Part 135 Compliance Checklist

Air Carrier CertificateMONTHLY

• Air Carrier Certificate displayed at principal base of operations§135.11
• Certificate contains correct business name and address
• Certificate specifies correct type of operation authorized
• No changes to business structure without FAA notification

Operations SpecificationsMONTHLY

• Current OpSpecs available at principal operations base§135.21
• All personnel with operational authority have access to OpSpecs
• Operations conducted only within authorized geographic areas
• Only approved aircraft types being operated
• Operating only approved types of operations (VFR, IFR, night, etc.)
• En route and destination authorizations current
• Special authorization items valid (RVSM, RNP, CAT II/III, etc.)
• Management personnel listed match current assignments
• Any OpSpecs amendments properly incorporated

Insurance & LiabilityMONTHLY

• Liability insurance meets or exceeds OpSpecs requirements§135.23
• Insurance certificates current and not expired
• Hull insurance current (if applicable)
• Workers compensation insurance current
• Insurance company notified of any incidents

Daily Operational ControlDAILY

• Qualified person exercising operational control for all flights§135.77
• Operating information aboard for each flight — cockpit checklist, airport and performance data§135.83
• Weather information obtained and evaluated for each flight§135.213
• NOTAMs reviewed for departure, destination, and alternate airports
• Aircraft airworthy and properly maintained
• Crew properly qualified and current for planned operation
• Load manifest prepared with accurate weights§135.63(c)
• Aircraft within weight and balance limits

Flight Time & Duty TimeDAILY

• All crew members within 10-in-24 hour limits§135.267(b)
• Crew within 500 hours in any calendar quarter§135.267(a)(1)
• Crew within 800 hours in any two consecutive calendar quarters§135.267(a)(2)
• Crew within 1,400 hours in any calendar year§135.267(a)(3)
• 13 rest periods of at least 24 consecutive hours each this calendar quarter§135.267(f)
• 10 consecutive hours of rest within the 24 hours preceding planned completion§135.267(d)
• Flight time records maintained and accurate§135.63(a)(4)

Passenger OperationsDAILY

• Required passenger briefings conducted§135.117
• Passenger seats and seatbelts airworthy
• No smoking placards displayed (if applicable)§135.127
• Exit row seating restrictions followed§135.129
• Food, beverage and service equipment stowed for surface movement, takeoff and landing§135.122
• Carry-on baggage and cargo stowed and restrained§135.87
• Oxygen equipment available and serviceable (if required)§135.157

Weather MinimumsDAILY

• VFR minimums met for VFR operations§135.205
• IFR weather minimums met for departure§135.217
• IFR alternate airport required when needed§135.223
• Alternate airport weather meets minimums§135.221
• Fuel requirements met (including reserves)§135.223, §135.209

Record KeepingWEEKLY

• Load manifests retained for past 30 days§135.63(d)
• Trip sheets or company flight releases retained per the GOM (no Part 135 minimum; § 135.63(d) governs load manifests)
• Crew flight time logs up to date
• Operational irregularity reports filed and tracked
• Mechanical irregularity reports properly documented§135.65

Pilot Certificates & RatingsMONTHLY

• All pilots hold appropriate certificates (Commercial or ATP)§135.243
• Pilots have aircraft category/class ratings
• Type ratings current for aircraft operated (if required)
• IFR PIC qualifications met (1,200 hours, instrument rating, IFR experience)§135.243(c)
• Second-in-command carried when required and qualified§135.99, §135.245

Medical CertificatesMONTHLY

• All pilots have current medical certificates§61.23
• Proper class of medical for operation (1st or 2nd class)
• No disqualifying medical conditions
• Medical certificates readily available for inspection

Initial TrainingANNUAL

• All crew completed company initial training§135.343
• Ground training records complete with signatures
• Flight training records complete
• Competency checks passed§135.293
• CRM training completed§135.330
• Hazmat training current (will-carry or will-not-carry program)§135.505, §135.507

Recurrent TrainingANNUAL

• Annual recurrent ground training completed§135.351
• Annual flight training/proficiency check completed§135.293
• Emergency equipment training current§135.331
• Recurrent CRM training completed
• Line checks completed within 12 months (PIC)§135.299

Currency RequirementsMONTHLY

• Pilots current with 3 takeoffs/landings (90 days)§135.247
• Night currency current for night operations (if applicable)
• Instrument currency current for IFR operations
• Night currency: three night takeoffs and landings in the preceding 90 days for night passenger operations§135.247(a)(2)

Experience RequirementsMONTHLY

• PIC meets minimum flight time requirements§135.243(c)
• SIC meets minimum requirements (if applicable)§135.245
• Recent experience requirements met§135.247
• IFR experience current for IFR operations

