A New Dream

'Isn't that what the executive jets were designed for?'

'Too costly - and because they are jets with fast approach speeds and slow acceleration to take off, they need the same long runways and airports as the airliners. And remember with all the congestion the airliners always get the departure slots in preference to the exec jets so there is going to come a time soon when its quicker by airliner'.

A really great idea was borne-an unbelievable opportunity began to emerge like a butterfly from a chrysallis. There must be hundreds of companies like Dell- all concerned about this extraordinary wastage of executive resource. I remember from my own business travelling days the extraordinary love /hate relationship with the airlines - love them for the ability to travel widely- hate them for the delays, poor customer relations and the sheer inefficiency and stress which I suppose must come with any form of centralised travel in a non-centralised World. For 15 years I had specialised as a corporate motivational speaker- and now I started asking questions. Everywhere I went the answer was always the same -there has to be an alternative to airline travel...

'Golf Oscar Foxtrot Lima Golf ?' Shoreham is calling me. 'Golf Lima Golf' 'Golf Lima Golf, track South to the Worthing Pier and take up the hold at 1600ft'.

Still no room at Shoreham, but at least we are getting nearer. The sun is low, the sea is like a mirror and the lights are coming on in Worthing. We take up another oblong circuit with the easterly turn over the pier.

I went back to see the Dell people four months later with the first drawings. There are 7807 active airports in North America, Europe and Scandiavia. The executive jets need at least 5,000 ft runways, which means they can only access less than 2000 airports. 80% of the airfields are too small. Many date from World War 2 and are only used by the private pilots at weekends. The airports are well distributed and in England you are never more than 20 minutes drive from your nearest. In the US there are 4852 airfields - mostly underused.