FAA Part 135 — Don
Quick Answer
Typically 3-6 months from initial application to certificate issuance. Timeline depends on quality of your General Operations Manual and General Maintenance Manual, responsiveness to FAA feedback, and your local FSDO\'s workload. Using experienced consultants can reduce the timeline, though the FAA\'s review process has fixed minimum timeframes.
Last reviewed · By Chad Griffith
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about faa part 135: don. Whether you're a safety manager, compliance officer, or operations director, understanding aviation requirements is critical to avoiding costly fines and failed audits.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is FAA Part 135?
14 CFR Part 135 governs commuter and on-demand commercial aviation operations — charter flights, scheduled commuter service, air taxi, helicopter air ambulance. Distinct from Part 91 (general aviation, including private operations) and Part 121 (scheduled airline). Part 135 has stricter pilot training, recordkeeping, and operations requirements than Part 91.
What's required to operate a Part 135 certificate?
Air Carrier Certificate from the FAA, designated principal operations inspector (POI), operations specifications (OpSpecs), General Operations Manual (GOM), General Maintenance Manual (GMM), pilot qualification and training program, drug and alcohol testing program (49 CFR Part 40 + 14 CFR Part 120), and approved aircraft maintenance program.
How does FAA inspection work for Part 135 operators?
Annual continuing surveillance via the assigned POI: ramp checks (unannounced), records review, training review, drug/alcohol program audit, aircraft inspection, and OpSpecs compliance. Findings drive remedial action timelines. Critical findings can trigger emergency revocation of OpSpecs (effectively grounding the operation).
What are common Part 135 compliance gaps?
(1) Pilot currency lapses (BFR, IPC, route checks), (2) maintenance log gaps, (3) drug/alcohol program documentation, (4) Wyvern/ARGUS audit prep deficiencies, (5) GOM/GMM revisions not distributed to crew, (6) training record signature gaps. The FAA principal operations inspector's findings flow into the certificate renewal review.
Can FileFlo handle Part 135 compliance recordkeeping?
Yes. FileFlo's aviation rule-pack covers Part 135 operations: pilot records (medical, training, currency, line checks), aircraft maintenance entries (annuals, ADs, life-limited parts), drug/alcohol testing per 14 CFR Part 120, GOM/GMM version control with crew distribution tracking, and Wyvern/ARGUS audit prep packets. Connect storage and FileFlo classifies every aviation document automatically.
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