The Piper Navajo family is the workhorse of the Los Angeles light-twin market and the aircraft to reach for when eight or nine people need moving a short distance cheaply. Nothing else in this category seats that many.
Piper built the PA-31 line across several variants, including the Navajo, the stretched Chieftain and the turboprop-powered Cheyenne. Eight to nine seats, around 211 knots and 883 nautical miles of range, with cabin-class seating and a rear airstair on most examples. Full specifications for the Piper Navajo / Cheyenne / Chieftain are published by Piper Aircraft.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Piston
- Manufacturer: Piper Aircraft
- Year introduced: 1973
- Seating: 8 to 9
- Crew: 1 to 2
- Range: 883 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 211 knots
- Service ceiling: 24,000 feet
- Length: 34.6 feet
- Wingspan: 40.7 feet
- Height: 13 feet
- Baggage volume: 38 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Belted
Why the Piper Navajo / Cheyenne / Chieftain Fits Los Angeles
Nine seats is the whole reason this aircraft is on a Los Angeles quote sheet. A production crew to Santa Barbara, a wedding party to Catalina, a survey team to the high desert: these are trips where the passenger count rules out a Baron and the budget rules out a King Air 350.
The 883-nautical-mile range is the shortest on this site, so the Navajo is strictly a regional aircraft here. Las Vegas, NV and the Central Coast are comfortable, and anything beyond the state line with a full cabin needs a stop.
Which variant is on offer changes the aircraft materially. A turboprop Cheyenne is quicker and quieter than a piston Navajo, and a stretched Chieftain carries more than a standard one, so we confirm the specific model and configuration rather than quoting the family.
Gallery
Vetting Behind Every Trip
Every operator, aircraft, and crew goes through our internal due diligence before we present any options. Our internal standards meet or exceed what the FAA requires:
- FAR Part 135 charter operators for traditional private aircraft, or FAR Part 121 for airliner-size and group trips (or the foreign equivalent on international legs)
- Operator subscription to Wyvern and ARGUS reviewed where the operator participates; reports may be provided on request.
- Pilot experience and operator incident history reviewed before we recommend an aircraft.
- Fewer than 60 brokers worldwide hold Premium Wyvern Broker Member status, and Air Charter Advisors is one of them.
Charter Pricing Reference
Industry hourly rates for the Piper Navajo / Cheyenne / Chieftain run $1,200 to $1,800 per hour as of 7/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
The Navajo prices just above the four-seat piston twins, and for a Los Angeles group of eight it is normally the lowest cost per seat of any aircraft on this site.
Other Pistons Available
- Beech Baron 58
- Beechcraft Baron G58
- Cessna 340
- Cirrus SR-22
- Piper Aerostar 600
- Piper Cherokee Six PA-32
The full pistons category page lists every piston we arrange for Los Angeles departures.
Contact
For a quote on a Piper Navajo / Cheyenne / Chieftain charter in or out of Los Angeles, call +1 (888) 987-5387 or head to our contact page. For the vetting work behind every trip, see our safety page. To browse cross-category options for the same trip, visit the aircraft directory.
The hourly rates provided are estimates based on 2026 market data and are for informational purposes only. These figures are subject to change and do not constitute a final offer. Final pricing is dynamic and depends on real-time factors including, but not limited to, specific itinerary requirements, aircraft positioning (“ferry” fees), fuel price volatility, and current market availability. These estimates exclude all applicable taxes, de-icing, landing and handling fees, special event fees, international surcharges, overnight crew expenses, and premium catering. Please contact Air Charter Advisors directly for a firm, all-inclusive quote tailored to your specific travel needs.