PA31Turboprop Twin LightCurated data · 2026-06The Cheyenne PA-31T is the light twin-engine turboprop that Piper Aircraft produced between 1974 and 1985, derived from the Navajo airframe.
Full operating cost, variable vs fixed mix and a line by line breakdown: the math that decides the purchase.
Starter feature. Available on your Jet Tracker account.
Jet Tracker estimate: about US$ 1,581 per flight hour at 400 h/year, of which US$ 990 per hour is variable cost (fuel, engine program, maintenance reserves, fees) plus US$ 236,600 per year of fixed cost (crew, hangar, insurance, training).
About US$ 632,544 per year (roughly R$ 3,215,472 at today's exchange rate), of which 63% is variable cost (depends on hours flown) and 37% is fixed cost (exists even with the aircraft parked).
About US$ 441 per flight hour, at the US$ 6.12 per gallon used in this simulation. Fuel is usually the largest variable cost item.
About US$ 5.71 per nautical mile, at a cruise speed of 277 kt. It is the right metric to compare aircraft of different speeds on the same route.
Variable cost only exists when the aircraft flies: fuel, engine program, hourly maintenance reserves and landing fees. Fixed cost exists even with the aircraft in the hangar: crew, hangarage, insurance, training and subscriptions. That is why total cost per hour falls the more hours per year the aircraft flies.
Estimates from the Jet Tracker cost engine under the assumptions shown in the calculator. They do not replace a quote from an operator, MRO or insurer.
| Variable | Fuel | US$ 440.86 | US$ 176,344 |
| Variable | Engine program | US$ 272.00 | US$ 108,800 |
| Variable | Airframe reserve | US$ 107.00 | US$ 42,800 |
| Variable | APU reserve | — | — |
| Variable | Landing / handling | US$ 110.00 | US$ 44,000 |
| Variable | Miscellaneous | US$ 60.00 | US$ 24,000 |
| Fixed | Hangarage | US$ 50.00 | US$ 20,000 |
| Fixed | Hull insurance | US$ 18.00 | US$ 7,200 |
| Fixed | Liability insurance | US$ 17.50 | US$ 7,000 |
| Fixed | Crew (PIC) | US$ 225.00 | US$ 90,000 |
| Fixed | Crew (SIC) | US$ 125.00 | US$ 50,000 |
| Fixed | Crew (benefits) | US$ 105.00 | US$ 42,000 |
| Fixed | Training | US$ 35.00 | US$ 14,000 |
| Fixed | Subscriptions | US$ 10.00 | US$ 4,000 |
| Fixed | Modernization reserve | US$ 6.00 | US$ 2,400 |