Safety
Taking a closer look at the Part 135 record
Of 19 fatal accidents involving Part 135 jet operators from 1999 to the end of last year, 13 befell flights flown under FAR Part 91–that is, without paying

Of 19 fatal accidents involving Part 135 jet operators from 1999 to the end of last year, 13 befell flights flown under FAR Part 91–that is, without paying passengers on board. That’s more than 68 percent. There have been only six fatal jet accidents involving paying passengers in the past six years–including air ambulance operators (but not including EMS helicopters). How does this play into the safety comparisons between pure Part 91 operators and Part 135 charter providers?

There’s been confusion involving the comparative safety records of Part 91 operators and Part 135 operators–largely comparing their relative safety records to those of the airlines. FAA statisticians have divined that non-scheduled air taxi under Part 135–as a whole–is far less safe than the airlines.