Airmen: Limitations on use of services

This regulation sets the basic requirements for who a Part 135 operator can use as airmen (pilots, flight engineers, etc.). The operator must ensure that anyone performing airman duties holds a current, appropriate certificate and is qualified under Part 135 rules for that specific operation.

Why this matters: You can't just use any certificated pilot for Part 135 operations—they must also meet Part 135-specific qualifications like training, checking, and recency requirements detailed elsewhere in the regulation.

The second part allows an important practical flexibility: if approved by the FAA through the operator's operations specifications, the company can issue temporary verification documents when a crewmember's physical certificate isn't immediately available. These temporary documents are valid for up to 72 hours on domestic flights, preventing operational disruptions while the actual certificate is located or replaced. This requires advance FAA approval of the verification plan.

*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.*