"Nashville to Birmingham in 52 minutes. We were in the meeting before our colleagues who left two hours earlier on a commercial flight. $2,200 split three ways is nothing compared to what we would have lost missing that meeting."
Here's what actually happens when your group of three books a regional hop on a light jet: The base hourly rate runs $5,000–$8,000 per hour. But there's a daily minimum — usually two hours of flight time billed whether you fly it or not. Add federal excise tax, landing fees, fuel surcharges, and crew positioning, and a 45-minute flight to Atlanta or Louisville quietly becomes a $10,000 to $16,000 invoice before anyone opens a bag. On the SR22, you pay a competitive rate with no hourly minimums and no positioning fees.
| Nashville Charter SR22 | Light Jet Charter | |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 one-way (under 150 nm) | Starting at $2,200 | $8,000–$12,000 |
| Zone 2 one-way (150–360 nm) | Starting at $3,500 | $10,000–$16,000 |
| Same-day round trip | Starting at $2,500 | $15,000–$22,000+ |
| Per-person cost (3 passengers) | Starting at $733 | $3,300–$7,300+ |
| TSA required | No | No |
| Arrive before departure | 15 minutes | 15 minutes |
| Land at smaller regional airports | Yes | Sometimes |
| Hourly minimums | None | 2+ hours standard |
| Surprise fees | None | Common |
Light jet pricing sourced from industry-published charter rate data. SR22 rates shown are starting prices. Additional fees may apply for certain airports.
You've probably looked at flying private before. Maybe you got a quote, saw the number, and booked a commercial ticket instead. That's the normal response — because most charter options are priced for a different buyer.
The SR22 is different because of one thing: it's the right aircraft for the route. It cruises at 170 knots and gets you to most Southeast destinations in under 90 minutes. It carries up to three passengers. It lands at smaller airports that commercial flights never touch. And it costs a fraction of what a jet operation has to charge to stay in business.
You park at the general aviation terminal — not the main terminal, not the parking garage. A separate, smaller building with about thirty feet of walking between your car and the plane.
There's no security line because there's no TSA. There's no gate because there's no gate system. There's a plane, pre-flighted and ready, and a pilot who's been expecting you.
You load your bags, your golf clubs, your gear — whatever fits, goes. You sit down in a leather seat in a full glass cockpit aircraft with Garmin avionics and cold air conditioning, and you go. Point to point. No connections.
At the destination, you land at a smaller airport that's probably closer to where you're actually going. You get off the plane and you're done. The whole process, door to door, is faster than the commercial alternative.
"This is not a vintage airplane. This is modern, purpose-built aviation at the most capable end of the piston category."
These are the routes where the combination of speed, cost, and convenience is hardest to beat.
| Destination | Airport | Est. Flight Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | HSV | ~35 min | Closest major city — faster than driving |
| Chattanooga, TN | CHA | ~40 min | 2.5-hour drive turned into a 40-minute flight |
| Louisville, KY | SDF / LOU | ~45 min | No direct nonstops from BNA on most days |
| Jackson, TN | MKL | ~45 min | Commercial options are thin |
| Lexington, KY | LEX | ~50 min | Horse country, easy day trip |
| Knoxville, TN | TYS | ~50 min | Mountain region, no TSA headache |
| Memphis, TN | MEM | ~55 min | 3.5-hour drive, 55-minute flight |
| Birmingham, AL | BHM / ANB | ~55 min | BHM or land closer at Anniston |
Flight times are estimated block time, direct routing at approximately 180 knots. Actual times vary with winds and ATC routing.
A whole-plane parachute deployable in an emergency — a feature no other certified piston aircraft can match.
Weather uplink, terrain awareness, and synthetic vision. The most advanced avionics available in the piston category.
The SR22 is the best-selling high-performance single-engine aircraft in the world. The reason has as much to do with safety as performance.
