Light Jet
Domestic charter's most common airframe: full-size seats, a modest cabin, and the speed, range, and cost that fit the majority of trips.
Class-typical figures for planning, not a specific model's spec sheet. Range and speed vary by model, load, and conditions.
Most domestic charter flies on a light jet, and the reason is the balance point: speed, cabin, and cost that fit the majority of trips. A small group sits in full-size seats, the cruise is quick enough that a Southern California getaway is a short sit, and the airplane costs meaningfully less to run than a midsize jet. A lavatory sits at the back, behind a door on some and a curtain on others, and the tail cone takes the bags.
In the cabin
Stand-up cabins are usually modest. The aisle sits lower than the seats, so seated headroom is fine and walking headroom is a crouch. The engines hang on the tail, so the front seats are the quiet ones and the back pair hears the fans. The ride is quick and quiet, firmer in the chop than a midsize, and the airplane lands light on its wheels.
When it fits
For the SoCal weekend, Vegas, the Bay Area, Aspen, Scottsdale, this is the default: enough cabin and range for the trip without paying for capability that goes unused. Wrong call for 7 with a week's luggage, or for anyone who wants to stand and walk to the lavatory mid-flight. The airplane spends its life on those runs, out and back by dinner, the tail cone full of golf bags.
- Short-to-medium domestic trips
- Small groups (5–7)
- The default SoCal getaway jet
The models that appear most often on quotes in this class. Examples, not a full roster. The specific aircraft varies by operator. All 7 light jet models →