With fleets of very light jets ready to come on the market in the next few years, many operators are planning to use them in the development of point-to-point air-taxi systems. Aerobatic pilot Mike Goulian and partner Bill Herp have the same idea, but they’ve decided to jump the gun and start building their business now, using the VLJ-air-taxi model but flying four Cessna Grand Caravan turboprops. And it seems to be working. In their first year of operation, Linear Air has grown from two employees to 25. Based at Hanscom Field, just outside of Boston, Mass., the company flies weekenders to Nantucket in summer and the New Hampshire ski resorts in winter, and zips business commuters to White Plains and Teterboro, near New York City. Passengers can charter the airplane to fly anywhere in the Northeast for about $750 per hour, or they can buy a single seat. The company has 25 Eclipse 500 jets on order, but will continue to operate the Caravans to accommodate larger loads or shorter runways.
Air Taxi Of The Future, Flying Today
Key Takeaways:
- Linear Air, an air-taxi service founded by Mike Goulian and Bill Herp, has begun operating a point-to-point system using Cessna Grand Caravans, anticipating future Very Light Jet (VLJ) operations.
- The company has experienced rapid growth in its first year, expanding from two to 25 employees.
- Based near Boston, Linear Air provides diverse air travel services across the Northeast, including leisure and business routes, with options for charter or single-seat purchases.
- They plan to integrate 25 Eclipse 500 jets into their fleet while retaining Caravans for specific operational needs.
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