Rumours, legends and things people swear are true
Every private-jet story you have heard at a dinner party — the gold-plated 747, the $3,000 biscuits, the jet that outclimbs a fighter — checked, and labelled honestly.
“A private jet needs a runway of at least 10,000 feet.”
Most business jets can use runways of 3,500–5,500 ft at typical weights, and turboprops and light jets go shorter still. A 10,000 ft runway is what a fully loaded widebody airliner needs on a hot day. Even the biggest business jets — Global 7500, G700 — quote balanced field lengths under 6,000 ft. Whole point of a private jet is landing at the small airport near where you're going.
“Landing at St Barts is the most dangerous in the world — you need a special licence.”
St Barthélemy's Gustaf III airport is genuinely demanding: a 2,100 ft runway, a steep descent over a hilltop road and a beach at the far end. Pilots must complete a specific check-out to operate there, and jets are effectively excluded — the traffic is turboprops like the Twin Otter and Pilatus PC-12. But 'most dangerous' is a listicle title. Airports such as Lukla in Nepal, Paro in Bhutan and Courchevel are harder; St Barts is famous because it's photogenic and rich.
“London City Airport bans most private jets.”
Not a ban — a technical bar. London City's approach is flown at 5.5 degrees, nearly double the standard 3 degrees, and its runway is under 5,000 ft. Any aircraft using it must hold a specific 'steep approach' certification, and the operator must be approved. Many business jets have it (CJ family, PC-24, Falcon 7X/8X, Legacy 500, G650, Challenger 350, Falcon 6X and more). Many don't. And there are noise limits, a Sunday morning closure and a curfew that bite regardless.
“Teterboro has a weight limit that keeps 747s and airliners out.”
True. Teterboro, the business-aviation gateway to Manhattan, has enforced a 100,000 lb maximum take-off weight since the late 1960s, a rule later written into federal law after residents' noise complaints. A Boeing 747 weighs 800,000 lb loaded, so it isn't close. Aircraft over 75,000 lb need prior permission. The limit is why Teterboro is a sea of Gulfstreams and Globals rather than 737s.
“With a private jet you can land at any airport you like.”
You can use vastly more airports than airlines do — around 5,000 public-use airports in the US versus roughly 500 with scheduled service — and that is the real magic of private flying. But 'any' is wrong: runway length, surface, lighting, night and instrument restrictions, noise curfews, slot-controlled hubs, weight limits and, for international trips, customs availability all narrow the list. Your pilot chooses; you suggest.