The Piper Navajo and Chieftain give Palm Beach clients the largest cabin in the piston twin category, seating eight or nine, and they are the workhorses of the Bahamas charter run out of South Florida. The Cheyenne is the turboprop development of the same airframe and flies higher and faster, at a higher rate.
Piper built the PA-31 Navajo with two Lycoming piston engines and stretched it into the Chieftain with more power and more seats. Both carry eight to nine passengers, cruise around 210 knots and have roughly 880 nautical miles of range. The Cheyenne replaced the pistons with Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A turboprops, which lifts cruise speed and operating altitude. 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 Palm Beach
Group island runs are the Navajo and Chieftain’s main job here. Eight passengers from Lantana or Trump International to Treasure Cay at about 145 nautical miles, Marsh Harbour at about 160 or Nassau at about 170 fit in one aircraft, and per seat the number is far below a light jet on the same routing.
The airframe handles short and less polished Bahamian strips better than a jet does, which is why it has been the standard out-island aircraft for decades. We still run a runway and weight analysis for the specific field and the day’s conditions before the trip goes on the schedule.
If the group wants to fly above the summer weather, the Cheyenne turboprop version is the one to price. It climbs higher and faster than the piston Navajo and cuts a 170-nautical-mile Nassau leg by a useful margin, and the rate reflects it.
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.
- 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 9/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
The piston Navajo and Chieftain quote at approximately $1,200 to $1,800 per hour as of 9/2026; the Cheyenne turboprop version prices above that band. On a full eight-passenger Bahamas run the per-seat number is the most competitive in South Florida light charter.
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 Palm Beach departures.
Contact
For a quote on a Piper Navajo / Cheyenne / Chieftain charter from Palm Beach, FL, call +1 (888) 987-5387 or visit 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.