Part 135 Operator
A Part 135 operator is an FAA-certificated company authorized to fly paying passengers on private (non-scheduled) charter aircraft under 14 CFR Part 135. Every legitimate private jet charter flown in the United States — including every empty leg — is operated under a Part 135 certificate; operators based elsewhere fly under the equivalent authority in their own jurisdiction.
Also known as: Part 135, FAA Part 135, Part 135 certificate, Part 135 air carrier, Part 135 charter operator
Part 135 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations is the FAA's rulebook for non-scheduled commercial flight operations: private jet charter, air taxi, on-demand cargo, and emergency medical transport. A Part 135 operator is a company that holds an Air Carrier Certificate issued under that part, with operations specifications ("OpSpecs") authorizing specific aircraft, route geography, and operating conditions.
If you're paying to fly on a private jet in the United States and a Part 135 certificate isn't behind the trip, the flight is illegal — colloquially called a "gray charter." The FAA's Aviation Safety Hotline and the Department of Transportation's enforcement office both treat unauthorized charter as a serious violation, with civil penalties up to roughly $32,000 per illegal flight as of 2024 and criminal exposure for willful violations.
Operators are regulated on three axes that matter to passengers. First, crew currency and rest: Part 135 mandates duty-time limits, recurrent training, and minimum experience thresholds for both pilots-in-command and second-in-command. Second, aircraft maintenance: each aircraft on the certificate is on an approved maintenance program, with inspections logged and FAA-auditable. Third, operational control: the operator — not the broker, not the customer, not the aircraft owner — is the legal entity responsible for go/no-go authority on every flight.
Operators commonly publish their certificate designator (a 4-letter code on their FAA Air Carrier Certificate) and may carry third-party safety credentials on top: ARGUS ratings (Gold, Gold Plus, Platinum), Wyvern audits (Registered, Wingman), and IS-BAO stage certifications. These are voluntary and operator-paid, but they're useful signal: an operator that opts into independent audits is generally doing so because they want their safety practices visible to corporate flight departments and high-end charter buyers.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the difference between Part 91 and Part 135?
- Part 91 governs non-commercial flying — private owners flying their own aircraft, corporate flight departments operating company aircraft. Part 135 governs commercial flying for hire on non-scheduled aircraft, including all paid private jet charter in the United States; operators abroad fly under the equivalent authority. Paying for a flight on a Part 91 aircraft is generally illegal.
- How do I verify an operator is Part 135?
- Ask for the operator's Air Carrier Certificate number. The FAA's Flight Standards Service Information Management System (SAS) confirms active certificates. Reputable marketplaces — SkyAccess included — only allow operators holding a valid air carrier certificate to list flights: Part 135 in the U.S., or the equivalent authority in the operator's home jurisdiction.
- What is a gray charter?
- A gray charter is an illegal flight where a Part 91 aircraft is being chartered for hire without a Part 135 certificate. It's a serious FAA violation with civil and criminal exposure, and insurance coverage typically voids the moment a gray charter is identified.
Related terms
- Empty Leg Flight
An empty leg flight is a one-way private jet flight sold at a discount because the aircraft has to fly without passengers to its next paid booking. Empty legs are typically priced 25–80% below retail charter, with the discount widening as the departure window narrows.
- Charter Broker
A charter broker is an intermediary who arranges private jet flights between customers and certificated charter operators — Part 135 operators in the U.S., or the equivalent abroad — without operating any aircraft themselves. Brokers earn a margin on the operator's quote; marketplaces like SkyAccess remove that intermediary by surfacing operator inventory directly.
- FBO (Fixed-Base Operator)
An FBO (Fixed-Base Operator) is a private aviation terminal at an airport that provides fuel, hangar, ground handling, and passenger services to private jets — including every empty leg flight. FBOs are where private jet passengers actually arrive and depart; they don't use the commercial terminal.
Sources
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