Chap 7 — Commercial Operations

Part 91 vs. Parts 121/135 (119.1)

Part 91 Parts 121/135
1. A commercial pilot may fly as a Part 91
“Corporate pilot” — flying a company airplane
carrying company property and passengers.
2. May provide Part 91 “pilot service” — whereas a 1. Requires an “Air Taxi/Commercial Operator
commercial pilot is paid by an airplane owner to fly Certificate”.
the airplane for the owner and his guests. 2. Can “hold out” to the public and offer “common
3. May provide “private carriage” for hire for one carriage” to anyone who is willing to pay.
customer or a few select customers. 3. Can advertise and offer “carriage in air
4. May also perform the services listed in 119.1 that commerce of persons or property for
are not covered under Part 135 regulations compensation or hire.”
(i.e., student instruction, nonstop sightseeing
flights within 25 NM, ferry flights, crop dusting,
banner towing, pipeline patrol, etc.).
A Part 135 PIC must have at least 500 hours total
time (…etc.) for VFR operations and at least
1200 hours total time (…etc.) for IFR operations.
No minimum flight experience required. For Part 135 PIC — an ATP is required for turbojets,
or airplanes with 10 or more passenger seats, or
multiengine commuter operations. (135.243)
A Part 121 PIC must have an ATP. [121.437(a)]
A Second In Command is required when carrying
A Second In Command is not required for
passengers under IFR unless the operation (and the
instrument flight in aircraft that are normally flown
pilot) is approved for use of an autopilot in lieu of a
single pilot.
Second In Command. (135.101, 135.105)
An FAA approved training program is required for
No training program required.
all 135 operations except simple single pilot operators.
Must have a drug and alcohol random testing
No drug and alcohol program required for most program for all employees in “safety sensitive”
operations [except drug testing is required for positions. This would include anyone the operator
“nonstop sightseeing flights” see 135.1(a)(5)]. contracts with, such as when maintenance is
performed by another facility away from home base.
(135.249 thru 135.255 & 121 appendix I & J)

FIVE YEAR background checks are required due to

the Pilot Records Improvement Act of 1996 (PRIA):
1. A check of all previous employers for training or
checkride problems and drug testing history.
Background checks NOT required.
2. An FAA records check of the pilot’s certificate
and medical including any accidents or incidents.
3. A check of the pilot’s driving record for any drug
or alcohol related “motor vehicle actions”.
No flight time limits, duty time limits or rest 135.261 thru 135.273 (121.470 thru 121.525) regulates
requirements. crew flight time, duty time and rest requirements.
The airport must have WEATHER REPORTING and
Any airport may be used — IFR or VFR — as long be of adequate length to meet required accelerate
as it is adequate for the aircraft and is in compliance stop/accelerate go distance (for most aircraft) and
with the limitations of the Aircraft Flight Manual. meet the 60%/70% (destination/alternate) landing
limitation rules. (135.367 thru 135.399; 121.185 thru 121.205)
A pilot may not begin an instrument approach
An instrument approach may be initiated
unless the latest weather reports at least
regardless of the weather.
minimums for the approach. [135.225, 121.651(b)]

EVERYTHING EXPLAINED for the Professional Pilot 239

Chap 7 — Commercial Operations
Hi, my name is Captain Dudley.
If it’s got wings, I can fly it.

Pilot In Command QUALIFICATIONS:

(135.243, 135.247, 135.293, 135.299, 135.345 thru 135.351, 91.1053, 121.434 thru 121.445)
1. Part 135 VFR:
a. Commercial / Instrument / Multi-Engine ratings (for
multi-engine operations), and 2nd Class Medical.
b. Must be instrument current, also company trained and line
checked (135.293, 135.299) in the aircraft within the last
12 months.
c. TOTAL PILOT TIME ......................... 500 hours
d. Total cross country ........................... 100 hours
e. Night cross country............................. 25 hours
2. Part 135 IFR:
a. Commercial / Instrument / Multi-Engine ratings (for multi-engine
operations), and 2nd Class Medical.
b. Must be company trained and line checked (135.293, 135.299) in
the aircraft within the last 12 months and instrument checked (135.297) within
the last 6 months.
c. TOTAL PILOT TIME ..................... 1,200 hours.
d. Total cross country .......................... 500 hours.
e. Total night........................................ 100 hours.
f. Night cross country............................ 25 hours.
g. 75 hours of actual or simulated instrument time at least 50 hours of which were in actual flight.
3. For PASSENGER-carrying operations only — No person may serve as PIC of a turbojet, or an
airplane having 10 or more passenger seats, OR a multiengine airplane in a commuter operation
unless he holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and a current 1st Class Medical (135.243).
4. For COMMUTER operations, the PIC must also have the Initial Operating Experience (IOE) outlined in
135.244 (or 121.434)(i.e., 20 hours in a multiengine turbine or 25 hours in a turbojet with a qualified
check pilot that can be acquired during revenue flights. The hours can be reduced by 50% by the
substitution of one additional takeoff and landing for each hour of flight. See Initial Operating
Experience in Chapter 8 of this book for specific details).
5. Part 121 — No pilot may act as Pilot In Command of an aircraft (or as Second In Command
of an aircraft in a flag or supplemental operation that requires three or more pilots) unless he holds
an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and an appropriate type rating for that aircraft. [121.437(a)]

RECENT PILOT EXPERIENCE for Pilot In Command: (61.57, 91.103, 121.439, 135.247, 135.299)
1. To carry PASSENGERS the PIC must have 3 takeoffs and landings in an aircraft of the same category
and class in the past 90 days — these landings must be made to a full stop if in a tailwheel aircraft or
at night — and — if a type rating is required — must be in the same type of aircraft. (61.57, 135.247)
For Part 121 operations the three takeoffs and landings are required for ANY flight crewmember
regardless of if passengers are carried or not. (121.439)
2. For operations at NIGHT (between 1 hour after sunset and 1 hour before sunrise), the same as #1
above during this same 90 day period of time.
3. If the PIC has not flown over a route and into an airport within the preceding 90 days — the pilot must
become familiar with all available information required for the safe operation of the flight [135.299(c),
91.103].

