Part 135 Certification Designees

[MidlifeFlyer]

Today's (12/5/2024) Federal Register includes a request for comments on a proposal to expand the Designee program to add Part 135 certification tasks in an effort to reduce the backlog in handling applications for Part 135 certificates. The comment period closes February 3, 2025.

This has been a problem for a long time which may have been made worse by the FAA's enforcement focus on illegal charter operations. I can just envision some operator called on the carpet saying, "We've been trying to do it right to five years, but you won't issue any!"

 

[KLB]

Today's (12/5/2024) Federal Register includes a request for comments on a proposal to expand the Designee program to add Part 135 certification tasks in an effort to reduce the backlog in handling applications for Part 135 certificates. The comment period closes February 3, 2025.

This has been a problem for a long time which may have been made worse by the FAA's enforcement focus on illegal charter operations. I can just envision some operator called on the carpet saying, "We've been trying to do it right to five years, but you won't issue any!"

I'm not sure that excuse would work. It's the equivalent of running a red light because it took too long to turn green.

I personally think that it should necessarily be easy to obtain a 135 certificate. I also do not believe it should be easy to acquire a 135 certificate from another operator. There are still a lot of operators out there that aren't doing it the right way or abiding by the rules because there is just enough holes in the FAA's swiss cheese not to get caught.

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

I'm not sure that excuse would work. It's the equivalent of running a red light because it took too long to turn green.

I doubt it would work as a defense either, but it is a realistic response.

It’s not about easy or hard. It’s about at all. Nor is it just about public charter. There are probably some private ops which would like to avoid the pitfalls of not being able to separate corporate aircraft ops from the main company.

 

[KLB]

I doubt it would work as a defense either, but it is a realistic response.

It’s not about easy or hard. It’s about at all. Nor is it just about public charter. There are probably some private ops which would like to avoid the pitfalls of not being able to separate corporate aircraft ops from the main company.

I understand that facet, but I still believe that the requirements to get a 135 certificate should strigent whether it's charter or private ownership flights other 135. The rules are the rules and should be enforced either way.

 

[ahw01]

Is it similar to the DAR/DER process?

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

I understand that facet, but I still believe that the requirements to get a 135 certificate should strigent whether it's charter or private ownership flights other 135. The rules are the rules and should be enforced either way.

No one is suggesting otherwise.

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

Is it similar to the DAR/DER process?

In concept, yes. So are DPEs. This notice reads more like a trial balloon to get feedback on the idea. Implementation - which tasks, what authority, how exercised - would be by more formal and detailed rulemaking and Orders.