NetJets seeks FAA exemption to fly Global 7500 and 8000 up to 17 hours

The business aviation range race may have finally met its match. The limitation is no longer the plane — it's the crew. Regulations prohibit a pilot from flying beyond a set amount of time in the air: for two pilots, the limit is 10 hours, with the option to extend up to 12 hours for specific operations. On June 12, NetJets Aviation requested that the FAA grant it an exemption. The charter company wants to fly its Global 7500 and 8000 to its physical endurance limit, up to 16 to 17 hours in the air. It plans to use four pilots on a duty day as long as 21 hours. This is a request, not a ruling, and the FAA could choose to deny it. What the rules actually cap While crew flight-time and duty limits do not bind Part 91 private owner operations the same way, NetJets is regulated under Part 135, meaning it's a commercial on-demand operator. The company is specifically bound by 14 CFR 135.269, which covers unscheduled three and four pilot crews. It limits flight-deck duty to 8 hours within a 24-hour period for one pilot in the crew and caps total duty time at 20 hours in a 24-hour period for a four-pilot crew. Additionally, time aloft is limited to 16 hours for a four-pilot crew. It should be noted that flight time and duty time are different. Flight time, or time aloft, is from departure to arrival. Duty time includes pre-flight planning, ground time, the flight itself and the post-flight. It is why the numbers are different. Why four pilots, not two A standard flight crew has two pilots. When pilots are added, they are referred to as an augmented crew. Augmented crews are used to rotate and rest in shifts for long flights. Adequate on-board sleeping facilities are required for the pilots, which is an extra cost operators face when deciding on such long flights. Open for commentsThe FAA published summaries of exemption requests, which is open to the public for comments. Once the window closes, it will then grant, deny or grant with conditions. As NetJets' request is still pending, none of this has happened yet. Its comment window closes July 2, 2026. Market impact As the largest fractional operator, what NetJets seeks here will become a reference point for others in the industry, regardless of how the FAA rules. This request also showcases how much goes into augmented, max-endurance operations. It will require four qualified pilots, on-board crew rest, and a duty structure built to legally fly the city pairs the spec sheet sells. For a flight department modeling a 7500 or 8000, that is real money and real planning, not a footnote. This filing provides the clearest picture on crew and dispatch cost for genuine ultra-long-range missions on the Global 7500 and 8000. What happens next While a decision is still pending, this petition shows where ultra-long-range, on-demand operations are heading. These aircraft can fly these distances. The crews flying under a different regulatory moniker can as well. It's likely a matter of time before Part 135 joins the long-distance party.