What "Part 135" actually means

When you charter a private aircraft in the United States, you're flying under one of two regulatory frameworks: Part 91 (private operations) or Part 135 (commercial on-demand charter). The difference matters more than most clients realize. Part 135 imposes substantially stricter standards on:

• Pilot rest, duty time, and recurrent training
• Maintenance intervals and inspection rigor
• Aircraft equipment and operational minimums
• FAA oversight and audit frequency

Why operators hold their own certificate

An operator with its own Part 135 certificate is directly accountable to the FAA for every flight. There's no third-party reseller, no brokered hand-off, and no diluted chain of responsibility. The same team responsible for maintenance also signs off on dispatch — every leg, every aircraft.

The independent audit layer

Beyond FAA Part 135 requirements, the most rigorous operators voluntarily submit to independent safety audits:

• IS-BAO (International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations)
• Wyvern Wingman or Registered programs
• ARGUS Platinum and Gold ratings

These audits go deeper than regulatory minimums and are recognized by Fortune 500 travel departments and risk managers as the benchmark for safe charter operations.

What to ask before you book

Before chartering any aircraft, ask the operator three direct questions: Do you hold your own Part 135 certificate? Are you IS-BAO or Wyvern audited? Will the same team that maintains the aircraft also dispatch my flight? If any answer is no, you're flying through a broker, not an operator.