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Thursday, June 29, 2006

DayJetting for the First Time

DayJet made a presentation to the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Board and members of the community at the Gainesville Country and Golf Club this past Wednesday on June 28, 2006.

DayJet attendees included members from Sales and Marketing, with an opening presentation made by DayJet CFO John Staten.

This event was the perfect DayJet trip. Although still flying in a Lear with our sister company Wingedfoot Services (Eclipse aircraft still to arrive), we flew to Gainesville - conducted a three hour event, then returned to Boca Raton - all in one day. Total air time was a hour for each leg.

The trip alternatives, driving or flying commercial - both would have required an overnight stay. Even if the "travel stars" aligned just right, leaving at 0-dark hundred and returning at midnight - I never would have made dinner with the family or helped put the kids to sleep.

We left work at 2 pm for a 2:40 pm flight out of Boca Raton Airport. We touched down in Gainesville Regional an hour later. The folk of Gainesville graciously picked us up and took us to the Gainesville Golf & Country Club for the presentation. Roughly 80 to 100 attendees heard the DayJet message. We closed the show three hours later, making a quick stop a Burrito Brothers for dinner to go, caught the flight just after 7 pm, and touched down in time for me to be home by 8:30 pm.

These types of trips are the core of the business model, and the true intangible value of the experience. "It's about time"; what you can do (there and back) , and what you don't have to do (miss anything, waste time).

Got a DayJetter story? Try the contest on the corporate site - open to all folk in Gainesville, Boca Raton, Pensacola, Lakeland and Tallahassee.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Normalizing Population Change Over Space


Much of geographic analysis is looking at the distribution of a variable over a defined space, with a more specific concentration on the rate of change. You focus on the delta, or perhaps deviations from the normal variable surface - to quantify the relevance of growth patterns, data "spikes" and other spatial analysis.

Understanding units of geography, and how to comparable them, is often as important as the algorithmic interpretation of the data itself. Here is a visual of an early attempts to balance geographic units of analysis, spreading the delta of change over several geographies of size - while still all tide to a specific centroid - or center point.

It's akin to looking at an area for a specific value, but doing so with three different magnifying glasses, each set to a different scale.

The end result ... Change that is wildly variable at one scale, may be quite insignificant at another (and visa versa).

Data transformation - The Power of Process


I appreciate software tools that empower the user. One that is becoming an increasing powerful tool for transforming data is Alteryx, a spatial ETL tool from SRC.

The grand idea is if you can design a data process in a "Visio-like" fashion, why not make it a stand alone working program as well. By the time you diagram the working data process required for your business process, you've already constructed a viable program as the working solution.

For "dumb marketing guy" (patent pending) this is phenomenal stuff.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

GIS Homework Challenge

I'm a regular reader of several GIS magazines, e-list and blogs. I tend to stay a "lurker" on most, and shamelessly cut and paste things of interest to this blog-site for ease of reference and remembrance.

I'm proud to admit I'm a GIS guy that doesn't code. To clarify, the ability to put together sophisticated spatial and DB queries still doesn't make you a code-monkey. I've had the privilege to work with some truly gifted engineers at DayJet. By any comparison or measure, I don't write code.

But I am the "Map Guy" at work, and access to a hell of a good tool-set of software and data takes you a long way in Marketing, with just enough technical intelligence to provide a nice liaison between Sales, Marketing, Advanced Tech and Engineering.

Recently, Adena Schutzberg in here "The View from Here" article in DirectionsMag.com put out a challenge of Ten Homework Assignments for GIS Practitioners". Some of her points of study don't match my needs or interest, but I'll attempt to wade through most and post nuances and findings . Even if this "devolves" into following meandering hyper-links and posting comments and map findings - I appreciate the GIS mental exercise.

More later.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

DayJet Announces First Five Markets

DayJet Names First Florida DayPort Locations
Boca Raton, Gainesville, Lakeland, Pensacola and Tallahassee to Benefit
from Statewide Connectivity, New Job Creation and Economic Growth

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – June 14, 2006 - DayJet™ today announced that Boca Raton, Gainesville, Lakeland, Pensacola and Tallahassee will be the first cities in the nation to experience the economic benefits derived from its new point-to-point, on-demand regional jet service. Selected for their strong business climate and limited transportation infrastructure, these cities will be the first to receive DayJet air transportation facilities, called DayPorts™, which will serve as the "access ramps" to the world's first "Per-Seat, On-Demand" jet service when it takes flight later this year.

