Definition
A U.S. citizen who holds a certificate issued under Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 121 or Part 135 authorizing the commercial operation of aircraft for the transportation of persons or property for hire.
Plain English
A U.S.-based company or individual that has been officially approved by the FAA to fly people or cargo for money, under the specific rules that govern commercial airlines and charter operators.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation regulations, operating rules, certificates, and discussions about whether a flight is being conducted by a U.S. air carrier.
Derivation
"Carrier" comes from the verb "carry" -- one who carries something. An air carrier carries passengers or cargo through the air. The phrase "United States" specifies that the operator is certificated under U.S. regulations, not foreign ones.
Why Pilots Care
Identifies which set of FAA operating rules and oversight apply to the flight.
Intuition Check
Do not read “carrier” as the aircraft itself. Here, the carrier is the person or company providing the air transportation service.
Example Sentence 1
Delta and Southwest are United States air carriers operating under Part 121.
Example Sentence 2
United States Air Carriers must meet stricter crew training and maintenance standards than many foreign operators.