Definition
Operators who hold an FAA air carrier or commercial operating certificate issued under Title 14 CFR Part 119, which establishes the certification requirements for persons conducting commercial passenger or cargo operations under Parts 121, 125, or 135. These operators are subject to additional operational rules beyond those that apply to private (Part 91) flying, including specific qualification requirements when operating into special airports.
Plain English
Companies and operators certified by the FAA to fly people or cargo for hire, such as airlines and charter operators. Because they fly the public, the FAA holds them to stricter rules than private pilots flying themselves.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA discussions of airline, commuter, and charter operations, including special airport qualification requirements.
Derivation
Named after the section of federal aviation regulations where the certification rules are written: 14 CFR Part 119. 'Part' refers to a numbered division of the regulations, and Part 119 is the part that defines who needs an air carrier or commercial operator certificate and what that certificate requires.
Why Pilots Care
These operators face additional training and procedural requirements at airports designated for special qualification.
Intuition Check
Do not read “Part 119” as an aircraft part or a company department. It means a specific federal aviation rule section, and a “certificate holder” is the operator approved under that rule.
Example Sentence 1
Special airport qualification requirements apply to Part 119 certificate holders, so the charter company had to ensure each captain met the in-airport experience rules before flying into Aspen.
Example Sentence 2
The qualification procedures apply directly to Part 119 certificate holders operating under instrument flight rules.