Part 135 comes up whenever someone asks whether a charter is legitimate, and it is worth knowing what it covers. It is the United States certificate that allows an operator to carry passengers for hire on demand. It is not a quality award, and outside the US it is not the rule that applies to your flight.
The distinction it draws
Part 91 covers private operations: an owner flying their own aircraft, with no paying passengers.
Part 135 covers on-demand commercial operations, which is charter. It brings requirements on crew training and duty, maintenance, operational control and oversight.
Selling seats on a Part 91 flight is not allowed, and that boundary is the real reason the distinction matters to a passenger.
What it does and does not tell you
It tells you the operator is authorised to do this work and is subject to continuing oversight.
It does not rank operators. Two certificate holders can be very different companies, which is why voluntary audit programmes exist alongside it.
And it says nothing about the specific aircraft or crew on your day, which is a separate check.
The part most people miss: it is a US rule
Your flight in Costa Rica, Panama or Guatemala is not operated under Part 135. It is operated under that country's own air carrier certificate, issued by its civil aviation authority.
The requirements are analogous rather than identical, and the certificate number is the thing to ask for, not the American label.
A regional operator saying "we are Part 135" is either flying US-registered aircraft under a US certificate, or using the phrase loosely. Both are worth clarifying before you book.
Where the broker sits
A broker arranges flights but does not operate them. In the United States that activity has its own rule, Part 295, which covers air charter brokers and what they must disclose.
AeroRide is a broker. The aircraft, the crew and the certificate belong to the operator, and we tell you which operator it is. The activity is booked with and run by the local operator; we only fly you there.
If a broker will not name the operator, that is the answer to your question about it.
What to ask, wherever you are flying
Who holds the certificate for this flight, and in which country.
The certificate number, which a legitimate operator gives without hesitation.
Whether the aircraft is on that certificate, because an operator's authorisation covers specific aircraft rather than any aircraft it can find.
And who has operational control: the decision to fly, delay or cancel belongs to the operator's pilot in command, not to the person who sold you the trip.
Frequently asked questions
What is Part 135?
The United States certificate that authorises an operator to fly on-demand commercial charter, as distinct from Part 91 private operations.
Does Part 135 apply to my flight in Central America?
No. The flight is operated under the national air carrier certificate of the country concerned. Ask for that certificate rather than the American label.
Is Part 135 a safety rating?
No. It is an authorisation with continuing oversight. Voluntary audit programmes exist separately and are not a substitute for it.
What is Part 295?
The United States rule covering air charter brokers, who arrange flights rather than operate them.
Can a private aircraft sell me a seat?
No. Carrying paying passengers requires a commercial certificate, and that boundary is the practical reason the distinction matters.
What should I ask before booking?
Who holds the certificate, its number and country, whether the aircraft is listed on it, and who has operational control.
Let's plan it together
The activity is booked with and run by the local operator; we only fly you there.