How Do You Approach a Private Jet Pilot?

Picture this: You’re standing outside your FBO. And gleaming in the sunshine less than 50 yards away is a Dassault Falcon 900 with a bright red pinstrip running the length of the fuselage. The crew is unloading the bags. You’re clutching a free drip coffee in a paper cup as you walk out to preflight your clapped-out Cessna 172. And there it is—the irresistible urge to ask a question, compliment the plane, or just blurt out something like “WaNnA tRaDe?”

Question of the day: What can you say?

Welcome to the world of ramp-life social interactions, where $25 million jets sit next to airplanes that cost less than their fuel bill. 99% of the pilots you meet will be happy to talk with you if they’re not in the middle of something. But here are a few things to consider.

First Rule. Don’t be that guy.

This should go without saying, but start feeling up the plane like you’re at high school prom. Not the gear. Not winglets. Nothing. You wouldn’t pet someone’s Ferrari in a parking lot. I once watched a student pilot “pose” with his hand on the nose of a Bombardier Challenger, and before he even made contact, a pilot appeared out of thin air, like some aviation Batman, and cleared his throat so aggressively I thought the Mooney behind me started up.

Don’t ask for a tour. If you weren’t invited on board, assume it’s off-limits. These planes contain confidential business materials, personal items, and sometimes actual important people. The only thing worse than asking for a tour is the “casual peek” - where you pretend to be admiring the exterior while craning your neck to see inside.

Lastly, don’t assume they’re the owner. Many pilots are very not-rich. You might as well ask your Uber driver if he invented the Prius. Nothing makes a career pilot who’s been grinding through charter flights for 15 years more uncomfortable than being mistaken for a tech billionaire.

So….what can you say?

I’m so glad you didn’t ask! Here are a few openers that won’t get you reported to airport ops:

“Hey, beautiful plane. What is it?” Simple, direct, and show you’re interested without being creepy. This is the aviation equivalent of complimenting someone’s shoes.

“Mind if I ask how long you’ve been flying this type”? “Saw you fly in on FlightAware—she’s quick.”

Keep it light, curious, and respectful. Just don’t say, “I watched one YouTube video, and now I’m basically typed in a Falcon.”

Know Your Pilot Archetypes

Private jet pilots come in a few flavors. Here's a totally non-scientific field guide:

The Charter Cowboy – This 4,000-hour guy flies a Learjet like he stole it. Probably chewing gum. Will talk to you for hours about that one time he flew a rock band and can't legally tell you who but winks a lot when describing "the drummer incident." His logbook has coffee stains, and his sunglasses cost more than your laptop.

The Retired Airline Captain – Flies a Citation for a fractional ownership company. Loves checklist discipline and doesn't get jokes. Calls the lavatory "the facility." Still refers to the tower as "sir" even though half the controllers are women. If you engage this specimen, be prepared for a detailed explanation of the differences between ETOPS certification before and after 2007.

The Owner-Operator – This guy is the owner. Wears Allbirds, flies a Cirrus Vision Jet, drinks oat milk. Might invite you to brunch if you ask an intelligent question about blockchain or carbon offsets. His plane probably has custom interior details that he's dying to show someone. Has a dog with more Instagram followers than you.

The Gulfstream Guy – Professional. Polished. Smiles, but never breaks character. You will not be getting a tour. He refers to his passengers as "principals" and would rather eat glass than tell you who they are. If James Bond flew private jets, he'd be this guy.

Context Matters

If the pilot is actively fueling, talking to ground crew, or on the phone with dispatch, now is not the time to approach. Aviation operations involve real safety considerations and timing that can be critical. The pre-flight hours aren't just casual prep time – they involve weight calculations, weather analysis, and coordination that requires focus.

Wait for downtime. The best moments to chat are while they're walking into the FBO, lounging near the coffee machine, or just killing time waiting on passengers who are still "15 minutes out" (read: still getting dressed in Beverly Hills). You can spot this moment easily – they've checked their watch three times in two minutes and have that distinctive thousand-yard stare of someone whose day is completely at the mercy of someone else's schedule.

Another perfect moment is when they admire their own aircraft from a distance. This is the aviation equivalent of a proud parent at a school play—they're emotionally available and probably wouldn't mind sharing their pride with an appreciative audience.

Be Cool About It

Just because you're at a private airport doesn't mean you need to flex your entire Jeppesen knowledge base. I once witnessed a guy at Scottsdale Airport corner a Dassault pilot with a 15-minute monologue about how he "almost joined the Air Force" but instead went into dental supply sales, yet still considers himself "basically a pilot" because he has 200 hours in Microsoft Flight Simulator. The actual pilot, who had probably flown more hours in actual weather emergencies than this guy had spent in his simulator, just nodded politely while visibly calculating how quickly he could fake a fuel emergency to escape.

Remember, most pilots are just people trying to get through a 14-hour duty day with minimum paperwork and maximum snacks. They're professionals doing a job, not exotic zoo animals there for your entertainment.

TL;DR: The Perfect Approach

1. Be casual. Act like you belong there, even if your rental car has a dent and a Subway wrapper on the passenger seat.

2. Don't interrupt anything official-looking. If they're on the radio, checking tablets, or looking stressed, walk away.

3. Ask one short, thoughtful question. Then stop talking and listen.

4. Read the vibe—if they light up, you're golden. If not, retreat to the FBO couch where there's probably free trail mix anyway.

Finally, if they do let you see inside the plane, don't touch a single switch, button, screen, or lever—not even if it looks really interesting and you're "just curious what it does." Unless you want to be immortalized in pilot break room stories.

@austinnhart is an aviation enthusiast who mixes his love of aviation with his passion for writing and entrepreneurship to create Aviatz, an online aviation media company tailored to those who look up every time they hear an engine overhead. Please consider subscribing to our newsletter.