A common question that comes up with those starting out as a pilot is, “Can private jets land anywhere?” After all, it does seem like a smaller plane, so it should have a bit more freedom to land wherever they want. However, it is not always as simple as it may seem. In fact, more often than not, private jets should avoid the major international airports, opting for smaller locations instead.
Why is that exactly the case? Below are a few reasons why big airports and private jets just don’t mix that well.
Can Private Jets Land Anywhere?
So, can private jets land anywhere? Private jets should avoid major international airports and should opt for smaller landing locations instead.
Holding Patterns
Major airports are busy as it is, so adding private jets to the mix will only make the holding stack longer. Private jets have no problem going into a holding pattern, but it does take up a decent amount of time and fuel. This may become frustrating, especially if you are planning on traveling the world and are on a tight schedule. It often makes zero sense for a private jet to waste time when they don’t have to.
The bigger planes will also experience even more of a delay. It really is a lose-lose situation for all involved, especially if you have a trip reveal idea that involves the other party seeing the plane at a certain time.
Faster Approaching Speeds
For logistical reasons, private jets have to maintain the same type of approaching speeds as commercial airliners when they are landing at the same airport. This is not the norm, and it may be a bit too much to handle for a person is just starting out as a pilot.
A faster speed during the approach means that there are a lot of configuration changes to do as well. Certain checks need to be made in order to get ready for the landing. It is a lot different than just being able to approach a little bit slower like at a smaller airport and will reduce the chances of delays.
Landing Differences
A major airport is going to have extremely long runways, so it is easy to land a smaller jet in some ways. With that said, small jets do not have additional time to get off the runway once they land. Some pilots do not like to be rushed, but busy airports need the runway to be cleared so the next plane comes in without a hiccup.
There are also going to be some difficult turns to get the runway cleared, so pilots need to be aware of that. The whole landing process is much more rushed at the major airport.
Taxi’ing
The taxiing process is very tedious, and that process is even more tedious when using a private jet. Traffic controllers usually give private jet pilots a pretty long way to go. It’s more of an inconvenience than anything, but still something that stands out.
Park in the Aircraft
Not every airport is going to be equipped for small jet parking. In many cases, the aircraft actually has to be parked pretty far away from where passengers can get on. This can cause a number of inconveniences to say the least.
Private jet pilots are basically treated like infrequent visitors at major airports. They do not get first selection on where they park or really anything for that matter.
Customs
The final step when flying internationally is to go through customs once on land. There are no shortcuts at an international airport. At small airports, custom checks are made, but they usually go at a much faster way. This leads to a lot of delays with customs.
Use Smaller Airports When Possible
Every small jet pilot should consider using a smaller airport if one is available. It is often more convenient, easier to navigate and faster overall. There are special circumstances when going to a larger airport is the only option, but smaller is the way to go.
Bottom Line
So, can private jets land anywhere? It is ideal for private jets to consider landing at a smaller and more private location instead of at a large international airport. This is due to all of the reasons mentioned in the article above.