Google pays 1.3 million dollars to land corporate jet at NASA air field

Filed under: News, Google

Google pays 1.3 million dollars to land corporate jet at NASA air field

by Brad Linder Sep 13th 2007

Sure, Google's philanthropic arm, Google.org is offering up $10 million in grants for environmentally friendly transportation initiatives. But that doesn't mean company founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin don't know how to burn some old fashioned jet fuel.

Google has struck a deal with NASA allowing Page and Brin to land their private Boeing 767 at the Moffett Federal Airfield near Mountain View, CA. In exchange, they have agreed to carry scientific equipment for NASA on the jet.

There's no word on how often the Google plane will be flying in and out of Moffett Field, but federal law requires fewer than 25,000 flights (whether the pilots are government employees or private).

As for the environmental impact, it's likely that the Google Jet will actually save some fuel by using the air field, since it's a bit closer to home for Google's founders than any major regional airport.

Tags: airplane, google-jet, google-plane

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mike said 10:47AM on 9-13-2007

Oh wow the environment owes them a big thanks. They're landing their JET closer to their house. Man how environmental. Thats right up there with riding a bike to work.

Todd said 10:56AM on 9-13-2007

I can't help but wonder if the Google Jet has a camera mounted to the bottom of it for areal photography ala Google Maps. If it does that would be the only business case justification for having such an extravagant plane.

A 767 is HUGE inside:

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk/media/pic_mar_767_d4.jpg

All that to carry two guys and their staff? Wasteful.

Colin said 11:15AM on 9-13-2007

The headline is just plain wrong. Google isn't paying anything to land their jet. Some LLC owned by the Google execs is. Big difference.

ah said 11:40AM on 9-13-2007

money blinds

gojeda said 11:57AM on 9-13-2007

"As for the environmental impact, it's likely that the Google Jet will actually save some fuel by using the air field, since it's a bit closer to home for Google's founders than any major regional airport."

I nominate this sentence for a Webby in the catagory of "WTF"?

Brad Linder said 11:58AM on 9-13-2007

Come on, it was early when I wrote this and I was trying to think of some silver cloud. At least they don't have to umm.. drive as far to the airport. Or something.

Googly Eyed said 12:19PM on 9-13-2007

dont be evil! unless you have $1.3M.

gojeda said 12:25PM on 9-13-2007

"If it does that would be the only business case justification for having such an extravagant plane."

I do not criticize them for having an airplane. This is a free country and they're entitled to whatever their little hearts desire as long as they doing it legally.

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