Definition
A class of very small, lightweight jet aircraft, typically with a maximum takeoff weight under about 10,000 pounds, designed to carry four to eight occupants and be flown by a single pilot. Microjets — also called Very Light Jets (VLJs) — use small, efficient turbofan engines and are intended for short to medium business and personal travel.
Plain English
Small jet aircraft, much lighter than traditional business jets, made for a handful of people and often flown by a single pilot.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of small turbine-powered airplanes and the growth of very light jet aircraft.
Derivation
From the Greek 'mikros' meaning small, combined with 'jet.' The name simply signals that these are jet aircraft built on a noticeably smaller scale than the business jets that came before them.
Why Pilots Care
Microjets put true jet performance — pressurized cabins, high cruise altitudes, and turbofan speed — within reach of single-pilot operations, which changes training requirements, insurance, and how a pilot transitions from piston aircraft.
Intuition Check
Do not read microjets as toy jets or model aircraft here. In this FAA context, microjets are real, piloted jet airplanes that are simply smaller than traditional business or airline jets.
Example Sentence 1
After several years flying turboprops, she completed type-specific training to move into a microjet for her company's regional travel.
Example Sentence 2
Some experimental light aircraft rely on microjets for reliable high-speed performance without the weight of larger turbines.