Part 135 Is One Part You Don’t Want to Miss.
Most fractional jet programs are required to operate under the FAA’s “Part 135,” which, generally speaking, applies to those planes available on demand, serving nine passengers or less, with single pilots. There are a series of circumstances that allow some fractional programs to operate under the FAA’s “Part 91,” which is less restrictive. Frankly, I’m still trying to identify, in the reams upon reams of FAA documents, exactly why some providers can fly under Part 91.
The more restrictive Part 135 (“Operating Requirements: Commuter and On Demand Operations and Rules Governing Persons on Board Such Aircraft”) must be more expensive to operate under, thereby raising the cost of fractional ownership. But I, for one, would rather my provider fly under the more rigorous Part 135, than Part 91 (“General Operating and Flight Rules”). When I buy into a program, it’s going to pay homage to Part 135, or I will pay elsewhere for my fractional ownership. When it comes to safety, I don’t want anything fractional about it.
