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Why Flying Private From Calgary Is Better Than Commercial

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This is a guide to flying privately from Calgary, offering everything from cost-saving tips to the perks that you can expect. 

Flying privately has always been considered a privilege of the ultra-rich. Until now. While it’s not cheap, it’s much more affordable than it has been before, thanks to a wide range of options arriving on the market and soaring airfares in the commercial sector. 

With a host of private jet services on offer at YYC Calgary International Airport, flying in style and comfort has never been more accessible — now, there are fixed-based operators, empty-leg flights, and a host of charter services you can choose from. Whether you’re hopping over to Vancouver for the weekend or flying halfway around the world, there’s a private service for you at YYC Calgary International Airport. 

Let’s get into all the reasons why flying private from Calgary is better than commercial travel. 

Calgary International Airport Can Get Too Busy 

We’re talking about Canada’s fourth-largest airport here, which processed some 18.5 million passengers in 2023 alone. If you’re travelling during the holiday season, then you can expect long queues at the check-in desk, more queues at the security checks, and longer waiting times at the gate. This can be pretty frustrating and stressful, especially if you’re travelling with children or in large groups. 

Flying in an aircraft charter from Calgary removes all of these concerns. Arrive at the airport within thirty minutes of departure, be whisked off to the private lounge at your chosen fixed-base operator, enjoy your seamless private check-in, and board your jet. It takes all the stress out of flying while elevating the most luxurious and exciting components. 

As soon as your vacation or business trip is over, all you want to do is get home and relax. Flying privately all but guarantees that you arrive on time and enjoy a hassle-free experience as soon as you land. Say goodbye to tiring customs checks or the risk of lost baggage and long delays for connecting flights. 

Flying Privately Is Easier (and Cheaper) Than You Think

Flying privately has always been seen as the ultimate flex for the ultra-wealthy — and let’s be honest, private jet ownership still is. But swapping narrow seats and crying kids for serenity at 45,000 ft is more accessible than it used to be. Thanks to some clever cost-saving innovations and rising commercial airfares, private jet travel is starting to look like a surprisingly affordable option for more people.

If you bought your own jet, you’re talking about a minimum purchase price of a few million plus nearly half a million in annual running costs. This puts ownership out of reach for most people, but there are other options. With empty-leg flights (where jets are repositioning and would otherwise fly empty), you can snag luxury flights for prices that won’t break the bank. Think hundreds instead of thousands — assuming you’re a little flexible with your schedule.

For frequent fliers, membership programs or fractional jet ownership are absolute game changers. For a flat fee, you can access planes when you need them, minus the hassle of maintenance or storage costs.

And let’s not forget charter services. Whether it’s a quick hop to a neighbouring city or a transcontinental trip, renting a jet can be cost-effective if you’re travelling with a group — remember, you’re paying for the plane, not the seat. A light jet might set you back $1,300 per hour, but divide that by a group of four travellers for a 6-hour flight, and you’re suddenly rethinking that commercial first-class ticket.

Luxury That Fits Your Schedule

YYC Calgary International Airport has 71 gates and averages almost 200 departures every day. With so much activity, cancellations and long delays are not uncommon. These can occur due to anything from maintenance issues to crew shortages. This year alone, WestJet, which operates out of Calgary, has been plagued with strikes and supply chain issues. Air Canada and WestJet also performed poorly in a list of North American airlines ranked by on-time departures. 

Why risk the doom and gloom of commercial air travel at YCC Calgary when you can just fly privately? Fly on your own schedule, guarantee swift take-offs, and arrive at your destination on time. This is even more pertinent for business travellers who can’t risk being late when important meetings and deadlines are at stake. It doesn’t just have to be for work — there are times that require quick actions and getting to places faster to be with family and friends for crucial moments, and flying privately can save you from both the bureaucracy and the wait times.

