Definition
A certification category under 14 CFR Part 25 covering large multi-engine airplanes, generally those with more than 19 passenger seats or a maximum takeoff weight greater than 19,000 pounds, as well as all turbojet-powered airplanes. Aircraft in this category must meet stricter design, performance, and safety standards than smaller airplanes certified under Part 23.
Plain English
These are the larger airliners and business jets, certified to a higher safety and performance standard than smaller general aviation airplanes.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of jet airplane systems, airline-type operations, maintenance requirements, and certification standards for large airplanes.
Derivation
"Transport" comes from the Latin transportare, meaning to carry across. The label reflects the category's original purpose: airplanes built to carry passengers and cargo over significant distances, which is why the certification standards are written around airline-style operations.
Why Pilots Care
The category determines which operating rules, takeoff and landing performance standards, and equipment requirements apply to the airplane.
Intuition Check
Do not read “transport category” as “any airplane that transports something.” Here it means a formal FAA certification category for airplanes built to a particular set of standards.
Example Sentence 1
Most airliners and large business jets are certified as transport category airplanes under Part 25.
Example Sentence 2
Maintenance technicians must follow Part 25 standards when inspecting systems on transport category airplanes.