Private Jet Pilot Requirements- Who Flies Your Charter Flight

Pilots operating charter flights under Part 135 must hold specific FAA certificates depending on the aircraft and role:

Commercial Pilot Certificate (CPL)

The minimum certificate required to act as pilot in command (PIC) on Part 135 operations in aircraft with fewer than 10 passenger seats. A commercial pilot certificate requires a minimum of 250 total flight hours and demonstrates the holder can operate an aircraft for compensation or hire. It is a higher standard than a private pilot certificate but below the airline transport pilot level.

Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP)

Required to act as PIC on Part 135 aircraft with 10 or more passenger seats, and required for all PIC roles in Part 121 scheduled airline operations. The ATP is the highest level of FAA pilot certification. Standard ATP eligibility requires 1,500 total flight hours, including specific cross-country, night, and instrument hour thresholds, along with an ATP Certification Training Program (ATP-CTP) course and written and practical examinations.

For most private jet charter operations involving turbine aircraft with 10 or more seats, the PIC holds an ATP certificate. For aircraft with fewer than 10 seats, the PIC may hold a commercial certificate, though many quality operators require ATP for all PIC roles regardless of seat count.

Private jet pilots operating charter flights under FAA Part 135 must hold specific certificates depending on the aircraft and role. A commercial pilot certificate (CPL) with instrument rating is the minimum for PIC on Part 135 aircraft with fewer than 10 passenger seats. An airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate is required for PIC on aircraft with 10 or more seats. ATP eligibility requires 1,500 total flight hours plus specific cross-country, night, and instrument minimums, an ATP-CTP course, and FAA examinations. All pilots flying turbojet aircraft or aircraft above 12,500 pounds maximum takeoff weight must hold a type rating specific to that aircraft. Part 135 also requires recurrent training every 12 months and instrument proficiency checks every 6 months.

These are FAA regulatory minimums under 14 CFR Part 135. Quality operators set significantly higher internal minimums. It is not unusual for a reputable charter operator to require 3,000 or more total hours for PIC roles, with specific minimums in the aircraft type being flown.

A type rating is required for any aircraft above 12,500 pounds maximum takeoff weight, and for any turbojet-powered aircraft regardless of weight. This encompasses virtually every turbine-powered aircraft used in private jet charter, from light jets through ultra-long-range aircraft.

Obtaining a type rating requires completion of a training program specific to that aircraft type, including ground school, simulator training, and a checkride administered by an FAA examiner or authorized check airman. 

A pilot who is type-rated on a Citation CJ3 is not automatically qualified to fly a Gulfstream G650; each aircraft type requires its own type rating.

When evaluating an operator or asking about crew qualifications, confirming that the pilot in command holds a valid type rating in the specific aircraft assigned to your flight is a basic but important verification.

Part 135 mandates ongoing training and proficiency checks that do not exist for private Part 91 operations. These requirements are part of what distinguishes charter operations from privately flown aircraft:

• Initial training: Comprehensive training on company operations, specific aircraft systems, emergency procedures, and crew resource management (CRM) before a pilot can serve in a Part 135 role
• Recurrent training: Required every 12 months, including simulator training and proficiency checks to verify ongoing competency
• Instrument proficiency checks: Required every 6 months under 14 CFR 135.297 to maintain instrument currency
• Line checks: Periodic evaluation of a pilot operating an actual revenue flight by a check airman
• Medical certificates: Part 135 PICs must hold at minimum a second-class FAA medical certificate, which requires a medical examination and includes more stringent standards than the third-class certificate required for private pilots
• Drug and alcohol testing: Part 135 operators must maintain FAA-compliant drug and alcohol testing programs covering all safety-sensitive employees including pilots

FAA Part 135 sets minimum pilot hour requirements that are floors, not industry standards. For IFR PIC operations, the regulatory minimum is 1,200 total flight hours including 500 cross-country, 100 night, and 75 instrument hours. Quality charter operators commonly require 3,000 or more total hours for PIC roles in turbine aircraft. ARGUS International and Wyvern safety audits include review of operator crew qualification records and training programs; ARGUS  Platinum and Wyvern Wingman ratings provide third-party confirmation that an operator's crew standards have been independently reviewed. Confirming that the assigned PIC holds a current type rating in the specific aircraft assigned to a charter booking is a straightforward due diligence step.

The FAA establishes floors, not ceilings. Quality charter operators hold their crews to standards that meaningfully exceed those floors. When evaluating an operator, these are the differentiators:

Higher total hour minimums: Many quality operators require 3,000 or more total flight hours for PIC roles on turbine aircraft, compared to the 1,200-hour regulatory minimum for IFR operations. Some require specific turbine PIC time, not just total time.

Type-specific minimums: Beyond the type rating, quality operators set minimum hours in the specific aircraft type being flown. A pilot who received their type rating last month and a pilot with 1,000 hours in type are both type-rated; they are not equivalent, and good operators track the difference.

Crew resource management emphasis: CRM training is mandatory under Part 135, but the depth and recency of CRM training varies significantly between operators. High-quality operators treat CRM as a continuous practice, not a compliance checkbox.

ARGUS and Wyvern audits: ARGUS and Wyvern safety ratings involve review of the operator's pilot qualification records, training programs, and simulator visit schedules as part of the audit process. An ARGUS Platinum or Wyvern Wingman rating provides third-party confirmation that the operator's crew standards have been independently reviewed.For the accident data behind those standards, see how safe private jet charter is.

Every operator Hogani Jets books holds a current FAA Part 135 certificate (or Part 121 for airliner charters), and ARGUS and Wyvern ratings are recommended. As part of our booking process, we verify that the pilot in command assigned to your flight is type-rated in the specific aircraft, holds current medical certification, and is employed by or contracted to the Part 135 operator whose certificate governs the flight. 

We do not verify individual pilot logbooks, but we rely on the operator's ARGUS or Wyvern rating as confirmation that their crew qualification standards have been independently audited.

If you have specific questions about crew qualifications for a booked flight, contact your Hogani Jets adviser before departure. A quality operator answers these questions directly.

Hogani Jets coordinates each charter through licensed Part 135 operators.

Contact Hogani Jets at charter@hoganijets.com or +1-855-660-0573.