Under Part 135, who is responsible for ensuring the pilot is adequately trained and the aircraft is maintained?

• A. The pilot alone is responsible for ensuring the pilot is trained and the aircraft is maintained.
• B. The FAA is solely responsible for pilot training.
• C. The certificate holder (the company) is responsible for ensuring pilot training and aircraft maintenance.
• D. No one is responsible for training; it's optional.

Answer: (C)

Under Part 135, the responsibility for pilot training and aircraft maintenance rests with the certificate holder—the company that holds the operating certificate. The FAA defines the standards and approves programs, but the day-to-day obligation to ensure pilots are adequately trained and that aircraft are properly maintained lies with the certificate holder. They must establish and oversee a compliant training program (initial and recurrent training, currency, type ratings as required) and ensure maintenance is performed per applicable regulations, with proper records and airworthiness assurances. The other entities don’t bear this primary responsibility on a day-to-day basis: the FAA sets the rules and can audit, but does not train pilots or maintain individual aircraft, and the notion that no one is responsible is incorrect.