Business aviation is now mainstream. Most companies and high-net-worth individuals are aware of the advantages of business aviation: increased productivity; control over travel itineraries; improved response to customers; enhanced safety, security and confidentiality; and increased time for work and personal activities.

Prospective fliers are also cognizant of the expansion of business aviation options, and the growth of the U.S. economy has given many the wherewithal to enjoy the benefits of private flying. But which option is best?

Price matters to many companies, especially public ones, so cost justifications are usually necessary. First, you should define travel patterns and needs, including the number of people traveling and their destinations. Identify possible missions, which could include transport of key employees; customer transport; scheduled and emergency customer service; humanitarian, charitable and public relations flights; and priority cargo carriage.

You will also need to determine who will use the airplane. Should it be reserved solely for executives, or can it also be used to fly other personnel? A key factor in deciding who flies is the often difficult-to-quantify value of employee time. Software, such as Travel$ense (supplied by the National Business Aviation Association), can generate such numbers and compare the cost of operating business aircraft with flying on airlines.

Aircraft acquisition and operating costs can be obtained from aircraft salespeople, manufacturers, charter operators, aircraft management companies, consultants, industry associations, and such trade publications as McGraw-Hill's Business and Commercial Aviation magazine.

After collecting the data, analyze it using actual travel records for the past year or two, then project anticipated travel requirements based on your business plan. Remember to include trips not taken because of the lack of convenient airline service.

Although justifying the cost of business aircraft is important, the decision to take up private flying is often instinctive. Every company's situation is unique, but the profiles that follow may inspire you to find the best way to use business aircraft.

The Boeing Business Jet is the largest pure corporate aircraft in services, but other big-cabin airplanes, such as the Fairchild Dornier Envoy, also feature spacious interiors.

CharterHub Incorporated has launched a real-time availability Internet charter reservation system for business aircraft called CharterHub.com. The company is an online marketplace designed to provide corporate travelers the ability to obtain quick quotes and make reservations for executive aircraft.

CharterHub officials say that their one-stop online availability and reservation system will save corporate travelers and charter brokers time by eliminating the need to make multiple phone calls to arrange a flight.

CharterHub has made the process of booking a business charter flight as simple as making a reservation with a major airline, and the company expects to be to the charter industry what Sabre is to the airline industry.

Because CharterHub.com is a non-partisan source of information, rather than a single charter operator or a broker with limited access to charter fleets, CharterHub says that consumers are assured of objective data on the best rates and itineraries from participating charter companies.

Results of flight searches are listed by least expensive, fastest or most comfortable flight. Travelers can tailor their flight search to their individual needs. Flights are confirmed by e-mail, facsimile or phone. In addition, CharterHub's "Concierge Service" is designed so that a CharterHub representative handles each flight personally.

The Web site can be focused and personalized by both corporations and air charter operators to generate complete billing histories, thus simplifying expense reporting. Maps that provide driving instructions to airports are available on request. In addition, an online bidding section will allow a corporation to register planned upcoming flights, thus giving participating charter companies the opportunity to bid on those trips.