The company is in final negotiations with fixed base operators (FBO) and airports in each of the five cities to operate DayPort facilities. Within 12 months of launch, DayJet expects to open an additional four DayPorts in Florida and 12 more DayPorts across three Southeastern states, connecting communities that today have little or no scheduled air service.

DayJet chose the five Florida cities because each represents a strong and growing local economy and business environment that is underserved by the airline "hub and spoke" system. In two cases, Boca Raton and Lakeland, DayJet will offer air service where no scheduled airline service exists today. In Pensacola, Tallahassee and Gainesville, DayJet "Per-Seat, On-Demand" jet service will round out limited scheduled air service with a complementary regional transportation option.

Together, these five Florida markets are expected to receive a total $94 million annual economic benefit from the arrival of DayJet in their communities within the first three years of operation.

In a separate release, DayJet today also announced its "Day-Tripper" contest. Business professionals who live and routinely travel between the five Florida launch cities are invited to submit their accounts of business travel within the State of Florida and how they could benefit, both professionally and personally, from the ability to conduct day trips utilizing DayJet's "
Per-Seat, On-Demand" jet service.

"Limited transportation is the most common growth impediment for smaller, economically diverse and socially vibrant communities," said Ed Iacobucci, DayJet president and CEO. "The Florida cities we have selected to launch our service each have a strong business climate, a well educated and technology savvy workforce, and an unsurpassed quality-of- life - but each is underserved by existing transport networks, inhibiting their full economic potential. Business leaders in these communities have told us they are ready to embrace new transportation models to increase their productivity and competitiveness in regional business scenarios."

Susan Pareigis, executive director of Florida Council of 100, a forum of strategic thinkers and leaders that have a major positive effect on Florida public policy, said: "Florida is recognized as a state that encourages and supports free enterprise. Our state offers a business environment that helps create an unusually large number of innovative companies. One such company is DayJet, which will use our state as the launch pad for its 'Per-Seat, On-Demand' jet service, which in turn, will help other businesses grow in Florida. DayJet's innovative service is that rare business tool that can simultaneously enhance both the quality-of-life and economic well-being of Floridians."

Mario Garcia, Jr., president and CEO of Electrostim Medical Services, Inc. (EMSI), which designs and sells non-invasive medical products based in Tampa stated: "Traveling and meeting with customers is a top priority for a company our size that is growing quickly. Today, I don't take many trips that are 500 miles or less. In fact, I only take about one-third of the short trips I should take because they're so time consuming. DayJet's on-demand jet service will allow me to make more critical business trips in a single day, helping me to grow my business and increase my productivity without taking away time from the office or my family."

Research conducted by DayJet shows that business professionals in these five Florida markets are hindered by a lack of efficient travel options and drive for 86 percent of the 592,000 annual business trips taken between these cities. Between 2000 and 2006, the number of scheduled flights between all Florida markets decreased by 47 percent, while available seat capacity declined by 31 percent.

Market Diversity
DayJet's launch markets inter-connect the diverse southeast, central, northcentral and northwest regions of Florida with efficient point-to-point air transportation, bringing local businesses, universities and government closer together. Of the five cities selected, two (Gainesville and Tallahassee) are small metropolitan markets with a population of 300,000 or less; two (Lakeland and Pensacola) are medium metropolitan markets with a population of 500,000 or less; and one (Boca Raton) is a large metropolitan market with a population in excess of one million. All five cities are ranked among Florida's top 20 cities for total number of workers.

Within its first three years of operation, DayJet expects to employ 2,000 high-skill, high-wage personnel in the state of Florida. Using its proprietary market research and modeling systems, DayJet estimates the following economic impact on each of its launch markets:

* Boca Raton - DayJet will operate out of Boca Raton Airport, which currently has no scheduled air services. Located in Palm Beach County between the metropolitan markets of West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, the Boca Raton metropolitan area has a total population of 1.27 million and ranks among Forbes 2005 "Top 100 Best Places for Business and Careers." Boca Raton is projected to receive a total annual economic impact of $13 million from the arrival of DayJet within its first three years of operation.

* Gainesville - The company will operate out of Gainesville Regional Airport. Currently, Gainesville has limited direct scheduled airline service to Key West, Miami and Tampa. Located in Alachua County, the Gainesville metropolitan area has a total population of 224,400 and ranks #26 on the Milken Institute's 2005 "Best Performing Cities Index." Gainesville is projected to receive a total annual economic impact of $26 million from the arrival of DayJet within its first three years of operation.

