This may seem shocking or underwhelming, depending on your background. For those of you with smart phones or iPads who already use your systems to map out directions while diving in the car, this will seem hardly worth mention. But for others still new to the idea of something called an app store, this will seem radical indeed.

In fact, despite the amazing advances in computing technology over the past two decades, most pilots are still stuck in the 20th century, or, at best, in the year 2000. Required to bring navigational charts on their flights, pilots usually bring either paper maps or an 18-pound electronic flight bag, which are portable computers designed for pilots and their aviation needs.

Last month the FAA approved a charter airline’s application so its pilots could use an iPad to provide them with their required navigational charts. An application available for download to the iPad for free from iTunes’ app store delivers the charts to the pilot, taking away the need for paper or bulky electronic equipment. With iPads weighing 1.5 pounds, and being strapped to the pilot’s leg during flight, all of a sudden things in the cockpit just got a lot roomier.

While the FAA has only approved the application of one company to use iPads for navigational charts for its private charter planes, two other major commercial airlines are testing the use of iPads for their pilots too. And the developer of the application used on the iPad is developing more applications for use on other tablet computers as well. With this key initial approval, tablet computers could become the standard of the charter flight, and even of the larger commercial airline, industry, assisting not only with charts, but in training and more.

The Big Story: Jet charter services help evacuate stranded foreign nationals from Libya

Charter airplanes assist tremendously in times of emergency, going exactly where they are needed and ensuring the safe delivery or transport of people and critical supplies. In the recent chaos in Libya, with thousands of foreign nationals stranded in the country, jet charter services have been essential in evacuating citizens from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, among others.

Industry Expansion: The business climate for corporate jet rental and general jet charter services improves in the U.S., booms in other parts of the world

As the United States and the rest of the world recover from the recent economic downturn, there are signs that the rate of corporate jet rental is increasing. As The Wall Street Journal and the National Business Aviation Association note, the industry appears to be starting a slow, but steady recovery in North America.

Meanwhile, in emerging markets that have recovered much more quickly from the global recession than has the U.S., the jet charter industry is expanding rapidly. In the United Arab Emirates, for example, jet charter brokers have posted record revenue growth, with one company experiencing a 120 percent growth rate from January 2010 to January 2011.

China has also experienced rapid growth in its jet charter services industry, despite a difficult regulatory environment. With a growing wealthy class in China looking for high quality services, some Chinese are shelling out tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars to charter a plane for either domestic destinations or abroad. This expansion is highlighted nicely by a report from the end of January about the first-ever direct charter flight from China to Hawaii, hopefully the start of many more flights to come.

For Rest of the Year: Rising oil prices could increase costs, damage business

According to Britain’s Independent, one jet charter broker has already increased fees on passengers due to rising oil prices stemming from the recent unrest in Libya and the greater Middle East. Could this damage the corporate jet rental business and its attempts to recover? Check back in with us throughout the year to see how this and other stories in the jet charter services industry play out.

Renting a private jet can seem like an excessive expense, but there is actually a lot of good that comes from private jet rentals. The National Business Aviation Association released its 2010 Business Aviation Fact Book, which demonstrates well the value of the charter airplane industry.

Contributions to the American economy

Business aviation – or renting a private jet – contributes $150 billion to the U.S. economy each year. The industry employs more than 1.2 million people, with jobs from the industry in every state of America. In fact, according to the NBAA, the business aircraft manufacturing industry is one of the few positive contributors to America’s balance of trade. From the manufacturing industry that creates charter planes, to the small airports and service staff that are busy when people charter a private jet, business aviation is an extremely positive contributor to America’s economy.

Provider of vital services

Private jet rentals are essential for smaller communities, especially in emergency situations. For organ transplants, patient transports, law enforcement actions, rescues in emergency situations, firefighting, and even postal deliveries, private jet rental can be a lifeline for communities and individuals, even for those in larger cities who are located closer to community airports. Furthermore, in times of extreme humanitarian need, private jet rentals are often the ones evacuating citizens (as seen in 2011 in Libya), delivering supplies (as seen in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina), and generally supplying logistical support (as seen in 2010 following the earthquake in Haiti).

Essential for Good Business

For safety and security reasons, many business staff choose the option of renting private jets over taking commercial airliners. This is more than just a choice of comfort. On private jet rentals employees can talk candidly about projects and decisions without the fear of eavesdroppers, and they can efficiently use all the tools at their office on the private airplane, without many of the restrictions commercial airlines have.

Moreover, industry lists that rank companies on important factors – like innovation and corporate citizenship – feature firms that are, overwhelmingly. users of business aviation. The efficiency and comfort that comes from renting a private jet seems to contribute to many of the values these highly ranked companies cherish.

Business Coming Back?

According to a recent release from the NBAA, the charter airplane industry is coming back, albeit slowly. It seems the industry mirrors that of the general U.S. economy, with a slow recovery following the sharp contraction of 2008 and 2009. With the business, social, and economic benefits that private jet rentals provide, a soaring charter airplane industry should have positive impacts on other sectors of the economy as well.

Your first chartered flight service is bound to be a revelation in the way you look at air travel. Many perks abound in using a privatized aircraft.

First off, say goodbye to arriving at the airport hours before your flight time. Private flights require passengers to arrive just before the flight – 15 minutes is sufficient time to run-though all necessary procedures.

Next, be ready for the flight to revolve around you. Schedules are not timetabled out like commercial airlines. Rather, if you need an overnight flight to Thailand, your private flight will find a way to suit your schedule.

Your terminal will be a new experience as well, as often private jet terminals are not in the main airport building. These terminals sometimes boast a comfortable lounge area, refreshments, and an escorted walk to the aircraft, courtesy of your pilot.

Security procedures differ in one major aspect: time. Your security line is shared with others on the private flight, so your wait may consist of having one or two people in front of you in line. Passport details are cleared with boarder authorities days prior to the flight, eliminating passport hassles at the airport.

Like the flight schedule, on-flight cuisine can be specified to your tastes. Catered food can range from any type of food you so desire. Just be sure to specify before your flight.

The world of luxury awaits! Book your private flight today.