the New Delhi-based Oberoi Hotels Group, Bangalore-based Deccan Aviation and the government-owned Pawan Hans, which is into helicopter hire.

"We offer the best services in India," claims Amit Sinha, assistant general manager of Taj Air, which offers Falcon 2000 jets that can accommodate eight passengers.

Taj charges Rs 1,90,000 for an hour in the Falcon. Detention charges are Rs 10,000 per hour and will be levied after four hours of free waiting time. Alternatively, a flat rate of Rs 60,000 will be charged per overnight stay. Detention charges for every non-flying day will be equivalent to two hours' flying charges.

"Our clients include corporate captains, Bollywood stars, senior executives and politicians. We have fixed rates. They do not change based on clients," Sinha informs.

Taj Air also has overseas clients. "Many foreign tour operators such as Cox & Kings contact us because we offer world-class facilities."

The Falcon has plush interiors, a well-stocked bar and five-star cuisine from Taj Hotels. To connect with the world below, there is a fax machine, a satellite telephone and of course Internet.

Another Mumbai-based operator, Million Air, offers Hawker jets that fly seven passengers, apart from twin-engined and single-engined helicopters. "We have an upscale clientele which includes politicians, Indian corporates, multinationals and consulates," says Pervez Anthia, chief commercial officer.

Million Air's Hawker jet costs Rs 1,50,000 per hour (add another Rs 60,000 for overnight stay), while its twin-engined chopper will set you back by Rs 65,000 every hour (plus Rs 20,000 per overnight stay). The single-engined machine will cost Rs 50,000 an hour (plus Rs 20,000 per overnight stay).

"Our services are not just restricted to India, we also fly to overseas destinations," Anthia adds helpfully.

The Bangalore-based Deccan Aviation's fleet comprises a phalanx of choppers "" a Bell Long Ranger, a Bell Jet Ranger, a Bell 407 and an Ecurueil AS 355. It also offers a 11-seater Pilatus plane.

The six-seater Ecuereill costs Rs 65,000-75,000 per hour, while the 11-seater Pilatus can be hired at Rs 58,000 per hour.

The seven-seater Bell Long Ranger will put you back by Rs 60,000 per hour, the five-seater Bell Jet Ranger has a Rs 50,000 per hour price tag and the seven-seater Bell 407 bills you at Rs 65,000 per hour. Overnight halt will cost an additional Rs 15,000 for each of the helicopters.

The Oberoi Hotels chain too operates two aircraft, based and maintained in New Delhi: Its Hawker 125-700B luxury executive jet ferries eight passengers and its King Air C-90A flies five.

The Hawker jet costs about Rs 1,50,000 per hour. Oberoi does not levy waiting charges for the first four hours but after that, billing is done at Rs 7,500 per hour of wait. Crew boarding (4 members), lodging and transportation costs Rs 36,000 per night.

The King Air plane costs Rs 50,000 per hour. There will be no waiting charges for the first four hours, and waits beyond that will cost about Rs 3,500 per hour. Crew boarding (2 members), lodging and transportation per night will be Rs 18,000.

ON THE GROUND: Taj Air: 022-26157719 / 26157993; Deccan Aviation: 080-28567523-24; Oberoi Hotels: Toll free numbers 1600-11-2030 / 5501-2030