Private Jet Palo Alto to Montecito

The route between Palo Alto and Montecito covers around 226 nautical miles, a short passage carrying travellers from the heart of Silicon Valley south along the California coast to the genteel enclave near Santa Barbara. For so brief a sector a very light jet or turboprop is the sensible choice, and Palo Alto’s short runway rewards careful aircraft selection, with the Pilatus PC-12 or the Embraer Phenom 100 well matched to both the distance and the field. These aircraft operate economically over the coastal hills, cruising in the twenties or low thirties of thousands of feet and completing the flight in around half an hour. Their comfortable, pressurised cabins suit executives and couples making a swift coastal hop. Departures are handled from Palo Alto Airport, a convenient field close to the technology corridor of the San Francisco peninsula. Arrival is at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, moments from Montecito, the coastal enclave celebrated for its mild climate, its ocean views and its long association with privacy and discretion. The surrounding area offers the beaches and vineyards of the central coast, the Spanish colonial architecture of Santa Barbara and the mountains of the Santa Ynez range beyond. The route suits those moving between Silicon Valley and the coast, whether for business, a second home or a weekend retreat. The short-field capability and economy of a turboprop make the frequent, flexible pattern of such travel an easy affair, sparing passengers the long drive down the coastal highway. For guests bound for Montecito and its surroundings, the sector offers a discreet and direct passage, delivering them from the valley to the sea with the better part of the day still ahead.