Fly Private, Fly Better

Flying private from Calgary is less about getting from A to B and more about air travel on your terms. Everything that you’ve ever hated about flying can disappear with the click of your fingers and a call to your jet broker. No matter the occasion — business trips, weekend getaways, intergenerational family vacations — private travel prioritizes the journey’s aesthetics and practicality as much as the destination. 

Once you’ve skipped the lines, breezed through customs, and sipped a coffee in your own space at 30,000 feet, you’ll never look at commercial travel the same way again. Go on, make the switch with confidence.

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Understanding Slot RTP and Variance: Which Slot Game Is Right for You?

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When it comes to playing slots, luck plays a huge role, but there’s more to winning than just spinning the wheels. Checking the variance and RTP of a slot game beforehand can help you find one that matches your style and strategy. Whether you’re a casual player or chasing a jackpot, understanding these factors can improve your experience. For Canadian players looking to try their luck, Tenexcasino.com is a top choice among crypto casino sites, offering a great platform to explore these games.

What is RTP?

RTP or Return to Player shows how much of the money you bet goes back to you over time. It also shows you the “house edge,” or how much of your money goes to the casino over the same period. If a slot has an RTP of 90%, 90 cents of every dollar you bet goes back to you. The remaining 10 cents is the “house edge” or the profit the casino will likely make.

RTP is measured over time and doesn’t tell you what will happen with each spin. But it can tell you which slot games to pick if you want to minimize risk.

What Is Slot Variance?

Variance also shows the risk of playing each slot game. But unlike RTP, it determines how often you can expect to win and the average size of each payout. Will you see small, frequent wins or rare but potentially huge payouts?

Depending on your preference and budget, you can opt for low, medium, or high-variance slots. Low-variance slots offer frequent but smaller payouts, medium-variance slots provide a mix of frequent smaller wins and occasional bigger winnings, and high-variance slots give rare but significant payouts.

What’s the Right Type of Right Slot Game for Me?

Variance and RTP can help you select the slot games that suit your style and the risk you’re
willing to take.

High RTP Slot Games

High RTP games are an ideal choice if you’re on a small budget. They will give you the best chance to build your bankroll and get more from your investment. You should look for games with at least 97% RTP, like Mega Joker (99%), Codex of Fortune (98%), and Starmania (97.87%).

While these games ensure you get more of your money back in the long term, they won’t necessarily help you maintain your bankroll. If that’s what you’re looking for, you should ensure the slots also have low variance.

Low Variance Slots

Low-variance slots are a perfect choice if you’re looking for steady gameplay with minimal risk. They allow you to play longer without large swings in your balance. But it’s not without its thrill.

If you like frequent wins, these games certainly keep the excitement alive. Some of our favorite low-variance games are Starburst, Jack Hammer, and Blood Suckers.

Medium-Variance Slots

These are a sweet spot. Medium-variance slots are perfect if you want steady payouts with the occasional thrill of big wins. They allow you to avoid the risk of high-variance slots while enjoying some of the excitement. Temple of Iris, Wolf Gold, and Golden Winner are great medium-variance slots worth checking out.

High-variance Slots

High-variance games are your best bet if you dream of hitting the jackpot. The risk is undoubtedly high, but you can win a massive payout. However, these slots may not be the best choice for prolonged gaming sessions. They can, however, provide convenient and enjoyable entertainment when traveling or during your lunch breaks.

High variance slots often include progressive jackpots. Some of our favorite high-variance slots include Rome: The Golden Age, Twin Spin Megaways, and Jack in a Pot.

Having a healthy bankroll is necessary here. But even more so, you need patience. You may go through several spins without a win, but the payout can be significant when you do win.

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The Role of Satellite Imagery in Developing VRA Prescription Maps

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Since its appearance in the 1980s, precision agriculture has revolutionized farming, offering innovative solutions to age-old challenges. One of those is Variable rate technology (VRT), which plays a key role in improving efficiency and sustainability in today’s farming methods.

By applying inputs like fertilizers and water in different quantities across the field, VRT helps optimize crop yields and reduce costs. This technology relies on data collection and analysis to create detailed VRA prescription maps, allowing for customized input applications. 

