Methodology & sources
What kind of publication this is
JetAtlas is an independent reference on private and business aviation, written in plain English for a general audience. It is not a broker, an operator or a manufacturer, and it does not take commissions on aircraft or charter sales it arranges itself.
Where the numbers come from
| Type of figure | Source | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft performance and dimensions (range, speed, ceiling, cabin, weights, runway) | Manufacturer specification sheets and type certificates; cross-checked against published references | High; usually within 2–5% of the manufacturer's published figure for the standard configuration |
| New list prices | Manufacturer guidance, trade press (AIN, Corporate Jet Investor, Business Jet Traveler), broker market reports | Medium; treated as typical equipped prices, labelled "about" |
| Pre-owned price ranges | Broker listings and market reports, sampled quarterly | Medium; a range, not a valuation |
| Operating costs (per hour and per year) | Industry benchmark models (Conklin & de Decker style), operator interviews, published cost studies | Editorial estimate; always labelled "estimate" |
| Charter estimates on route pages | 2026 benchmark hourly rates by aircraft class, plus climb/descent, daily minimums, fees and positioning share | Editorial estimate; ranges cover economical to premium operators |
| Market statistics | GAMA shipment reports, WingX activity data, JetNet/AMSTAT market reviews, Honeywell Business Aviation Outlook | High for reported totals; estimates for regional splits are noted |
| Airports | Airport and FBO websites, AIP data, AC-U-KWIK style references | High for runways and customs; hours and fees change — "(verify)" flags mark items to confirm |
| Famous jets | Only aircraft widely reported by mainstream media; each entry carries its sources and a confidence flag | Reported, not verified by JetAtlas; we never publish the position of any individual aircraft |
| Sky now (business jets in the air) | Live mode: adsb.lol community ADS-B network (ODbL 1.0), 50 business-jet types, aggregated by area, region and class, delayed 30 minutes, with opted-out (LADD/PIA) and military aircraft removed. Estimate mode (when the live feed is off): a model built from WingX 2025 flight totals and regional shares, FAA and EUROCONTROL seasonal, weekday and time-of-day patterns, and an average of about 1.6 hours per flight | Live: indicative lower bound, coverage varies by region. Estimate: a model, labelled as such |
| Sky View imagery, terrain and approach paths | Esri World Imagery; Mapterhorn terrain (CC BY 4.0); runway coordinates from OurAirports (public domain) | Imagery dates vary; approach paths are illustrative simulations, not procedures |
| Hangar talk | Each rumour is checked against primary sources where they exist and rated on a seven-point scale | As rated on the page |
Update cadence
- The Dispatch: every morning.
- Prices, charter benchmarks and exchange rates: reviewed quarterly.
- Aircraft specifications: on manufacturer changes.
- Airports: rolling review; "(verify)" flags cleared as confirmed.
Corrections
We correct errors quickly and note material corrections on the page. Write to info@JetAtlas.ai with the page URL and your source.
Independence and advertising
Sponsored placements are labelled. Editorial content is never sold. Introductions to charter partners happen only when a reader asks for a quote, and are disclosed on the form.
Reuse
Photographs are credited to their Wikimedia Commons authors under their own licences; each image carries its credit.