Moving Up to a Jet

J. Mac McClellan

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 04:00 AM ET

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Beechcraft Premier IA Paul Bowen

Key Takeaways:

Pilots transitioning from propeller planes to jets require a specific "type rating" due to jets' higher safety standards and unique operational demands, unlike the category ratings for prop aircraft.
Jet flying involves significant differences such as noticeable engine thrust lag, non-linear power response, and the need for extreme precision in controlling altitude, airspeed, and attitude, especially at high altitudes.
Critical flight phases like approach and landing in jets demand advanced anticipation of power adjustments and meticulous airspeed management to mitigate risks, though competent pilots can master these through rigorous training and precise flying.

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It’s individuals, not corporations, who dominate orders for new business jets. Many — probably most — of those jets will be flown by professional crews, but increasing numbers will be piloted by their owners at least some of the time. That means hundreds of pilots will transition from some sort of propeller-driven airplane into a jet for the first time this year.

There are several types of jets that can be flown by a single pilot instead of a crew, and that holds additional appeal for the airplane owner who is freed from the complications and expense of having to take a copilot along. The Beechcraft Premier IA, the CitationJet series, the Mustang and the Embraer Phenom 100 are just some of the jets eligible for single-pilot operation. And more are in development.