Does NetJets Operate Under Part 135? What It Means

You are looking at a NetJets fractional share and wondering what kind of FAA oversight applies when you step on that aircraft. Is it regulated like a charter flight? Like a private flight? The answer matters because it determines the safety standards, crew requirements, and maintenance programs your flights operate under.

Yes, NetJets Holds a Part 135 Certificate

NetJets operates under an FAA Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate. This is the same regulatory framework that governs on-demand charter operators. Part 135 requires specific crew training programs, maintenance standards, operational control procedures, and FAA oversight that go significantly beyond what Part 91 (private operations) requires.

What Part 135 Means for You as a Fractional Owner

Crew training: Part 135 requires initial and recurrent training programs approved by the FAA. Pilots undergo simulator-based training, check rides, and proficiency checks on a regular schedule. This is substantially more rigorous than Part 91, where training requirements are minimal beyond a biennial flight review.

Maintenance: Part 135 aircraft operate under an FAA-approved maintenance program with scheduled inspections, minimum equipment list compliance, and detailed record-keeping. The maintenance standards are closer to airline (Part 121) requirements than to private aircraft (Part 91) requirements.

Operational control: NetJets maintains a flight dispatch operation that monitors flights, manages crew duty and rest requirements, and maintains operational control over every movement. This is a Part 135 requirement — someone on the ground is responsible for the safety of each flight, not just the pilot.

Drug and alcohol testing: Part 135 requires DOT drug and alcohol testing programs for all crew members. Part 91 does not.

Part 135 vs Part 91: The Practical Difference

When you charter a jet or fly on a fractional share, you are flying Part 135 — regulated commercial aviation with FAA oversight. When the aircraft owner flies their own jet for personal use under Part 91, the regulatory requirements are substantially lower. Same aircraft, different rules, depending on how the flight is operated.

The distinction matters because some fractional programs or jet card operators have attempted to operate under Part 91, which has fewer safety requirements. NetJets has always operated under Part 135, which is the appropriate regulatory framework for commercial air transportation.

The Bottom Line

NetJets operates under Part 135 with full FAA Air Carrier certification. Your flights are governed by the same regulatory framework as any other commercial charter operator — crew training, maintenance standards, dispatch oversight, and DOT testing programs. When you buy a fractional share, you are buying access to a commercially regulated operation, not a private aircraft arrangement.