San Francisco charter clients use piston aircraft for the shortest regional runs, where the trip is well under an hour and the field at the far end is too small for a jet.
Piper introduced the Piper PA-23 Aztec in 1959. It seats 5 with a published range of 970 nautical miles and a cruise speed of 180 knots. The aircraft has a service ceiling of 24,000 feet and 27 cubic feet of baggage volume.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Piston
- Manufacturer: Piper Aircraft
- Year introduced: 1959
- Seating: 5
- Crew: 1
- Range: 970 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 180 knots
- Service ceiling: 24,000 feet
- Length: 31.2 feet
- Wingspan: 37.2 feet
- Height: 10.3 feet
- Baggage volume: 27 cubic feet
Why the Piper PA-23 Aztec Fits San Francisco
In this market the aircraft suits the trips that come up most often. With 970 nautical miles of published range, it covers trips from the Bay Area to destinations such as Santa Barbara, Sun Valley and Aspen, allowing for reserves and routing. Bay Area tower hours vary a great deal, and only San Francisco International and Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport are towered around the clock.
Around the Bay Area this opens up the smaller fields as well as the primary ones, including Hayward Executive (KHWD), Buchanan Field (KCCR) at Concord and Livermore Municipal (KLVK), where tower hours are worth checking before a late departure. Whether it can use a particular airport on your date is the operator’s call for that aircraft, that weight and that day, and your advisor will confirm it before anything is booked.
How Bay Area Clients Use the Piper PA-23 Aztec
Bay Area clients book piston aircraft for short regional work: a Central Valley business run, a trip up to the wine country fields, or a coastal hop that would take most of a day by road. Two to five seats is the usual cabin, and the economics only make sense over short distances.
Tell us the route, the passenger count and what is traveling with you, and your advisor will confirm whether this aircraft is the right fit or point you to a better one. We will also tell you which Bay Area field makes the most sense for the trip.
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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.
- 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
- Estimated hourly rate: $1,000 to $1,500 (as of 9/2026)
Contact
Call an advisor at +1-888-987-5387 at any hour, or send the trip through our contact page. You can read how we check operators, crews and insurance on our safety page.
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.