Can you hire a private pilot?

And if you're looking for pilots, your IADA-Accredited Aircraft Dealer can point you to the most reputable private aviation service providers, where you can secure every component of your private aviation program. Contact an IADA-Accredited Aircraft Dealer to learn more.



Yes, you can hire a private pilot in 2026, but the legalities depend on whose aircraft they are flying. If you own or lease the aircraft, you can hire a pilot to fly it for you; however, that pilot must hold a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) or an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate to be legally paid for their services. A person with only a "Private Pilot License" cannot be hired for compensation. If you do not own a plane, you can "hire" a pilot through a private charter company (Part 135 operator), which provides both the pilot and the aircraft as a unified service. For 2026 travelers, hiring a "personal pilot" involves vetting their experience, ensuring they have the specific "Type Rating" for your aircraft, and verifying their insurance coverage. It is a high-value service for business owners and high-net-worth individuals who want the convenience of private flight without the need to handle the complex flight operations themselves.

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How to fly private for cheap? Many membership programs will offer space on “ferry” or “repositioning” flights to members at significant discounts. Otherwise, the best way to fly cheap on a semi-private or private-like experience is to book a public charter like JSX.

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Net Worth Needed To Fly Private If you have a $25+ million net worth and earn at least $680,000 a year in active income (not investment income), flying private should be easy. To fly private on a regular basis, it's best to have both a $1+ million annual income and $25+ million net worth.

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In the United States, there is NO SPECIFIC LIMIT on the size of the plane a PPL holder can fly, as long as they have the appropriate type rating. This means that, in theory, a PPL holder could fly a Boeing 747 or an Airbus A380. However, there are a few practical considerations that would make this very difficult.

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Being a private-jet pilot doesn't mean sitting in a cockpit all day. Schmutzer flies between two and five times daily, mostly on continental US routes during her eight-day rotation. She told Insider she often has downtime between flights and can squeeze in a workout like hiking, running, or taking fitness classes.

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Again, the important thing to remember is that there are no set rules when it comes to tipping. Some passengers prefer to tip the crew every time they fly, while others leave a larger tip at the end of a holiday or multi-leg business trip.

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Even smaller private jets require two pilots. Safety risk is significantly higher when a single pilot flies an aircraft, so dual pilot operations are almost always mandatory. With two pilots, the workload is split thereby decreasing stress significantly.

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In the U.S., there are no FAA age limits for pilots except for commercial airline pilots employed by airlines certificated under 14 CFR Part 121. These airlines cannot employ pilots after they reach the age of 65. However, these pilots may stay on with a Part 121 carrier in some other role, such as flight engineer.

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Where Do Private Planes Land? Private planes, also known as private aircraft or private jets, are allowed to land at both commercial and general aviation airports. First of all, it's important to understand that there are different types of airports.

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Therefore, the wealth of those who possess private jets rises in proportion to the size of their planes. The typical owner of large luxury private jet has a net worth between $60 million and $70 million. The average wealth of owners of midrange and super-midsize aircraft is around $120 million.

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When you fly privately, the cost is typically shouldered by just one or two passengers. The hourly costs to charter a private jet include the cost of fuel, aircraft maintenance, crew wages, and more.

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