Frequently asked questions

What routes and tasks suit turboprops?

Turboprops are the optimum for flights up to 1,500–2,000 km: London–Geneva, Paris–Milan, Vienna–Munich. Their element is short and unpaved strips: a Pilatus PC-12 lands in 600 m, so thousands of airfields are reachable that a jet physically cannot use. An hour costs one and a half to two times less than a jet, and on legs up to 1,000 km the time penalty is only 15–25 minutes. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

What range and how many passengers do turboprops have?

Single-engine aircraft take 4–9 passengers: the TBM 960 seats six over 3,200 km, the Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to nine over 3,400 km. The twin-engine King Air 360ER carries eight almost 5,000 km. Class cruise speed is 500–610 km/h. A rule of thumb: a full cabin cuts maximum range by 20–30%. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

How does a turboprop differ from neighbouring classes?

A jet is faster — 750–850 km/h versus 500–610 — and flies higher, above turbulence. The turboprop answers with economics: 220–350 L/hour versus 500–700, a charter hour from $1,800 versus $3,000+, plus access to short unpaved strips. On legs up to 1,000 km the time difference is under half an hour, so short hops make sense by turboprop and long ones by jet. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

Which turboprops are in the fleet and how do they differ?

The fleet has 13 models: the fast Daher TBM 960 and Piper M700 Fury (556–611 km/h, 5–6 seats), the roomy Pilatus PC-12 NG/NGX/PRO with a cargo door and nine seats, the twin King Air 260 and 360ER for long legs up to 5,000 km, the business Piaggio Avanti Evo with jet speed and a stand-up cabin, and the affordable Piper M350/M500/M600SLS. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

How do you choose an aircraft to buy for your needs?

Start from two numbers: the length of your typical route and the number of passengers. Up to 1,000 km and 4 people — a turboprop or light jet; 2,000–4,000 km — a midsize jet; nonstop intercontinental — a long-range jet. Then adjust for short runways, baggage volume and sleeping berths. We'll match a model to your profile and calculate the ownership economics. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

New aircraft or pre-owned — which is the better buy?

A new aircraft means a factory warranty and a 1–3-year queue, but the price is at its peak. A pre-owned aircraft means immediate delivery and a price 30–60% lower, while engine time and history matter. For most buyers a fresh 3–7-year-old aircraft is optimal: the main depreciation has happened and plenty of life remains. We cost both options. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

Which aircraft class should you choose for your routes and passengers?

Turboprops — up to 1,500 km, 4–9 seats; light jets — up to 4,000 km; midsize — a stand-up cabin and 4–6 hours; super-midsize and large — 6,300–7,400 km, 8–12 people; long-range — up to 14,800 km nonstop. Helicopters cover door-to-door legs up to 800 km. We'll match the class to your task. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

How much does it cost to own an aircraft per year?

The bulk of costs are fixed — hangar, crew, maintenance, insurance — and independent of hours flown. At 300–400 h/year a guide: turboprop $0.6–0.9M, light jet ~$1.6M, midsize $2–2.4M, large $2.8–3M, long-range $3.8–4.7M. We calculate the exact figure for a specific model and your hours. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

What drives the cost of a flight hour when you own an aircraft?

Three cost groups: direct (fuel, hourly reserves for engines and airframe), crew (salaries, training, hotels) and fixed (insurance, hangar, management), spread across hours flown. The more you fly, the lower the hour. A guide at 400 h/year runs from $1,500 on a turboprop to $10,000+ on a long-range jet. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.

How well does an aircraft hold its value and what matters for resale?

Liquidity depends on the model, fleet size, engine time and interior freshness. High-volume models (Phenom 300, Challenger 650, PC-12, G650ER) hold value better and sell in 60–120 days. When buying, look at residual value and demand — it protects your investment. We'll advise which models are most liquid in your budget. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.