PERFORMANCE · GLOSSARY

STOL

Short Take-Off and Landing — a category of aircraft designed to operate from runways well under 2,000 ft, often unpaved.

IN PRACTICE

True STOL aircraft like the Pilatus PC-6, Quest Kodiak and Cessna Caravan EX are used for access to ski lodges, safari camps and remote islands. They are turboprops, not jets, but often the only option for the last 50 nm of a luxury trip.

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Frequently asked

What does STOL mean in private aviation?

Short Take-Off and Landing — a category of aircraft designed to operate from runways well under 2,000 ft, often unpaved.

How is stol calculated?

True STOL aircraft like the Pilatus PC-6, Quest Kodiak and Cessna Caravan EX are used for access to ski lodges, safari camps and remote islands. They are turboprops, not jets, but often the only option for the last 50 nm of a luxury trip.

Why does stol affect my charter quote?

Performance figures determine whether an aircraft can fly your route non-stop, the runway it can use and the payload it can carry — all of which feed into pricing and aircraft selection.

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RELATED TERMS

  • Short-Field PerformanceAn aircraft's certified ability to operate from runways shorter than the industry norm — a
  • TurbopropAircraft powered by turbine engines driving propellers — slower than jets but capable of o
  • Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW)The maximum weight at which an aircraft is certified to begin its take-off roll, including
  • Maximum Landing Weight (MLW)The maximum weight at which an aircraft is certified to land safely without overstressing
  • Useful LoadThe difference between MTOW and the aircraft's basic operating weight — the combined weigh
  • RangeThe maximum distance an aircraft can fly in still air with a defined payload, cruise altit
  • Fuel StopA short intermediate landing to refuel and continue, common on long trans-oceanic flights
  • Balanced Field LengthThe runway length required for an aircraft at a given weight to either accelerate to take-
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