What does it take to join/make a FAR 135 Operation?

Snaggletooth

Snaggletooth

Line Up and Wait
Joined
May 9, 2009
Messages
665
Location
Texas
Display Name
Dustin
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KBYY
My goal in Aviation is be a Charter Pilot. I heard it takes a stack of paperwork to start a a 135 Operation. Then you have to take a hardcore 135 Checkride. But what do you have to do to join a 135 op?
 
make a name for yourself and let people know of your desire.... this can be done countless ways from "hanging out" at the local airport to working the line ..someday flight instructing...etc.and of course the get the ratings and TT requirments.
 
So the hours I'll need is....

VFR:
"at least 500 hours time as
a pilot, including at least 100 hours of
cross-country flight time, at least 25​

hours of which were at night."

IFR:
"at least 1,200 hours of
flight time as a pilot, including 500
hours of cross country flight time, 100
hours of night flight time, and 75 hours
of actual or simulated instrument time
at least 50 hours of which were in actual​
flight"
 
That's for PIC. Check 135.245 for SIC requirements.

Main thing will be getting your private and instrument ratings done, and then go do some time building and studying until you hit the requirements for Comm/CFI. Then you can actually start getting "compensated" rather than paying a whole ton of money.
 
I think you also have to pee in a cup periodically!
 
Snaggletooth said:
So the hours I'll need is....

VFR:
"at least 500 hours time as
a pilot, including at least 100 hours of
cross-country flight time, at least 25​

hours of which were at night."

IFR:
"at least 1,200 hours of
flight time as a pilot, including 500
hours of cross country flight time, 100
hours of night flight time, and 75 hours
of actual or simulated instrument time
at least 50 hours of which were in actual​
flight"
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that those are the legal minimums - as with everything in aviation you are more limited by the insurance carriers and company policies than the regulations. The insurance policy may require higher minimums, and also a certain minimum hours of time in type that you'll be flying.
 
TMetzinger said:
Yeah, but I bet you won't be more than a year behind!;)
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AuntPeggy said:
Let's see, 50 weekends in a year x 20 hours = 1000 hrs. Yep. He's almost there.
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My average weekend these days is about 10-13 hours of flying, which minimal flying during the week unless I have students. I'd expect about 500 next year, given current trends. Right now I'm at about the 275 mark for this year, so 350-400 for the year total would be right.

The real thing that's contingent on is getting more funding for the non-profit. It's been doing better than I expected for now, but I've also been flying way more than initially planned (initial plan was 1 flight/month). If I can't get the necessary funding, flying will cut way back just do to inability to pay for it. Probably about 90% of my flying these days is charitable. Funny how when you're doing something for free there's a lot of demand for it. ;)
 
Ron Levy said:
"Periodically" implies a regular cycle, and I'm pretty sure the drug testing is supposed to be random.
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Drug testing is pre-employment then random unless someone suspects something.
 
TMetzinger said:
Yep, though I'm kind of psyched - only 27 hours to go to meet the IFR mins.
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Only 3 hours to go before I meet the VFR minimums. And, if the weather is good Monday, I'll do that on a Lifeline Pilots flight. Coincidentally, I'll also be filling up my first logbook with that flight! :)
 
Ron Levy said:
Not to burst anyone's bubble, but not many 135 operators hire VFR-only PIC's.
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Oh, I have no intentions of flying for a part 135 op. OTOH, I'm psyched to be breaking that 500 hour mark! :yes:

Out of the Kill Zone!

(Speaking of which, who has my book, and when is it going to be passed along!?)
 
gprellwitz said:
So you see why it is relevant to the 500 hours. Of course, the mission was just scrubbed because her doctor's appointment was changed. :(
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Actually, no. I am confused because I don't really know what you are talking about. :confused:
 
Greg Bockelman said:
Actually, no. I am confused because I don't really know what you are talking about. :confused:
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Here's the text from the back of the book (courtesy of Amazon):
You can fly through the zone. Or you can die in it. Most pilots earn their private certificate with 40 to 70 flight hours. Then they leave their instructors behind and enter the killing zone. Grimly embracing the period from 50 to 350 flight hours--a vital time for new pilots to build practical and decision-making skills--this deadly zone lays in wait for those who err, killing more pilots than all other periods put together. You don't have to be one of them. Aviation safety specialist Paul Craig--discoverer of the killing zone--shows you the fatal errors that inexperienced pilots make time after time and gives you tactics to avoid them. Based on the first in-depth, scientific study of pilot behavior and general aviation flying accidents in more than 20 years
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In my earlier post I commented that I was going to hit the 500 hour mark Monday. I messed it up because I remembered the upper limit of the zone as 500 hours, not 350 hours.

And last I hear (May of last year), Dan McCormick had my copy from the PoA Book Club.
 
Hmm.... now if that isn't a grim assessment, I don't know what is.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
Hmm.... now if that isn't a grim assessment, I don't know what is.
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And more than just a bit of hyperbole...which I'd call a poor way to promote a book that is intended to be taken seriously.

The author presents what are essentially binned raw statistics with no attempt to normalize the information with respect to total hours flown. The author does offer many varied categories apparently in the forlorn hope that the categories somehow make-up for the flawed foundation upon which the study is built.

Okay, maybe my review is a bit overboard, maybe not. I was recently given an "Outstanding Technical Editor" certificate.:D

When reviewing any statistics just remember that on average every adult on the planet has approximately one teat and one testicle...
 
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