As noted in Part 1 of this series, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules govern the ownership, operation and use of private aircraft. Most private aircraft are operated under Part 91 or Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. For reasons discussed below, it is imperative for the family business owner of a private aircraft to determine whether the Part 91 or Part 135 rules govern the owner’s operation of the aircraft and to strictly comply with such rules at all times.

The Part 91 rules govern the operation of a private aircraft for non-commercial purposes. Examples of Part 91 operation of a private aircraft would be flights taken by employees on aircraft owned by their employer for business purposes; personal flights taken by the owner of the aircraft; flights taken by the owner’s family members or friends; and other similar flights that do not involve any charge or fee paid by the passengers for the value or costs associated with the flight. The Part 91 rules are generally less restrictive and less costly from a compliance standpoint than the Part 135 rules, which are discussed below. In most cases, the owner of a private aircraft will structure the ownership, operation and use of the aircraft to fall within the Part 91 rules.

The Part 135 rules govern the operation of a private aircraft for “compensation or for hire.” For example, if the owner of a private aircraft takes a group of friends on a ski trip and charges each passenger a proportionate share of the value or costs associated with the flight, the flight is considered as one for compensation or hire and the owner must comply with the Part 135 rules. Similarly, if the business owner of an aircraft makes the aircraft and pilot(s) available to other businesses to use, for a fee or charge, the business owner must comply with the Part 135 rules with certain very limited exceptions. Charter operations involving a private aircraft are governed by the Part 135 rules.

The Part 135 rules for operating a private aircraft are more stringent than the Part 91 rules, involve additional expense for compliance, maintenance and pilot training and certification, and require that the owner-operator of the aircraft hold a Part 135 certificate issued by the FAA. Obtaining a Part 135 certificate involves significant expense and can take six months or longer. The operation of a private aircraft under Part 135 also requires that the operator report and pay the Federal Excise Tax of 7.5 percent on the amount of compensation received by the owner for any flight operated under Part 135.

The failure to comply with the Part 91 or Part 135 rules, as applicable, can have catastrophic consequences for the owner of a private aircraft. For example, if the owner mistakenly believes that the operation of the aircraft is governed under the Part 91 rules when in fact the Part 135 rules apply to the owner’s operation of the aircraft, the insurance coverage for the aircraft may be voided and the owner may be subject to civil penalties of up to $25,000 for each violation of the applicable rules. For these and other reasons, an owner of private aircraft should consult with legal counsel experienced with the Federal Aviation Regulations governing the ownership, operation and use of private aircraft.