Aircraft DocumentsDAILY

• Airworthiness Certificate displayed in aircraft§91.203
• Aircraft Registration Certificate in aircraft
• Aircraft Operating Limitations in aircraft
• Weight and Balance data current and available
• Minimum Equipment List (if applicable) in aircraft§135.179

Aircraft InspectionsMONTHLY

• Annual or continuous airworthiness inspection current§135.419, §135.421
• 100-hour inspection current (if applicable)
• Progressive inspection current (if applicable)§91.409(d)
• Altimeter/pitot-static system inspection current (24 months)§91.411
• Transponder inspection current (24 months)§91.413
• ELT inspection current (12 months)§91.207
• RVSM equipment inspection current (if applicable)

Airworthiness DirectivesQUARTERLY

• All applicable ADs identified§91.403
• All ADs complied with within required time frames
• AD compliance records complete and retained
• Recurring ADs tracked for next compliance
• New ADs reviewed promptly upon issuance

Maintenance RecordsMONTHLY

• Maintenance logs current with all work documented§135.439
• All maintenance properly released for service§135.443
• Major repairs and alterations properly recorded
• Maintenance program followed as approved§135.421
• Component time tracking accurate (engines, props, etc.)
• Hard time component replacements tracked
• Service Bulletin compliance tracked

MEL OperationsDAILY

• MEL approved by FAA and current§135.179
• Inoperative equipment properly documented
• MEL procedures followed for deferrals
• Proper placarding of inoperative equipment
• MEL time limits tracked and not exceeded
• Repairs accomplished within MEL time limits

Required EquipmentDAILY

• All required instruments operational§135.149-§135.165
• Emergency equipment operational§135.167-§135.178
• Fire extinguisher current and accessible§135.155
• First aid kit current and complete (required above 19 passenger seats)§135.177
• Survival equipment (if required) serviceable§135.167, §135.168
• Life rafts (if required) serviceable and current
• Oxygen equipment serviceable (if required)§135.157

Maintenance PersonnelQUARTERLY

• Director of Maintenance properly designated§119.69
• Chief Inspector designated — repair station only; Part 135 has no such management position§145.153
• Maintenance personnel properly certificated
• Mechanics have appropriate ratings for work performed
• Inspection Authorization current (if applicable)

General Operations ManualQUARTERLY

• GOM current and on file with the FAA (the manual is accepted, not approved)§135.21
• Current copy at principal operations base
• All required sections included per OpSpecs
• All amendments properly incorporated
• Crew members have access to applicable sections§135.21(b)
• Manual includes company policies and procedures

Aircraft Flight ManualMONTHLY

• Current AFM or approved equivalent in each aircraft§91.9(b)
• All AFM supplements included
• AFM amendments incorporated
• Performance data current and accurate

Training ManualANNUAL

• Training program approved by FAA§135.325
• Training manual current and complete
• Curriculum includes all required subjects
• Training records format approved
• Check airmen properly qualified§135.337

Maintenance ManualANNUAL

• Maintenance organization manual current§135.427
• Maintenance procedures documented
• Inspection procedures documented
• Maintenance training program documented
• Quality control procedures included

Emergency Response PlanANNUAL

• Emergency response plan current (an SMS requirement; Part 135 itself does not require an ERP)§5.27
• Plan includes all required elements
• Contact information current
• Personnel trained on emergency procedures
• Plan reviewed and updated annually

Safety Management System (if required)QUARTERLY

• SMS developed and implemented, and declaration of compliance filed, no later than 28 May 202714 CFR §§ 5.1(b), 5.9(a)
• Safety Policy documented and communicated
• Safety Risk Management processes in place
• Safety Assurance processes functioning
• Safety Promotion activities ongoing
• SMS manual current and accessible

Safety ReportingMONTHLY

• Accident/incident reporting procedures documented
• Mechanical reliability reports submitted (if required)§135.415
• Service difficulty reports filed when required§135.415
• Internal safety reporting system functioning
• ASAP program operational (if applicable)
• Safety data analyzed and acted upon

Accident/Incident ResponseANNUAL

• Emergency contact information current
• NTSB notification procedures documentedNTSB 830
• Accident/incident response procedures trained
• Aircraft preservation procedures documented
• Records preservation procedures documented

Drug & Alcohol TestingQUARTERLY

• Drug and alcohol testing program implemented14 CFR Part 120
• Anti-drug policy distributed to all employees
• Pre-employment testing completed
• Random testing program functioning
• Post-accident testing procedures documented
• Reasonable suspicion testing available
• Testing records maintained confidentially

Hazardous MaterialsMONTHLY

• Hazmat training current for applicable personnel§135.505, §135.507
• Hazmat policies and procedures documented
• Acceptance procedures for hazmat documented
• Dangerous goods incidents reported49 CFR 171.15, 171.16