Definition
Commercial operators certificated under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 135, which governs commuter and on-demand operations such as air taxi, charter, and certain helicopter emergency medical services. Part 135 imposes stricter rules than Part 91 on crew qualifications, training, weather minimums, equipment, and operational control.
Plain English
Companies and pilots that fly paying passengers or cargo on charter or on-demand flights under a tighter set of FAA rules than private pilots follow.
Context Anchor
Seen in helicopter instrument procedures when the FAA separates procedures or requirements that apply specifically to commercial helicopter operations conducted under Part 135.
Derivation
"Part 135" refers to the numbered section of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations where these rules live. The FAA organizes its regulations into numbered Parts, so pilots refer to the regulation set by its number.
Why Pilots Care
These operators must meet stricter equipment, training, and procedural standards than private pilots when flying IFR.
Intuition Check
Do not read “operator” here as simply “the pilot moving the controls.” In this context, it usually means the FAA-approved business or certificate holder responsible for the commercial operation.
Example Sentence 1
The helicopter air ambulance company operates under Part 135, so its pilots fly to tighter weather minimums than a private operator would.
Example Sentence 2
The procedures in this chapter apply directly to Part 135 operators conducting helicopter approaches in low visibility.