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Glossary of Aviation Terms | Part 135

Part 135 | Paramount Business Jets

Part 135 is actually a chapter in the FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations). It governs primarily charter and air taxi operations and sets the requirements for the people and aircraft performing on-demand and commuter operations. It comprises thirteen sections, the first being the SFARs (Special Federal Aviation Regulations), which deal with special situations, and the last section being the appendix. There are eleven subparts that are broken down and represented by the letters "A" – "K".

Part 135 mainly applies to charter and air taxi operations because it references on-demand and commuter flights. A "charter" means a contract with a person or community of people for the leased aircraft, so charter operations are always on-demand. This is the same for air taxis. The subparts are divided up and explained in the following graph:

SubpartTitleDescription
AGeneralbasic compliance of rules, drugs, and alcohol
BFlight Operationsflight rules for cargo, polar regions, airworthiness, inspections, and emergencies
CAircraft and Equipmentequipment, oxygen, and instrument requirements
DVFR/IFR Operating Limitations and Weather RequirementsVFR and IFR weather minimums, distance minimums, and alternate airports
EFlight Crewmember Requirementsoperating experience and use of drugs
FCrewmember Flight Time and Duty Period Limitations and Rest Requirementsrest limitations, helicopter emergencies, and duty periods
GCrewmember Testing Requirementsrequired testing for crewmembers
HTrainingrequired training for crewmembers
IAirplane Performance Operating Limitationslimitations of large and small transport category aircraft as well as non-transport category aircraft
JMaintenance, Preventative Maintenance, and Alterationsany maintenance or changes performed on the aircraft
KHazardous Materials Training programprograms for hazardous material training purposes

Not only are charters supposed to operate under Part 135, but it benefits them to do so. Part 135 operates much like Part 121 (commercial aircraft), but it has stricter rules, giving the charter companies an advantage. One might think that having stricter rules gives a company a disadvantage, but in fact it makes the company better, faster, safer, and more reliable.

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