What is 14 CFR Part 135?
Part 135 is the FAA certificate for commercial on-demand operations — air taxi, charter, commuter, and air ambulance flights. Distinct from Part 121 (scheduled airlines) and Part 91 (general aviation) by the for-hire passenger or cargo service.
Three sub-categories: 135.1(a)(1) commuter (scheduled), 135.1(a)(2) on-demand (charter — most operators), and 135.1(a)(3) cargo. Different subparts have different rules — most pure charter operators are 135.1(a)(2) only.
The FAA's 5-phase certification process
FAA Order 8900.1 Vol. 2 lays out a 5-phase process every Part 135 applicant follows: (1) Pre-application meeting, (2) Formal application, (3) Document compliance, (4) Demonstration + inspection, (5) Certification.
Plan for 12-18 months end-to-end. Phase 3 (document compliance) is the longest — you submit your General Operating Manual (GOM), Maintenance Manual, Pilot Training Manual, Drug + Alcohol Program, and 30-40 other policy documents. Each goes through POI review with revisions.
Operations Specifications (OpSpec)
OpSpecs are your certificate-specific authorizations — what aircraft you can operate, what areas of operation (CONUS / international / mountainous), what kinds of operations (VFR / IFR / EFB / RVSM / RNP).
Common OpSpec paragraphs: A001 (issuance/applicability), A003 (terms + definitions), A005 (operations authorizations), B031 (RNAV approach authorization), C051 (lower-than-standard IFR takeoff minima). Each gets POI signoff.
Approved Aircraft Inspection Program (AAIP)
Multi-engine turbine + jet Part 135 operators typically move from the standard Part 91 100-hour/annual regime to an AAIP under 135.419. AAIP allows phased inspections — spreading the inspection burden across the year so aircraft are never down for more than a few hours at a time.
Build the AAIP manual section by section: phased inspection tasks per aircraft type, hourly + calendar interval definitions, AD/SB integration, deferred-maintenance procedures. Your assigned PMI signs each revision.
Drug + alcohol testing program
Part 135.249 requires a random drug + alcohol testing program for all safety-sensitive employees: pilots, flight attendants (if applicable), dispatchers, mechanics, ground security coordinators. Minimum random testing rates are 50% drug + 10% alcohol of pool size annually.
Designate a Drug + Alcohol Program Manager. Contract with a DOT-approved collection site (Quest, LabCorp, or local clinic). Enroll subjects in the random pool. Run draws on a published schedule (most operators run quarterly + ad-hoc post-incident).
Ongoing compliance + Avinode
Once certified, Part 135 operators face ongoing FSDO + PMI surveillance. Annual training records review. Random drug + alcohol pool audits. AAIP compliance inspections. POI ride-alongs on actual flights.
Most charter operators eventually integrate with Avinode — the global marketplace for charter trip requests. Avinode is a partner-credential integration; AviationAlley ships an adapter that pulls incoming trip requests into /app/charter.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Part 135 certification take?
12-18 months is typical. The slowest phase is Phase 3 (document compliance) — your GOM + Maintenance Manual + Pilot Training Manual + Drug Program all go through POI review with revisions. Aggressive applicants with a consultant can hit 9 months.
Do I need a Director of Operations + Director of Maintenance + Chief Pilot?
Yes — Part 135 requires designated DOT, Chief Pilot, and DOM. For small operators (single aircraft), these can be the same person in some cases; the POI decides during certification. Larger operators must have separate individuals.
What's the difference between Part 135.1(a)(2) on-demand and 135.1(a)(1) commuter?
Commuter = scheduled service. On-demand = no schedule, ad-hoc flights. Commuter has stricter rules (more frequent training, more onerous OpSpec). Most pure charter operators are 135.1(a)(2) only.
Does AviationAlley help with my GOM?
We capture the operational workflows your GOM describes (dispatch, training, maintenance, drug + alcohol, safety). The GOM itself is a separate document you author with your POI; we don't generate it. But the audit trail + safety reports + training records from the platform feed directly into GOM-required record retention.
Can I run Part 135 + Part 142 (charter + training center)?
Yes — many established operators hold both. AviationAlley's wizard has a 'Part 135 + 142 combined' preset that bundles both modules.
Related guides
AAIP for Part 135 operators: a complete compliance guide
The Approved Aircraft Inspection Program (AAIP) is the maintenance backbone of a Part 135 charter operation. This guide walks through what AAIP requires, how to maintain compliance, and how to prove it during PMI surveillance.
FAR Part 117 explained: pilot duty + rest rules for Part 121 air carriers
FAR 117 is the rule that caps how much a Part 121 pilot can fly in 24-hour, 7-day, 28-day, and annual windows. This is the practical guide for chief pilots, schedulers, and crew planners.
Airworthiness Directives (ADs) — a practical compliance guide
ADs are mandatory FAA actions you must take on specific aircraft, engines, propellers, or appliances. This is the practical guide to tracking them, complying on time, and proving it during inspection.