With the right equipment and technology, VRT can significantly improve agricultural productivity.  Today’s advanced tractors, equipped with built-in terminals and specialized software integrated with a precision agriculture platform, use prescription maps to accurately apply variable rates of water or chemicals based on GPS location and management zones.

Variable Rate Technology In Precision Agriculture

Precision agriculture is a game-changer, moving far beyond traditional farming methods. Often called satellite farming, this approach focuses on crop condition monitoring, measuring, and responding to variability within fields. One of its standout innovations is variable rate application (VRA), which has caught the attention of farmers worldwide for its immense potential.

Why is VRA so important? It goes beyond simply fertilizing, seeding, and applying pesticides. It’s about utilizing technology to apply various expendable materials on and beneath the field automatically. 

Farm management software simplifies contemporary farming by combining data and technology to improve farming efficiency, sustainability, and profitability. Precision agriculture platforms consolidate operations, crop health monitoring through satellite imagery, and offer real-time suggestions, enabling farmers to make informed decisions for the best use of resources (through VRA) and increased productivity.

Variable rate application offers numerous advantages for modern agriculture:

  1. VR fertilizer enhances farming efficiency.

Adjusting rates based on soil health and plant needs helps save resources and increase yields. Research shows this method can lead to higher net income and healthier soil compared to using uniform rates: “The net incomes of VR management zone were 15.5–449.61 USD ha−1 higher than that of traditional spatially uniform rate fertilization.”

  1. VR irrigation saves water, time, and fuel while reducing machinery wear.

Applying the correct amount of water to different parts of the field based on soil moisture levels and crop requirements reduces wear and tear on irrigation equipment compared to uniform irrigation.

Studies claim: “Variable rate irrigation (VRI) can increase water use efficiency and productivity by applying water based on site‐specific needs.”

  1. VR seeding increases crop yield by adjusting seeding rates based on soil fertility.

VR seeding adjusts seeding rates based on soil fertility and other factors to optimize plant populations and yields. It is commonly used alongside variable rate fertilization as part of a comprehensive precision agriculture strategy. 

Findings show that: “The application of VRS to the seeding of various crops shows positive agro-economic trends, additional yields, and higher economic returns.”

  1. VR pesticide reduces environmental pollution and improves pesticide efficiency.

VRT helps farmers target pests more accurately and use less pesticide. 

Studies have found that “VR management zone reduced the use of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers by 22.90–43.95%, 59.11–100%, and 8.21–100%, respectively, and it also increased the use efficiency of N, P, and K by 12.27–28.71, 89.64–176.85, and 5.48–266.89 kg/kg, respectively, without yield loss.”

This demonstrates the ability of variable rate technologies to improve pesticide effectiveness and reduce environmental pollution in agriculture.

Using Various Technological Means For Informed Decisions

Applying different technological tools is essential for implementing variable rate technology in agriculture. This includes smart machinery, fertilizers, seeders, soil sensors, geographic information system (also called GIS), and the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) applications for field mapping. Additionally, having supporting infrastructure, which helps manage and analyze info from different sources, is crucial for successful implementation.

Understanding the location, timing, and methods for seeding, fertilizing, and harvesting is key in remote crop monitoring and precision agriculture, where data plays a vital role in managing resources effectively.

This information is taken from a wide variety of data sources.

  • Sensors. Moisture, soil nutrients, compaction, weather stations (humidity, temperature, wind speed)
  • Drones and satellite photography. Field hyperspectral imaging.
  • GNSS. Event coordinates, also points and times for obtaining time-series data
  • Spatio-temporal data sources. Spatio-temporal specific data (trajectories of agricultural machinery, spatiotemporal points, event points, time-series information)
  • Maps. Field boundaries, soil type, surface levels)
  • AI solutions. Prediction of weather conditions, detection of plant diseases.

