On ultra-long-haul flights, crews are onboard the aircraft for longer than the maximum duty time allowed by regulations, which is why there are relief crews. Typically, relief crews are required on flights over eight hours (although this can vary by nation or union contracts with airlines). Onboard, everyone is present on the ground as well as for takeoffs and landings. In the air, crews rotate based on a schedule to maximize effective rest time, and the individuals on break either rest in dedicated rest modules or in blocked seats on the aircraft.
This is true for any commercial airline, but in private aviation, the situation is different. Private jet operators are not subject to the same regulations as airlines; in the United States, private planes are either operated under Part 91 or Part 135 regulations, whereas scheduled carriers operate under Part 121. Part 135 is specifically intended for smaller companies, such as NetJets, whereas Part 91 is essentially for individuals who own their own plane. Given the differences in operations and regulations, how does crew rest work on private jets?
When Are Flight Attendants Present On Private Jets
Private jets with 19 seats or fewer are not legally required to be staffed with any flight attendants. While there are executive planes with higher capacity, these are airliner-derived VIP transports, such as the Airbus ACJ series or Boeing BBJ model line. In practice, every purpose-built business jet has a certified maximum capacity of 19 seats or less (even for the largest Gulfstream and Bombardier Global models), and this means that there isn’t a single private jet in production that requires flight attendants.
Flight attendants on board business jets are exclusively there to enhance the in-flight experience. Several charter companies, such as VistaJet and NetJets, staff a flight attendant on some of their larger aircraft, and these flight attendants are rigorously trained to provide a tailored experience that matches the opulent price tag. Since they’re not legally required to be present for safety reasons, they receive much more thorough hospitality training that caters to their high-net-worth clientele.
Individuals who own jets can also hire their own flight attendants. Since these are jobs posted by individuals, the criteria and employment requirements can vary drastically. Generally, however, the focus is on hospitality experience and flight attendants who are hired may not even need prior experience in the aviation industry. In addition, pay, while variable between employers, can be significantly higher than at the airlines. In one instance, Netflix was advertising that it would pay as much as $385,000 in a 2023 job listing for a primary flight attendant.
Rest Facilities For Flight Attendants
Since flight attendants are not technically necessary on any in-production private jets today, business jet manufacturers do not typically design rest facilities for cabin crew. Cabin crew rest regulations are also far looser than for Part 121 regulations, and as such, it’s far less common to see a relief flight attendant on private jets, especially given that most executive planes are unable to operate long-haul or ultra-long-haul routes. If a relief flight attendant is present, this is typically due to an operator’s policy rather than regulatory requirements.
The largest private jets on the market do come with integrated rest facilities (sometimes with multiple beds), but these are typically intended for pilots. Flight attendants who are on break may occupy this space depending on company or owner policy, but otherwise, they’ll either use a seat in the cabin or a jumpseat in the flight deck for rest. This is in stark contrast to rest facilities on commercial planes, which can either take the form of specially blocked seats in the cabin or a dedicated module equipped with beds.
Flight attendants working on private jets have unpredictable schedules (typically needing to be on call at the discretion of their employer), and the work can be demanding given the clientele. In addition, flight attendants on business jets have more responsibilities than at the airlines, such as cleaning the aircraft and loading bags. However, those who choose to go into private aviation are also signing up for frequent travel to new destinations, and there is a prestige factor, as well as the potential for a higher salary in some cases.
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What About The Pilots Onboard
Most business jets require two pilots on board any given flight, but rest regulations are typically less stringent than at a Part 121 operator. Exact requirements vary depending on whether an aircraft is operating under Part 91 or Part 135 regulations, and operators such as NetJets tend to have company-specific policies as to duty time and onboard staffing. As a general rule, a third pilot will be present if a flight exceeds eight to 10 hours, while a fourth pilot may be present for flights exceeding 14 hours.
On large-cabin business jets with long-range capabilities, manufacturers offer a crew rest area as an option. This will typically consist of a recliner seat that can convert into a bed, and both Gulfstream as well as Bombardier offer a bunk bed option. Both companies install these facilities in the front of the cabin near the exit doors, opposite the galley area. To meet FAA crew rest regulations, this area can be blocked off with either a curtain or a sliding door, depending on the aircraft type.
