Aircraft guide
Eight categories, compared honestly
Private aircraft are grouped into categories that describe capability rather than brand. Range and cabin height are what change the experience — and baggage volume is what forces the decision far more often than seat count does.
| Category | Seats | Range (nm) | Cruise (kts) | Cabin height | Baggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TurbopropPilatus PC-12 | 6–9 | 1,000–1,800 | 270–320 | 1.45–1.50 m | Modest, but often accessible in flight |
| Very light jetCessna Citation M2 | 4–6 | 1,100–1,500 | 340–400 | 1.42–1.47 m | One soft bag per passenger, realistically |
| Light jetCessna Citation CJ3+ | 6–8 | 1,500–2,300 | 400–450 | 1.45–1.50 m | Enough for a week for six, not for six people's ski kit |
| Midsize jetCessna Citation XLS+ | 7–9 | 2,000–3,000 | 430–470 | 1.70–1.75 m | Genuine luggage space, usually accessible in flight |
| Super-midsize jetBombardier Challenger 350 | 8–10 | 3,000–3,900 | 460–500 | 1.80–1.85 m | Large, accessible in flight |
| Heavy jetBombardier Challenger 605 | 10–16 | 3,900–5,000 | 470–500 | 1.83–1.88 m | Substantial, with in-flight access |
| Ultra-long-range jetGulfstream G650ER | 12–19 | 6,000–7,700 | 490–516 | 1.88–1.95 m | Large, with a dedicated compartment |
| VIP airlinerAirbus ACJ319 | 19–50+ | 4,000–6,000 | 450–480 | 2.10–2.20 m | Airliner-scale hold |
Figures are typical for representative types in each category and are given as ranges because they vary by aircraft, configuration and payload. Real-world range is always lower than the published figure once headwind, passengers, baggage and fuel reserves are accounted for. We confirm the specific aircraft's capability against your actual routing before quoting it.
In detail
What each category is for
Turboprop
6–9 seats · 1,000–1,800 nm · 1.45–1.50 m cabin
Short legs into small fields. A turboprop can use runways a jet cannot, which on regional trips often puts you closer to where you are actually going.
Trade-off: Slower and noisier than a jet, and it flies lower, so it works around weather rather than over it.
Specifications and examplesVery light jet
4–6 seats · 1,100–1,500 nm · 1.42–1.47 m cabin
Two to four people on a short leg who want jet speed at the bottom of the jet market.
Trade-off: Baggage is the binding constraint far more often than seats are. Golf clubs and ski bags rarely fit.
Specifications and examplesLight jet
6–8 seats · 1,500–2,300 nm · 1.45–1.50 m cabin
The workhorse of domestic charter. Most short-haul private trips are flown on one of these, and for good reason.
Trade-off: You cannot stand up. On anything over two hours that starts to matter.
Specifications and examplesMidsize jet
7–9 seats · 2,000–3,000 nm · 1.70–1.75 m cabin
The first category where the cabin stops being a compromise. A stand-up-ish cabin and a real baggage hold.
Trade-off: Coast-to-coast westbound against winter headwinds can still force a fuel stop.
Specifications and examplesSuper-midsize jet
8–10 seats · 3,000–3,900 nm · 1.80–1.85 m cabin
Full-height cabin, transcontinental range and a galley, without stepping up to heavy-jet cost.
Trade-off: Not a transatlantic aircraft in every wind. Check the specific leg rather than the category.
Specifications and examplesHeavy jet
10–16 seats · 3,900–5,000 nm · 1.83–1.88 m cabin
Transatlantic travel, or a larger group who need to work or sleep en route.
Trade-off: Needs longer runways and more handling, which rules out some of the smaller fields a light jet can use.
Specifications and examplesUltra-long-range jet
12–19 seats · 6,000–7,700 nm · 1.88–1.95 m cabin
Intercontinental legs where the alternative is a stop, and arriving able to work is the point.
Trade-off: The most expensive category to position. If the aircraft is not already near you, that repositioning is on the quote.
Specifications and examplesVIP airliner
19–50+ seats · 4,000–6,000 nm · 2.10–2.20 m cabin
Groups too large for a business jet — a touring party, a full board, a sports squad.
Trade-off: Airport options narrow considerably, and lead times are longer than for a business jet.
Specifications and examples
The two mistakes people make choosing a category
Booking to seat count. Eight seats does not mean eight people with luggage. A light jet with six passengers and six full-size cases is over its baggage volume long before it is over its seats, and the fix on the day is an aircraft upgrade at short notice. Tell us what you are carrying at the quoting stage and it never comes up.
Booking to published range. Manufacturer range figures assume conditions you will not have — typically four passengers, no wind, and long-range cruise. A category listed as capable of your leg may still need a fuel stop westbound in winter. We check the specific aircraft against the specific routing, and if it needs a stop we say so in the quote rather than on the day.
