FAA Part 91.
FAA Part 91 is the section of Title 14 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations that prescribes general operating and flight rules for aircraft within the United States. Part 91 applies to private and corporate flying that is not for compensation or hire. Selling charter flights to the public under Part 91 is not permitted.
| Term | FAA Part 91 |
|---|---|
| Used in | Private aviation, charter brokerage and operations |
| Related terms | FAA Part 135, Fractional ownership, Aircraft operator |
| Sources | 2 listed below |
What does FAA Part 91 mean in practice?
Part 91 is the baseline rulebook for all flying in the United States, and it is the set of rules under which owners fly their own aircraft.
Part 91 subpart F allows some cost-sharing arrangements for large and turbine aircraft, such as company flights for employees, time-sharing and interchange agreements, and demonstration flights where no charge is made. Subpart K covers fractional ownership programmes. None of these permit holding out charter to the general public. The difference matters to a traveller because a Part 91 flight is not held to the same crew, maintenance and oversight standards as a Part 135 charter. Aircraft can legitimately move between the two: an owner flies privately under Part 91, and the same aircraft is chartered under a management company's Part 135 certificate. Your booking should always sit on the Part 135 side of that line.
Questions
What does FAA Part 91 mean?
FAA Part 91 is the section of Title 14 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations that prescribes general operating and flight rules for aircraft within the United States. Part 91 applies to private and corporate flying that is not for compensation or hire. Selling charter flights to the public under Part 91 is not permitted.
Sources
- 14 CFR 91.1 Applicability (Cornell LII) (accessed 2026-09-20)
- 14 CFR 91.501 (Cornell LII) (accessed 2026-09-20)
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.