Business aviation pilot jobs
Corporate, charter and private jet flying — Captain and First Officer vacancies worldwide.
bestpilotjobs lists 55 business aviation pilot vacancies as of Oct 2026, across 36 operators. Business aviation pilot jobs are flight-deck positions flying corporate, charter, fractional and private-owner aircraft — from light and midsize jets to large-cabin, ultra-long-range types. Hiring sits outside the airline seniority system: schedules and destinations change at short notice, crews are small, and the aircraft type rating is usually funded by the operator.
What a business aviation pilot does
A business pilot operates the aircraft and, in a smaller flight department, effectively runs the trip: international flight and overflight-permit planning, handler and FBO coordination, fuel planning, passenger service and short-notice changes. Duties often extend beyond individual flights into aircraft management, dispatch and trip administration, and crews frequently stay with the same aircraft or department for years.
What flying is involved
Typical families include the Cessna Citation, Embraer Phenom and Praetor, Pilatus PC-12 and PC-24, Bombardier Challenger and Global, Dassault Falcon and Gulfstream. The aircraft directory lists the business-jet fleet in full.
- Corporate flight departments
- On-demand and charter operations (AOC / Part-135)
- Fractional ownership programmes
- Managed private aircraft and owner-flown fleets with professional crews
- Light, midsize, super-midsize, large-cabin and ultra-long-range operations
Business aviation ranks and roles
- First Officer — supports the Captain in the operation of the aircraft
- Captain — pilot in command, responsible for the flight
- Chief Pilot — operational and leadership oversight of a flight department
- Corporate, Charter and VIP Pilot — roles defined by the operating model and clientele
What operators look for
Requirements depend heavily on the aircraft and operation, but generally include a CPL or ATPL(A), a multi-engine instrument rating, a valid Class 1 medical and ICAO English. A type rating on the specific family is usually needed and is often operator-funded; international operating experience and strong client-facing conduct are valued. The Gulfstream, Bombardier Global and Dassault Falcon guides cover the main families.
What makes business aviation different
Business aviation offers a very different working life from scheduled flying: a home base with small crews, a huge variety of destinations, direct owner and passenger contact, and broader responsibilities than operating individual flights. It runs on a distinct set of type ratings and its own contract and pay structure — the salary guide covers typical pay. Demand is real: CAE projects 33,000 new business-aviation pilots over the decade, a segment airline forecasts deliberately exclude — see the pilot demand outlook.
Live business aviation pilot jobs · 55 · page 1 of 6
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a corporate pilot and an airline pilot?
Corporate and business pilots fly company, charter, fractional or privately owned aircraft on variable schedules with small crews, outside the airline seniority system, and often with broader trip-management duties. Airline pilots fly scheduled or charter airline transport in a highly standardised, multi-crew environment.
Do I need a type rating for business jets?
Usually, yes — most business-jet roles require a type rating on the specific family. The difference from the airline world is that operators frequently fund the rating, and a rating on an in-demand family (Gulfstream, Global, Falcon) strengthens your position considerably.
What licence do business aviation pilots need?
Typically a CPL or ATPL(A) with a multi-engine instrument rating, a valid Class 1 medical and ICAO English, plus the relevant type rating. Exact requirements track the aircraft and the operation — light-jet single-pilot roles differ from large-cabin, multi-crew international flying.
What aircraft do business jet pilots fly?
Common families include the Cessna Citation, Embraer Phenom and Praetor, Pilatus PC-12 and PC-24, Bombardier Challenger and Global, Dassault Falcon and Gulfstream — spanning light, midsize, large-cabin and ultra-long-range aircraft.
Is business aviation hiring?
The long-term outlook is strong. Honeywell forecasts a record run of new business-jet deliveries over the next decade, and CAE projects 33,000 new business-aviation pilots in the same period — demand that Boeing's airline pilot forecast deliberately excludes. The sourced figures are on the pilot demand outlook.
What is fractional or charter flying?
Fractional programmes let multiple owners share aircraft managed by an operator, with professional crews flying a mixed schedule of owner trips. Charter (on-demand) flying carries paying passengers under an AOC or Part-135 operation. Both hire Captains and First Officers outside the airline model.