Aircraft management usually costs an owner two things: a fixed monthly management fee, and every operating cost of the aircraft passed through on top of it. FLYING Magazine has put typical management fees at roughly $5,000 to more than $15,000 per month depending on service level (as cited in a 2023 industry article), but the fee is the smaller number. Crew, hangar, insurance, maintenance and fuel are what make up most of an owner’s annual bill, so the real question is how a manager bills those costs and what you get for the fee.
This guide breaks down what a management fee covers, which costs sit outside it, how charter revenue can offset ownership, and the questions to ask before you sign a management agreement.
A management company takes over the day-to-day work of keeping a private jet legal, crewed, maintained and flying. For an owner, that replaces building a small flight department from scratch.
Crew. Recruiting, hiring, payroll, recurrent training and scheduling pilots (and flight attendants on larger aircraft), including covering sick days and duty-time limits.
Maintenance oversight. Tracking inspections and airworthiness directives, scheduling downtime, selecting and supervising maintenance shops and approving invoices.
Flight operations. Trip planning, weather, permits, fuel planning, FBO and handling arrangements, catering and ground transport.
Safety and compliance. Running the aircraft under a Safety Management System, keeping records audit-ready and, if the aircraft flies charter, operating it on the manager’s FAA Part 135 certificate.
Accounting. Paying vendors, allocating costs, producing monthly statements and supporting the owner’s tax and insurance advisors.
Charter management (optional). Selling the aircraft’s unused time to charter customers and returning the revenue to the owner.
There is no single price, because the fee depends on the aircraft size, how many crew it needs, how much it flies and whether it is on a charter certificate. Most managers use one of three models:
For context on scale: the fee itself is typically a small share of what it costs to operate a jet each year. Crew salaries, insurance, hangar and scheduled maintenance are fixed whether the aircraft flies or not, and fuel and hourly maintenance rise with every flight hour.
Use this table to see where each cost lands and what to ask a prospective manager about it.
| Cost | Fixed or variable | How it is usually billed | What to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Fixed | Monthly | What exactly is included, and what triggers an increase? |
| Pilot salaries and benefits | Fixed | Passed through monthly | Are crew dedicated to my aircraft or shared? Who pays contract pilots? |
| Recurrent crew training | Fixed | Passed through as incurred | How often, where, and is it billed at cost? |
| Hangar | Fixed | Monthly | Is the hangar rate passed through at the FBO’s price or resold? |
| Hull and liability insurance | Fixed | Annual premium | Can I buy my own policy, or must I use the manager’s fleet policy? |
| Maintenance tracking, navigation databases, connectivity | Fixed | Subscriptions | Which subscriptions are required, and are they billed at cost? |
| Fuel | Variable | Per flight | Do I receive the fuel vendor’s invoice and any contract discount? |
| Scheduled and unscheduled maintenance | Variable | Per event or hourly program | Who chooses the shop, and do I see the shop’s invoice? |
| Landing, handling and FBO fees | Variable | Per trip | Are these passed through exactly as charged? |
| Crew travel and overnights | Variable | Per trip | Hotel and per diem policy? |
The column that matters most is the last one. Two managers can quote similar fees and produce very different annual totals depending on whether they earn margin on the pass-through costs.
Yes, if the aircraft is placed on a Part 135 certificate and the owner is comfortable with others flying it. Charter revenue does not usually cover the full cost of ownership, but it can reduce the net cost meaningfully on an aircraft that would otherwise sit idle. The economics depend on:
Silver Air Private Jets has been an FAA Part 135 operator since 2008 and manages aircraft from the Pilatus PC-12 and Citation CJ3 through the Challenger 350, Gulfstream G550 and Global Express. Its management program, PURE Jet Management, is built around the pass-through model described above: Silver Air states that owners receive direct invoices and receipts with no markup on any costs, and that an online owner portal gives 24/7 visibility of income and expenses.
For owners who place their aircraft on charter, Silver Air states a goal of increasing charter revenue 15–20% over the present market average; that is a target, not a guarantee, and results depend on the aircraft and market. Silver Air’s management fee for a given aircraft is [NEEDS NUMBER FROM OPS], and the typical owner/charter revenue split is [NEEDS NUMBER FROM OPS]. Every flight is assessed through a Flight Risk Assessment Tool as part of the company’s Safety Management System, and Silver Air holds Wyvern Wingman PRO and IS-BAO credentials.
If you are weighing management proposals, Silver Air can prepare a sample monthly statement for your aircraft type so you can compare total cost, not just the fee. See PURE Jet Management, review our safety and certifications, or contact the team.
What does it cost to have a private jet managed?
The management fee is commonly reported in the range of roughly $5,000 to more than $15,000 per month depending on aircraft size and service level, but total annual cost is far higher because crew, insurance, hangar, maintenance and fuel are billed on top.
What is included in an aircraft management fee?
Typically crew administration, maintenance oversight, trip planning, regulatory compliance, safety programs and accounting. Crew salaries, fuel, hangar, insurance and maintenance itself are usually separate costs, so always ask for a list of what the fee does and does not include.
Do aircraft management companies mark up fuel and maintenance?
Some do. Ask whether every cost is passed through at the vendor’s invoice price and whether you can see the original invoices. A low management fee combined with markups can cost more than a higher fee with true pass-through billing.
Can chartering my jet pay for its management?
Charter revenue can offset a meaningful part of ownership costs, but it rarely covers all of them. The result depends on the revenue split, owner-use priority, extra maintenance from charter hours and charter demand for your aircraft type.
Which companies provide full-service management for large private jets?
Look for Part 135 operators with experience managing your specific type (for example a G550 or Global Express), audited safety credentials you can verify, transparent pass-through billing, and crews and maintenance support in the regions you fly. Silver Air manages large-cabin and long-range aircraft under PURE Jet Management.
What is the difference between Part 91 and Part 135 management?
Under Part 91 the aircraft flies only for the owner’s own use. Placing it on a Part 135 certificate allows it to be chartered to the public, which brings stricter crew, maintenance and operational requirements and opens the door to charter revenue.
How long are aircraft management contracts?
Terms vary by company. Before signing, check the notice period, any termination fees and how the aircraft, records and crew are transitioned if you leave.
Reviewed October 25, 2026 by the Silver Air team.
