Issuing or denying a certificate

This regulation explains when the FAA will issue or deny an Air Carrier Certificate or Operating Certificate to an operator seeking to conduct commercial flights under Part 121 or 135.

To receive a certificate, you must meet all Part 119 requirements, hold necessary economic authority from the Department of Transportation, and demonstrate you're properly equipped to conduct safe operations.

The FAA may deny your application if you can't conduct safe operations, if your previous certificate was revoked, or if key management personnel or owners were involved in another operator's certificate revocation and materially contributed to the problems that caused it. For intrastate carriers, financial inability to operate safely is also grounds for denial.

This matters because it prevents individuals responsible for past safety failures from simply starting new air carrier operations. The FAA scrutinizes both the company's capabilities and the track record of its key people and owners.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*