* Lakeland - DayJet will operate out of Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, which currently offers no scheduled air services. Located in Polk County between the metropolitan markets of Tampa and Orlando, the Lakeland metropolitan area has a total population of 532,000 and ranks #33 on the Milken Institute's 2005 "Best Performing Cities Index." Lakeland is projected to receive a total annual economic impact of $14 million from the arrival of DayJet within its first three years of operation.

* Pensacola - The company will operate out of Pensacola Regional Airport. Currently, Pensacola offers limited direct scheduled airline service to Key West, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa. Between 2000 and 2006, the number of scheduled flights between Pensacola and these Florida markets declined by 32 percent and available seat capacity was also reduced by 19 percent. Located in Escambia County, the Pensacola metropolitan area has a total population of 443,000 and ranks #33 in Inc.'s 2005 "Best Places for Doing Business." Pensacola is projected to receive a total annual economic impact of $24 million from the arrival of DayJet within its first three years of operation.

* Tallahassee - DayJet is in negotiations with fixed base operators (FBOs) in Tallahassee. Currently, Florida's Capital city has limited direct scheduled airline service to Key West, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach. Between 2000 and 2006, the number of scheduled flights between Tallahassee and these Florida markets declined by 33 percent and available seat capacity also decreased by 26 percent. Located in Leon County, the Tallahassee metropolitan area has a total population of 336,000 and ranks among Forbes 2005 "Top 100 Best Places for Business and Careers." Tallahassee is projected to receive a total annual economic impact of $16 million from the arrival of DayJet within its first three years of operation.

About DayPorts
DayJet will offer "Per-Seat, On-Demand" jet service between designated small community and regional airports that today have little or no scheduled air service. DayJet's customer areas in airports will be called DayPorts. Because of the company's focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience, every DayPort will be staffed with DayJet customer care representatives and ground staff to greet and assist customers. DayPorts are easy to get to, have no lines, convenient parking, and offer ground transportation options.

About "Per-Seat, On-Demand" Jet Service
DayJet is building the nation's first "Per-Seat, On-Demand" jet service that will make the convenience of corporate jet travel broadly available and affordable for more people and organizations, turning wasted travel time into valuable business and personal time. "Per-Seat" means customers only pay for the seat(s) booked, not the whole aircraft. "On-Demand" means customers fly only on their individually negotiated schedules. The company will never publish schedules, or operate on fixed schedules. DayJet flights will be uniquely tailored to each customer's needs and priced at a modest premium to equivalent regional full-fare coach airfares.

About DayJet
DayJet Corporation is the pioneer of a new type of regional travel: "Per-Seat, On-Demand" jet service that is uniquely tailored to each customer's individual schedule and priced at a modest premium to full-fare coach airfares. Headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida, DayJet has developed this new industry's first real-time operations system. Combined with the speed and efficiency of Eclipse 500 very light jet (VLJ) aircraft, DayJet has created the next major advance in corporate productivity and regional economic development. For more information, visit
www.dayjet.com.

DayJet's "Per-Seat, On-Demand" jet service will be operated by DayJet Corporation's wholly-owned subsidiary, DayJet Services, LLC, a registered air taxi operator under the DOT's regulations and the holder of an FAA Air Carrier Certificate authorizing on-demand operations under Part 135 of the FAA's regulations under Title 49, Subtitle VII, of the United States Code (Transportation Code), and any statements made in connection there with are subject to the receipt of operating authority for the Eclipse 500 aircraft from the FAA under the Transportation Code.

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DayJet™ is a trademark of DayJet Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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Saturday, June 10, 2006

Sinam at SCAC ATAC meeting

While in Huntington Beach, I presented DayJet to the SCAC - ATAC group at John Wayne Airport (SNA).

The most facsinating part (post-presentation) was the contast of public support for air service, particularly in the strong community enforcement of noise restrictions and Federal vs. munipality legistation around airport monitoring.

Regardless, their are three states in the lower 48 DayJet could 30 aircraft profitably at and never fly beyond state boundaries; Florida, Texas and California.

We are launching in Florida. Keep circling for the rest.

Sinam at SRC's Extend the Reach 2006

I attended the SRC Extend the Reach 2006 conference in Huntington Beach, CA.

This remains my favorite vendor conference for a business blend of GIS, data and web technology.

The list of presenters (myself humbly included) put together a greath depth and breadth cross-mix of where business' are pushing boundaries in the visual and dynamic display of geographically based information.

Great chatchees too (thanks for the Nautica jacket).