These facilities are not as large as what you’ll typically find on a widebody airliner, but they do remain comfortable and private. Additionally, whereas a rest facility on a private jet is located in the passenger cabin, a widebody will typically host rest facilities in the cargo hold or above the cabin in the aircraft’s “crown” area. Those who do not intend to utilize the full range of their aircraft can instead opt for a larger galley or additional seating, but a rest facility will be necessary for longer flights.
Which Aircraft Feature Rest Facilities
Most private jets in production are smaller, short-range aircraft that do not require an augmented crew. Generally, it’s agreed that there are seven categories of business jets: very light jets, light jets, mid-size jets, super mid-size jets, large jets, long-range jets, and converted airliners. Aircraft in most of these categories tend to have shorter ranges and do not operate flights that necessitate a rest facility. Large jets and some super mid-size jets do have transatlantic capability, but most do not include a dedicated crew rest facility.
The long-range business jet category includes aircraft from the Bombardier Global series (Global 5000/6000/7500/8000), the Gulfstream G600, the Gulfstream GVI family (G650ER/G700/G800), as well as the Dassault Falcon 7X and Falcon 8X. All of these planes have ranges exceeding 5,400 NM (10,000 km) and are the only business jets truly capable of long-haul routes, such as from the US to Asia. As such, every one of them is offered with a crew rest facility.
|
Aircraft |
Range (NM) |
Range (km) |
|---|---|---|
|
Bombardier Global 5500 |
5,900 NM |
10,927 km |
|
Dassault Falcon 7X |
5,950 NM |
11,019 km |
|
Dassault Falcon 8X |
6,450 NM |
11,945 km |
|
Bombardier Global 6500 |
6,600 NM |
12,223 km |
|
Gulfstream G600 |
6,600 NM |
12,223 km |
|
Gulfstream G650ER |
7,500 NM |
13,900 km |
|
Bombardier Global 7500 |
7,700 NM |
14,300 km |
|
Gulfstream G700 |
7,750 NM |
14,350 km |
Airbus, 
Boeing, and Embraer all offer executive variants of their commercial airliners. The Airbus ACJ family and Boeing BBJ aircraft all have ranges that match those of long-range jets, and as such can be optioned to include rest facilities. The corporate versions of the Airbus A220, A320, and the Boeing 737 include these facilities on the passenger deck (the commercial variants of these planes do not have crew rest facilities), while the VIP widebodies sold by Boeing and Airbus likely have the same crew rest areas as the commercial versions.
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How Crew Rest Works In The Commercial World
Large scheduled airlines in the United States operate under Part 121 regulations, and airlines in other nations operate under similar regulations. Generally, flights over eight hours require an augmented crew and three pilots, while flights over 12 hours require a fourth pilot. Crew rest is closely regulated, and it’s required that airlines provide adequate rest facilities. Larger widebodies have built-in rest modules, while smaller aircraft typically feature blocked off seats in the passenger cabin.
On aircraft like the Boeing 767, pilots are usually assigned a blocked business class seat, while flight attendants rest in the economy cabin. Airbus A330s can be optioned with a pilot rest area behind the cockpit or a module in the cargo hold, which is also available for flight attendants. Older Boeing 777s feature crew rest areas in the cargo hold, while later models feature modules above the passenger cabin. This same design is also used on the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350.
|
Aircraft With Integrated Crew Rest Facilities |
Location |
|---|---|
|
Airbus A330/A340 |
Behind flight deck (pilots only, optional), cargo hold modules |
|
Airbus A350 |
Crown area above cabin |
|
Airbus A380 |
Behind flight deck (pilots only), underneath cabin floor (flight attendants) |
|
Boeing 747 |
Behind flight deck (pilots only), crown area above lower deck cabin (flight attendants) |
|
Boeing 777 |
Cargo hold modules (older models), crown area above cabin |
|
Boeing 787 |
Crown area above cabin |
These facilities feature beds with curtains, and the pilot rest modules on the 787, A350, and newer 777s also have seats. In addition, airlines can configure these facilities with screens, and a reading light is also typically available. While the visual design of these spaces is rather sterile compared to what you’d see on a private jet, the facilities on widebody airliners are much larger and are designed to comfortably accommodate multiple crew members simultaneously.