TOP SECRET CAPTAIN STUFF

#1. Point the airplane where you want to go, if it doesn’t go that way — POINT HARDER.
#2. If you don’t want the airplane to go over there — DON’T LET IT GO OVER THERE.

240 EVERYTHING EXPLAINED for the Professional Pilot

 Chap 7 — Commercial Operations

IFR TAKEOFF Minimums Continued:

[91.175(f), 91.1039, 121.617, 121.619, 121.625, 121.651, 135.217, 135.367, 135.379, 135.398, OpSpec C057 & C079]

A. TWO PILOTS — Flightcrew of two “required” pilots (required by the regulations or the type
certification of the aircraft) — Check non-standard.
Takeoffs from Unlisted Airports: (121.637)
No pilot may takeoff an airplane from an airport not
1. ¼ Mile or RVR 1600 — AT LEAST ONE of the following: listed in the OpSpecs unless the weather conditions
a. High Intensity Runway Lights (HIRL). are equal to or better than prescribed in Part 97.
b. Centerline Lights (CL). Where minimums are not prescribed, the weather
minimums of 800-2, 900-1½, or 1,000-1 are required.
c. Centerline Marking (RCLM).
d. OR… Adequate visual reference to continuously identify the takeoff surface.
2. TDZ RVR 1200 and Rollout RVR 1000 and must have BOTH of the following:
a. Centerline Lights (CL). 91.1039(e) — No person
b. Two RVR reporting systems. may takeoff when the
3. TDZ RVR 600, Mid RVR 600, and Rollout RVR 600, provided visibility is less than 600 ft.

ALL of the following visual aids and RVR equipment are available:
a. Centerline Lights (CL). 500 RVR takeoffs are authorized
for some operators.
b. Centerline Markings (RCLM). 300 RVR is possible when using
c. At least two of the three RVR reporting systems must be working. a takeoff guidance system.
NOTES:
1. Mid RVR may be substituted for either TDZ RVR or Rollout RVR if TDZ RVR or Rollout RVR is not
available.
2. Use of autopilot in lieu of a required 2nd-in-command IS NOT authorized.
3. Each pilot station must have:
a. An Attitude Indicator, DG, VSI, Airspeed and Altimeter.
b. An independent source of power for Attitude and DG.
4. Each PIC and SIC must have at least 100 hours PIC (or SIC) in specific make & model and have
completed company training program for the minimums authorized.
5. For takeoffs when TDZ and rollout RVR is less than RVR 1000, the aircraft must be able to achieve
performance specified in FAR 135.367, 135.379, or 135.398 as appropriate (Must have “ACCELERATE-
STOP DISTANCE” — the distance required to accelerate to liftoff speed and, assuming failure of an engine at the
instant that liftoff speed is attained, to bring the airplane to a full stop — and/or be able to climb to 35 ft before the
end of the runway on one engine if it fails at V1 — aka “ACCELERATE-GO DISTANCE”). [C079d.(6)]
6. If you TAKEOFF with weather BELOW landing minimums — for all practical purposes — you cannot
return to land if you lose an engine after takeoff. Therefore, you must FILE (or list in the dispatch or
flight release) a “TAKEOFF ALTERNATE” (aka “DEPARTURE ALTERNATE”) that is within
ONE hour’s flying time at normal cruise speed, in still air — 135.217; or… at normal cruise speed
in still air with one engine inoperative — 121.617) or… TWO hour’s flying time for an aircraft with
3 or more engines. (135.217, 121.617) The “TAKEOFF ALTERNATE” airport must have weather at or
above IFR landing minimums. (121.625)
If the departure runway does not have RVR you are limited to
½ mile visibility (or the lowest Cat I visibility authorized for that
91.1039, 135.217 — No person may takeoff
runway). OpSpec C057 does not allow takeoffs from runways where weather conditions are below IFR
which do not have RVR, based on the RVR report of another landing minimums unless there is an
runway. OpSpec C057 — “…RVR reports, when available for a alternate airport within 1 hour’s flying time
particular runway, shall be used for all takeoff operations on that
runway. All takeoff operations, based on RVR, must use RVR (at normal cruise speed, in still air).
reports from the locations along the runway specified…”

121.617 — No person may takeoff where weather

The flight plan (or flight release) must conditions are below IFR landing minimums unless
specify a takeoff alternate if the weather there is an alternate airport within:
at the takeoff airport is below landing 1. Aircraft having TWO engines — Not more
minimums for that airport. than one hour at normal cruise speed in still
Any landing minimums at the takeoff air with one engine inoperative.
airport that are authorized for the 2. Aircraft having THREE or more engines —
certificate holder may be considered Not more than two hours at normal cruise
including Category II or III ILS approaches. speed in still air with one engine inoperative.

EVERYTHING EXPLAINED for the Professional Pilot 259