Jet Galleys - Top Tips for Optimizing Space

The ideal jet galley does two things, notes Rene Banglesdorf. It maximizes space, and it satisfies the owner and his or her passengers’ needs. Both are equally important, but how do you get it right?

The design of an aircraft’s galley depends heavily upon the range of the aircraft. On a shorter-range aircraft, passengers may want to take a box or carafe of coffee on board as coffee makers, microwaves and coolers are not necessarily included.

As you move up in size and range, however, the galley amenities definitely become more sophisticated, as more meals are served on board. With more sophistication come more decisions to be made by an aircraft owner…

Storage Considerations

On a jet capable of a 15-hour, 7,500-nautical mile flight, storage space becomes of critical importance in addition to the amenities. On a flight that long, you’ll probably eat at least three meals. If you’re in a large-cabin aircraft that has 16 passengers, you need to have enough flatware and cutlery to serve everyone.

In most large cabin jets, a convection oven and microwave typically come as standard. If the oven is large enough to be used as storage space when not in use, you need to check that it has safety measures that prevent it from turning on while being used as storage space.

Backing All Bases

In order to satisfy every passenger’s needs, you also need to think on a global scale. Do you plan on flying with passengers from another country? A small detail—but one that is often overlooked—is the coffee situation…

For Americans, a standard US coffee maker is perfectly acceptable.

However, if you’re flying with a client from the UK, American coffee simply won’t provide the impression you want. In this case, an espresso machine and tea kettle should be available.

When doing business in a global market, crossing oceans and dealing with clients and colleagues that come from multiple cultures, having several options onboard will ensure that you have all your bases covered.

Aft or Fore?

Another issue that’s important when maximizing space is the location of the galley. On newer large-cabin Gulfstreams, for instance, jet owners have the option to choose either an aft or forward galley.

For the owner or operator that typically makes most of his or her flights during the daytime, an aft galley would probably make more sense. That way, a board meeting can be taking place around the conference grouping, while crew members can easily serve a meal from the nearby galley.

The forward galley, however, tends to lend itself to those passengers doing longer overnight legs on long range aircraft, where the aft living area can be turned into a stateroom for sleeping purposes. In this case, you’d most likely prefer that the crew remains in the front of the aircraft at all times.

Making it Work…

It’s critical that crew members, as well as frequent passengers know how the galley functions. From the WiFi to the coffee maker, none of it matters if nobody knows how it works. The technologically-advanced cabin management systems of today can be intimidating and difficult to understand. At the very least, make sure somebody on the aircraft knows how to work it!

The bottom line is that private aircraft can become an extension of the owner’s home and office. While often overlooked, the galley can be a key factor in the decision-making process when purchasing an aircraft.

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