Definition
A scheduled passenger-carrying air service operated under FAR Part 135 using small aircraft, generally limited to nine or fewer passenger seats and a payload capacity of 7,500 pounds or less, flying at least five round trips per week between two or more points on a published schedule.
Plain English
A small airline that runs regular, scheduled flights on a published timetable using smaller aircraft, governed by Part 135 rules rather than the larger airline rules of Part 121.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA operating rules when deciding whether a commercial flight is treated as scheduled commuter service or another kind of commercial operation.
Derivation
From 'commuter,' a person who travels regularly between two places. The name reflects the original purpose of these operations: short, repeating, scheduled flights connecting smaller communities to larger hubs, much like a daily commute.
Why Pilots Care
Determines which set of operating rules, pilot qualifications, and aircraft equipment standards apply to the flight.
Intuition Check
Do not read commuter operation as any flight carrying people who commute. In FAA use, it means a specific kind of scheduled commercial service using small aircraft on regular routes.
Example Sentence 1
After building flight time as an instructor, she took a first officer position with a commuter operation flying scheduled routes between regional airports.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots flying commuter operation routes must meet Part 135 training and currency requirements.