FAR 135 Standards Better for Passenger Safety

Jets.com was co-founded in 2008 by Edgar Alacan. Focused on exemplary passenger safety, Edgar Alacan and Jets.com insist that pilots and aircraft adhere to — and even exceed — a rigorous set of standards known as FAR 135.

Most private jet owners only follow the Federal Aviation Administration’s FAR 91 standards, the minimum acceptable in the industry. However, Jets.com requires, at a minimum, compliance with the far-more-stringent FAR 135 standards. Here’s why FAR 135 is better for clients’ safety:

-Drug and alcohol testing. FAR 91 only requires testing of pilots when law enforcement demands it or when there is reasonable suspicion that a pilot operated an aircraft under the influence. FAR 135 requires each employee be tested before employment. After employment, testing is done randomly, post-accident, and when there is reasonable cause.

- Flight and crew rest requirements. FAR 91 has no crew rest requirements while FAR 135 mandates extensive crew rest. For example, crew flight time should not go beyond 1,200 hours a year, 120 hours a month, 34 hours a week, and 8 hours a day.

- Airport availability. FAR 135 only allows aircraft to land in an airport where it can do so within 80 percent of the runway length. This limits access to small airports but ensures passenger safety in case an emergency landing must be made.