Flight attendant crewmember requirement

This regulation sets the threshold for when Part 135 operators (charter and commuter flights) must have a flight attendant on board. If your aircraft is configured with 20 or more passenger seats (not counting pilot seats), you must carry at least one flight attendant.

The key number is the *seating configuration*, not how many passengers are actually on board. Even if you're only carrying a few passengers, if the aircraft has 20+ passenger seats installed, a flight attendant is required.

This matters because flight attendants are specifically trained for emergency evacuations, safety demonstrations, and passenger management—capabilities that become increasingly important with larger passenger loads. Below this 20-seat threshold, the regulation assumes pilots can reasonably handle passenger safety duties themselves. Once you reach 20 seats, dedicated cabin safety personnel become mandatory, regardless of whether those seats are occupied.

*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.*