Understanding Incorporated Safety in Part 135 Operations

The term "Part 135" refers to a section in the Federal Aviation regulation manual pertaining to commuter and on-demand operations and rules that apply to people onboard. An “eligible on-demand operation” must have a two-pilot crew, who are employed or contracted by the certificate holder.

The crew members must have met the applicable requirements of Part 61 and have the following experience and ratings: the pilot-in-command must have a minimum of 1,500 hours and second-in-command must have a minimum of 500 hours. In addition, for specific aircrafts such as a multi-engine turbine-powered fixed-wing and power-lift aircraft, the following FAA certification and ratings requirements must be met: pilot-in-command must have an airline transport pilot rating. The second-in-command or co-pilot must have a commercial pilot and instrument rating. These specific rules are in place to protect the traveler from unqualified pilots. Other regulations ruling over charter on-demand operations are maintenance regulations, insurances and duty times.

Required Equipment Under Part 135 of the FAA Regulations

According to FAA regulations, an air charter service can’t operate an aircraft unless the aircraft and its equipment have been approved and meet the applicable regulations. Furthermore, the equipment must be in operable condition, but no person may operate an aircraft under this part unless the required instruments and equipment are in it. This includes: an ATC transponder meeting performance and environmental requirements and a sensitive altimeter that is adjustable for barometric pressure. To allow charters to file flight plans and fly in bad weather conditions, the aircraft must also have heating or de-icing equipment for each carburetor. For a pressure carburetor, an alternate air source for turbojet airplanes is required. In addition to two artificial horizons for use at the pilot stations onboard the airplane, a third indicator is installed in accordance with regulations. No aircraft may be operated without the proper anti-collision, navigation and positioning lights and any other equipment the administrator may require. It's important to know that this is a basic outline and more detailed air charter operations may need additional addendums. An aircraft that doesn't comply with equipment regulations is not airworthy and will be grounded until it can be fixed.

Maintenance Record Keeping for Safety

Aircraft owners are responsible for maintaining their aircraft and pilots are responsible for making sure the aircraft is fit to fly by their visual inspections. Detailed records must be kept of all maintenance. At anytime, a mechanic or FAA rep can look to see if records are up-to-date.

There are even regulations on how the records must be kept. Periodically, aircraft manufacturers issue aircraft directives, which are actions that must be taken to keep the aircraft safe. These details are not voluntary and must be noted in the aircraft's records. Because an aircraft is used in a commercial capacity, it falls under more inspection rules than private planes. For rentals, an annual inspection is required, as well as an every-one-hundred-hour inspection.

Other Emergency Operations Under Part 135

In order to protect all passengers on an aircraft charter, regulations have been put in place for emergency situations. For emergency evacuation duties, each certificate holder must assign specific duties to crew members during an emergency evacuation. The certificate holder will ensure that the functions, such as deployment of slides, can be carried out during any reasonably anticipated emergency, including incapacitation of other crew members or their inability to reach the passenger cabin because of shifting cargo. The certificate holder must also describe in the safety and procedure manual the functions of the crew members. This is meant to ensure that the crews have an understanding of what is expected of them if the situation occurs.

Many charters operate worldwide requiring them to fly over water, therefore the operator is required to have several pieces of survival equipment on-board. The items include: one approved survivor locator light and one approved flare. The aircraft charters must also have either one survival kit, appropriately equipped for the route to be flown; or one canopy (for sail, sunshade, or rain catcher), one radar reflector; one life raft repair kit; one bailing bucket; one signaling mirror; one police whistle; one raft knife; one CO2 bottle for emergency inflation; one inflation pump; two oars; one 75-foot retaining line; one magnetic compass; one dye marker; one flashlight having at least two size “D” cells or equivalent and a 2-day supply of emergency food rations supplying at least 1,000 calories per day for each person.

For each two persons the raft is rated to carry, the aircraft charter should have two pints of water or one sea water desalting kit; one fishing kit; and one book on survival appropriate for the area where the aircraft is operated and an approved survival-type emergency locator transmitter. Batteries used in this transmitter must be replaced (or recharged, if the batteries are rechargeable) when the transmitter has been in use for more than one cumulative hour or 50 percent of their useful life. This is called an ELT and most all planes flown today, big and small, have them as standard equipment.

Understanding Required Passenger Safety Briefings Before a Flight

If you have ever flown on a commercial airline, you’ve likely seen the safety briefing that plays on a small TV that drops down from the ceiling. It provides information on flotation devices and exit seats. If you look around the cabin, though, you’ll see almost no one listening. Most people are busy with magazines or pillows. But these safety briefings are important and in the event of a real emergency, you’ll be glad you listened. The pilot in command is obligated to see that all passengers have been briefed, but it doesn’t mean he must know if everyone completely understands.

