Deadhead Pay
Deadhead pay is the compensation a flight crew receives for repositioning flights with no paying passengers. Under FAA Part 135 duty-time rules, deadhead time counts as on-duty time even when no revenue is flying — the crew is compensated and the time counts against their duty-day limits.
Also known as: deadhead crew pay, non-revenue crew compensation, ferry pay
FAA Part 135 governs both how much a crew can work and how that time is counted. A deadhead segment — a non-revenue positioning flight — is counted as flight duty time for the operating crew under the same rules as a revenue segment. The crew is on the clock, on duty, and constrained by the same daily and weekly flight-time and rest-time limits.
From the operator's cost perspective, this is part of why empty legs are sold rather than flown empty. The crew is being paid and the duty-day is being consumed regardless of whether passengers are on board. Selling the leg as an empty leg recovers some of that committed cost.
Some operator contracts pay deadhead at a reduced hourly rate vs revenue flying — common in airline pilot contracts, less universal in Part 135 charter. Where it applies, it can mean a marginally lower break-even price on positioning legs, which influences how aggressively the operator reprices unsold inventory inside the 72-hour window.
Frequently asked questions
- Do private jet crews get paid for deadhead flights?
- Yes. Under FAA Part 135 duty-time rules, deadhead segments count as on-duty time for the operating crew. The crew is compensated and the time counts against their daily and weekly flight-time and rest-time limits.
Related terms
- Deadhead Flight
A deadhead flight is a non-revenue positioning flight where the aircraft (and often the crew) flies without paying passengers to be in position for the next paid booking. Operators sell deadhead seats as empty legs at 25–80% off retail.
- Empty Leg Flight
An empty leg flight is a one-way private jet flight sold at a discount because the aircraft has to fly without passengers to its next paid booking. Empty legs are typically priced 25–80% below retail charter, with the discount widening as the departure window narrows.
- Part 135 Operator
A Part 135 operator is an FAA-certificated company authorized to fly paying passengers on private (non-scheduled) charter aircraft under 14 CFR Part 135. Every legitimate private jet charter flown in the United States — including every empty leg — is operated under a Part 135 certificate; operators based elsewhere fly under the equivalent authority in their own jurisdiction.
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