My Ten Ironclad Rules for Flying Privately

By: Donald V. Watkins

Copyrighted on November 3, 2026

Since the 1996, I have owned and/or had access to three private jets and two twin-engine propeller aircraft. I acquired my last jet (a Cessna Citation CJ1, N525BR), which is pictured above, in 2003.

Realizing that private aviation is 5 times more dangerous than commercial aviation, I have 10 ironclad safety rules for flying privately:

1. I NEVER fly in a single engine airplane.

2. I NEVER fly my entire family aboard a single private airplane.

3. I NEVER fly on a private airplane that I do not own or control.

4. I NEVER fly with a left-seat pilot who has less than 5,000 hours of overall flight time. The left-seat pilot must also know how to use the E6B flight computer pictured below, especially when we are flying over the ocean at night.

5. The pilots are prohibited from taking off if the weight of the aircraft, fuel, passengers, and luggage exceeds the weight capacity for one engine to lift us to altitude.

6. I personally double-check the maintenance and pilot logs before taking off.

7. If we are landing at a towerless airport or landing strip that we have not used before, we will circle it before landing to make sure we know about any potential hazards that may be located at either end of the runway.

8. We NEVER fly through bad weather.

9. If we are landing in icy weather, we ask the tower for permission to land behind a heavy aircraft like a large loaded commercial jetliner or a FedEx "heavy" cargo jet.

10. We NEVER fly without all cockpit instruments in perfect working condition.

I logged thousands of hours in the air on private aircraft and these rules kept me safe. If you follow them, they will keep you safe, as well.