Aircraft categories
Seven categories. One right answer.
Range, passenger count, and airport access decide the aircraft — not preference. Start with the journey and the category follows.
- OperatorsLicensed carriers, named before you commit
- 7Categories
- Turboprop to airlinerMatched to party size and route
Choose by mission
Each category exists because a particular kind of journey demands it. Certified Jets’ market estimate, based on published broker guides from 2025 and 2026, gives the hourly ranges shown below, in US dollars per flight hour. It is an estimate, not a Certified Jets price or a quote. Taxes, fees, positioning, crew overnights, daily minimums and de-icing may be added. We quote on-demand charter trip by trip; see how a charter quote is built.
Turboprop
Short regional sectors. Some types, such as the Pilatus PC-12, can operate from short runways and unpaved grass or gravel strips.Estimate $2,000–$3,500/hrLight jet
Efficient point-to-point travel for small parties, at jet speed.Estimate $4,000–$5,500/hrMidsize
Stand-up cabin, real baggage capacity, and, in types such as the Citation Latitude, the range to fly Los Angeles to New York nonstop.Estimate $5,000–$7,500/hrSuper midsize
A wider cabin and longer legs than midsize, without stepping up to heavy-jet operating costs.Estimate $6,500–$9,500/hrHeavy
Separate cabin zones, a full galley, and crew rest — the aircraft you want when the flight is long enough that the cabin matters more than the schedule.Estimate $8,500–$13,500/hrUltra long range
Chosen when a technical stop is unacceptable — for schedule, for security, or for protocol.Estimate $12,500–$17,500/hrVVIP airliner
Converted airliners for large delegations, touring parties, and cabins configured to a specific requirement.Quoted per trip
Compare every category
Certified Jets’ estimated hourly charter range and maximum seating for an example type in each category. The ranges are estimates, not quotes or Certified Jets prices: we quote on-demand charter trip by trip.
| Category | Indicative sector | Seats, example type | Estimate, USD per flight hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop | 1–3 h | Up to 9 | $2,000–$3,500 |
| Light jet | 2–3 h | Up to 9 | $4,000–$5,500 |
| Midsize | 4–5 h | Up to 9 | $5,000–$7,500 |
| Super midsize | 5–7 h | Up to 10 | $6,500–$9,500 |
| Heavy | 6–9 h | 12–17 | $8,500–$13,500 |
| Ultra long range | 12 h+ | Up to 19 | $12,500–$17,500 |
| VVIP airliner | Global | By configuration | Quoted per trip |
Certified Jets market estimate based on published broker guides, 2025–2026. It is not a quote and not a Certified Jets price. Taxes, fees, positioning, crew overnights, daily minimums and de-icing may be added. Certified Jets quotes on-demand charter trip by trip; positioning, season and availability move the price. See how a charter quote is built. Seats: manufacturer maximum seating for one example type per category (other types seat more or fewer) — Pilatus PC-12 PRO (turboprop), Citation CJ3 Gen2 (light), Citation Latitude (midsize), Challenger 3500 (super midsize), Challenger 650, Falcon 6X and Global 6500 (heavy), Gulfstream G700 (ultra long range). Sector times are indicative examples, not range limits.
Tell us the journey
Route, party size, and dates. An advisor will tell you which category fits — including when a smaller one will do.