Explain the difference between Part 135 and Part 91 operations and why this distinction matters for NetJets' flight operations.

• A. Part 135 governs on-demand charter with specific equipment, crew duties, and operating requirements; Part 91 covers private, non-commercial operations; NetJets uses Part 135 for charter segments and Part 91-related practices for owner-directed or internal tasks, affecting compliance, training, and recordkeeping.
• B. Part 135 and Part 91 are identical.
• C. Part 91 requires charter operations.
• D. Part 135 forbids crew duties.

Answer: (A)

Understanding how FAA rules separate different kinds of flight operations is what this question tests. Part 135 governs on-demand charter operations and includes specific requirements for aircraft equipment, crew duties and qualifications, maintenance programs, dispatch and flight following, and detailed recordkeeping. These rules are designed for for-hire transport, where safety controls must be tight due to commercial passenger or cargo service. Part 91 covers private, non-commercial operations where the aircraft isn’t used for hire, and the regulations tend to be more flexible, focusing on general aviation standards rather than the commercial safety and operational controls required for charter work.

For NetJets, this distinction matters because charter segments—when the flight is sold to an external customer—fall under Part 135, meaning the flight department must operate under the charter rules, with the associated training, maintenance, and documentation this entails. Owner-directed or internal tasks, such as corporate or fractional-owner travel, are typically aligned with Part 91 practices. Mixing the two in the same planning and execution approach can lead to regulatory gaps or mismatches in required procedures, training, and recordkeeping.

So the correct understanding is that Part 135 applies to charter flights with strict commercial requirements, while Part 91 applies to private, non-commercial operations, and NetJets uses Part 135 for charter segments and Part 91-related practices for owner-directed or internal tasks, ensuring appropriate compliance and safety controls for each operation type.