However, simply collecting raw data is not sufficient. It is necessary to process this information to extract valuable insights, make informed decisions, and enable automatic alerts and control signals for agricultural equipment. Thus, you must have the capability to:

  • Gather data;
  • Transform the data to extract valuable insights for precision farming gear;
  • Upload the data into agricultural equipment;
  • Retrieve real-time data from tractors, seeders, fertilizers, and other machinery.

By following these steps, farmers can make the most of modern technology, optimizing their farming practices and boosting efficiency.

Use Of Satellite Images In Building VRT Maps

Satellite crop monitoring imagery can be used to generate different kinds of VRA maps for various purposes. As nitrogen is one of the most critical elements plants need, building map for its proper application is a major task. 

Nitrogen fertilization maps play a crucial role in optimizing the application of water, nitrogen, and crop protection products. 

When creating a VRA map for nitrogen fertilizer, you can choose from various indices that provide valuable insights:

  • MSAVI is sensitive to uncovered soil and, therefore, is ideal for planning VR fertilizer application in the early stages of growth.

Example:  Early in the growing season, a corn farmer uses MSAVI to detect patches of uncovered soil in their field. This helps them apply fertilizer more accurately, ensuring that nutrient-rich areas receive the right amount of input and promoting uniform growth.

  • ReCI measures chlorophyll content in leaves, helping to identify field areas with faded and yellowed vegetation that may need additional fertilizer.

Example: A soybean grower notices using ReCI that certain sections of their field have yellowed leaves, indicating possible nutrient deficiencies. They apply additional fertilizer to these areas, restoring plant health and boosting overall yield.

  • NDVI indicates biomass accumulation zones and areas with low vegetation that might demand larger amounts of fertilizer.

Example:  A cotton producer uses NDVI to map out zones with varying levels of biomass across their field. They adjust their fertilizer application rates, applying more in areas with lower vegetation to support growth and maximize their harvest.

  • NDMI is well-suited for VR irrigation by identifying areas that are under water stress.

Example: During a hot summer, a vineyard uses NDMI to pinpoint areas suffering from water stress. They adjust their irrigation system to provide extra water where it’s needed, ensuring the vines remain healthy and productive.

    • NDRE helps identify stressed or dying vegetation in the middle to late stages of a season, aiding in effective fertilization strategies.
  • Example: During the season, a wheat farmer uses NDRE to identify patches of the field where the wheat plants are showing signs of nutrient stress or poor growth. By applying a mid-season nutrient boost specifically to these stressed areas, the farmer improves the overall health and yield potential of the wheat crop.

Field Productivity Maps

Field productivity maps can be created by analyzing satellite images to pinpoint areas with high or low crop yields. By using the NDVI index and advanced machine learning algorithms, different productivity zones can be identified.

Key applications of productivity maps include:

  • Potassium and phosphorus fertilization

Historical productivity zones data can help avoid excessive application in areas where these nutrients may have accumulated with time.

  • Variable rate planting

Farmers can apply different seed amounts in various productivity zones to either maximize yield or achieve uniform distribution across the field.

  • Land evaluation

Field productivity can be assessed before purchasing or renting land; it helps reduce risk and enhance profitability.

  • Targeted soil sampling

Soil sampling efforts can be focused on key areas indicated by productivity data, rather than relying on generic grid sampling.

As you see, variable rate application (VRA) is a cost-effective method that can save you 10% on planting and cultivation costs based on the characteristics of the soil. To fully benefit from VRA, it’s important to understand the technologies involved, such as sensors, GNSS, earth observation pictures from drones and satellites, and digital maps, which provide crucial data for analysis and implementation. We sincerely hope that you succeed in your farming endeavors with modern technology!

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Author Vasyl Cherlinka

Vasyl Cherlinka is a Doctor of Biosciences specializing in pedology (soil science), with 30 years of experience in the field. With a degree in agrochemistry, agronomy and soil science, Dr. Cherlinka has been advising on these issues private sector for many years.

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