This is not a vintage airplane. Purpose-built at the most capable end of the piston category, flown by a pilot who regularly operates these exact routes.
"I've flown private on light jets before through corporate travel. The SR22 experience is identical in every way that matters — except the bill."
"We flew to Lexington for the Kentucky Derby weekend. No TSA, no connection, no parking garage. The whole experience felt like something from a different era of travel."
"Nashville to Birmingham in 52 minutes. We were in the meeting before our colleagues who left two hours earlier on a commercial flight. The whole experience was seamless."
Give us a call or send us a text with your destination, your date, and how many people are coming. We'll confirm availability and get back to you the same day — no deposit to inquire, no commitment to ask a question.
After flying in the right seat a few times, a lot of our charter clients start wondering what it would take to fly themselves. We can show you exactly what that path looks like.
Real feedback from real passengers who've made the switch from commercial.
"Nashville to Birmingham in 52 minutes. We were in the meeting before our colleagues who left two hours earlier."
We had a last-minute board meeting in Birmingham and every commercial option had a connection through Atlanta. I called FCA at 7am. We were wheels-up by 9:30. Nashville to Birmingham in 52 minutes. We were in the meeting before our colleagues who left two hours earlier on a commercial flight. The SR22 is a serious aircraft — the Garmin glass cockpit, the leather seats, the whole experience. $2,200 split three ways is nothing compared to what we would have lost missing that meeting.
"We flew to Lexington for the Kentucky Derby weekend. It was the best decision we made all year."
We flew to Lexington for the Kentucky Derby weekend — four of us, no TSA, no connection, no parking garage. We drove to KJWN, walked 30 feet to the plane, and were in the air. The flight took 48 minutes. We landed at a small airport five minutes from our hotel. The whole experience felt like something from a different era of travel — the way flying used to feel before it became a chore. We're already planning our next trip.
"The math finally works. I've been trying to justify private aviation for years."
The math finally works. I've been trying to justify private aviation for years and the numbers never added up — until now. Three of us fly to Chattanooga for business regularly. The drive is brutal. Commercial doesn't exist. The SR22 gets us there in 40 minutes, flat rate, no surprises. We've done it four times now. Every single time, the pilot is professional, the aircraft is immaculate, and the whole experience is exactly what you'd want private aviation to be.
"I booked it as a surprise anniversary trip. My husband was speechless."
I booked a charter to Chattanooga as a surprise anniversary trip. My husband had no idea what was happening until we pulled into the GA terminal at KJWN. He was speechless. The flight was 40 minutes of pure magic — the Tennessee River, the mountains, the city below. The pilot was warm, professional, and made the whole experience feel special. We had dinner downtown and flew home the same evening. It was the most memorable date we've had in years.
"I've flown private on light jets before. The SR22 experience is identical — except the bill."
I've flown private on light jets before through corporate travel. The SR22 experience is identical in every way that matters — no TSA, direct routing, GA terminal, professional pilot, point-to-point. The only difference is the bill. I paid $2,200 for a flight that would have cost my company $11,000 on a light jet. I've already referred three colleagues. This is the best-kept secret in Nashville business travel.
"FCA is the best thing to happen to general aviation in Nashville in years."
I've been a pilot for 15 years and I've watched a lot of flight schools come and go in Nashville. FCA is different. The culture Jeff has built — the emphasis on genuine competency over just getting checkrides signed off — is rare. I've sent three friends here for their training and all three are now certificated pilots. FCA is the best thing to happen to general aviation in Nashville in years.
"I started with a scenic tour. Now I'm a student pilot. That's exactly how they said it might happen."
I started with a scenic tour over Nashville — just wanted to see the city from the air. The instructor mentioned that a lot of experience guests end up becoming students. I laughed it off. Three weeks later I was back for a discovery flight. That was four months ago. I'm now 30 hours into my private pilot training. I started with a scenic tour. Now I'm a student pilot. That's exactly how they said it might happen.