Definition
An airport that is not open to the general flying public. Use is restricted to the owner and to pilots who have received specific permission from the owner or operator. Private airports are shown on aeronautical charts with a distinctive symbol (typically an 'R' inside the airport circle) to indicate restricted use.
Plain English
An airport you cannot just fly into. The owner controls who is allowed to land there, and you need their permission first.
Context Anchor
Seen on aviation charts, airport listings, and during flight planning when choosing where to land.
Derivation
Private comes from the Latin privatus, meaning separated from public use or belonging to an individual. That helps here because a private airport is separated from normal public access; it is controlled by its owner.
Why Pilots Care
A pilot must obtain owner permission before landing to avoid trespassing or operating at an unmaintained field.
Analogy
A private airport is like a private driveway: it may be physically possible to use it, but you do not have the right to use it unless the owner allows it.
Intuition Check
Private does not mean simply small, remote, or quiet. In airport use, private means the public may not use it without permission from the owner.
Example Sentence 1
The strip near the ranch is a private airport, so we called the owner the day before to get permission to land.
Example Sentence 2
Sectional charts show private airports with a special symbol so pilots know they cannot land without prior approval.