Passengers must be briefed on when, where and under what conditions the safety belt must be fastened. They must also be told how to fasten and unfasten them. This briefing must include lighted passenger information signs and crew member instructions. Passengers should also be told the location of the fire extinguishers, flotation devices, all exits and how to operate them. Passengers are also shown the proper way to use oxygen masks in an emergency for flights above 12,000 feet.

Charter Jet Safety

When trying to book a charter plane, the best charter companies state up front that all aircraft and operators meet FAA Part 135 Requirements. This means that the aircraft and crews meet aircraft safety standards set down by the FAA, and are considered "approved to fly." If you are considering a charter flight from a company that doesn't clearly state a demand for nothing less than FAA Part 135 compliance, take your business elsewhere. That charter company may still be in compliance with the law, but the best charter companies are mindful of the public's need for safety assurances from the industry and will provide those assurances clearly. Anything less implies carelessness with the customer's needs.

Aircraft charter companies are required to submit to FAA Part 135 requirements, but to the average charter passenger, Part 135 is a bit of a mystery. Under Part 135, Charter planes are required to submit to a certification team which will examine an aircraft's compliance with applicable FAA safety procedures, maintenance, and other issues. This is no mere formality, it's a bona fide compliance inspection. A charter plane cannot legally operate without the blessing of the certification team. An aircraft that meets Part 135 requirements has passed the FAA's test and has been given the government's stamp of approval to operate.

Charter Jet Safety

Aircraft charter rules governing firearms and ammunition may permit you to travel with weapons stowed in the checked baggage. Never pack a
loaded weapon, and always "clear" a weapon before putting it in its case for stowing on a charter plane. It's preferable to pack a disassembled weapon for maximum safety. Never assume that you are permitted to fly with ammunition even if it is transported separately from your firearms. You may be required to leave it behind. The pilot of a charter plane has the right to inspect all luggage and has the discretion to declare your luggage unfit to fly unless prohibited or
controlled items are properly dealt with.

Charter Jet Safety

A big part of charter jet safety involves luggage and cargo. In many cases, a charter passenger is subject to the same restrictions as commercial jet passengers; the rules set by the charter company governing smoking on board, hazardous cargo, and who is allowed to occupy the cockpit aren't done arbitrarily, they are designed for maximum flight safety on a charter plane. If you require transportation of hazardous materials, firearms, or other problematic items, it's best to discuss these needs when you book your charter travel. Advance planning can prevent your trip from being delayed or cancelled. In many cases cargo labelled as "hazardous" may simply need special containers or other arrangements, and may be permitted in your checked luggage.

Charter Jet Safety

An individual aircraft's safety record or "clean bill of health" based on maintenance records can be very assuring, but it is important to know that aircraft charter companies do not manage the planes, or control the pilots. It's easy to forget that the charter plane company is a source of information about the pilots and aircraft rather than the controlling interest. If you need further information on a particular airplane, your aircraft charter agent may be able to assist you, but can also do your own research; check the manufacturer's website for additional details. Such a search on the Citation X, for example, will reveal the aircraft's design team won a 1996 award given for performance, efficiency, and safety. Such information is definitely reassuring.

Understanding the Changing Rules of Aircraft Charter Safety

During an emergency situation, the pilot may deviate from the rules relating to aircraft equipment and weather minimums to deal with the emergency. The pilot in command is the last authority over the safety of the flight and can take whatever action is necessary to safeguard passengers, even if it means landing somewhere and removing a hostile passenger, rerouting the flight to another destination or ending the flight completely. If the pilot does deviate, he must send a complete report of the aircraft operation involved, including a description of the deviation and reasons for it to the FAA Flight Standards District Office within 10 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays. In addition, whenever a pilot encounters a potentially hazardous meteorological condition or an irregularity in a ground communications or navigational facility in flight, the pilot is required to report it to the proper ground service.

Charter Jet Safety

The best charter jet companies will anticipate your safety concerns about charter aircraft, and provide you with information about a particular jet's maintenance record on request.While such a practice may provide assurance about the mechanical fitness of the aircraft, but what about the pilots themselves? Some charter jet companies do address this issue directly, requiring a pilot have between three and five thousand hours in the cockpit before they are eligible to take charter assignments from the company. That level of experience means a pilot is well qualified to handle every detail of your charter flight. If you have safety concerns about flying, stick with charter jet companies who have such pilot requirements. You will definitely be in good hands.