Air taxi vs. Charter or Part 135

"Dan" wrote in message What's the difference between "Air Taxi" and
Charter or Part 135
operations? While tracking some flights via FlightAware, I notice that
some planes fly under their tail numbers most of the time, but at times
there is a "T" prefixed to the tail number in the system. I read that
this signifies an "air taxi" operation.
How is this different from charter or 135? If they are the same, they
why are all 135 ops not prefixed with the "T" identifier?

The 'T' signifies that the flight is a commercial operator. Prior to Sept.
11, few pilots bothered to read the AIM to know this. Immediately following
Sept. 11, it was mandatory. Now it is optional, but ATC will handle the
commercial operator with confidence knowing the flight is flown by
professionals.

D.

"Capt.Doug" wrote:

Now it is optional, but ATC will handle the
commercial operator with confidence knowing the flight is flown by
professionals.

What does that mean? Does ATC treat non-professional pilots differently?

--
Peter

Peter R. wrote:
"Capt.Doug" wrote:

Now it is optional, but ATC will handle the
commercial operator with confidence knowing the flight is flown by
professionals.

What does that mean? Does ATC treat non-professional pilots differently?


I don't think so. I flew for a check courier outfit that had our flights
identified as "WrapAir Flight 700" or whatever the flight number was. They KNEW
we were flying commercially.... the FSS was right there on the company's home
field at Raleigh-Durham (NC). I would stop in every afternoon to check out the
radar returns for my evening flight to my home in Charlotte.

I've also flown for a freight outfit that identified all their flights as "Saber
Flight So and So". We actually had an interline agreement and could deadhead
for free on part 121 airlines. I would assume the FAA knew we were a commercial
operation as well.

Then there was the charter operation, where I flew "Twin Cessna 32Q". The
flight was listed under my name and contact numbers. I don't see how they could
have known whether I was a commercial or private flight.

As best as I could tell, the FAA treated my flights all the same. And to think
about it, they always treated me well, except the one time I went into JFK in a
C-414 and asked the clearance guy to repeat himself four times. I finally told
him we could play this game all afternoon or he could repeat it once slow enough
for me to get it. Sheesh...never had that problem at any other airport.

But I am a Southerner. G



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

YES!............................................No question about that.


Karl

"Peter R." wrote in message
...
"Capt.Doug" wrote:

Now it is optional, but ATC will handle the
commercial operator with confidence knowing the flight is flown by
professionals.

What does that mean? Does ATC treat non-professional pilots differently?

--
Peter

Peter R. wrote:

"Capt.Doug" wrote:


Now it is optional, but ATC will handle the
commercial operator with confidence knowing the flight is flown by
professionals.


What does that mean? Does ATC treat non-professional pilots differently?

ATC treats pilots differently based on what ATC knows. For example here
at KBIL we have a locally based air taxi operator hauling passengers and
several hauling cargo. The cargo pilots, I can get them to give me base
turns at the approach end of the runway, climbing turns at 50 feet agl
and a report of traffic in sight when we both know there's no way
because they know I need it. Immediate takeoffs with none of that
futzing around crap on the runway setting DG's, etc. Lots of local GA
pilots are the same, especially here because most of us like to go play
bush pilot in our spare time. The operators flying passengers can't
give me any of that. A transient pilot I have to go by the way you
respond to me. Give me some ahh's and uhh's and you wait.

Newps wrote:

A transient pilot I have to go by the way you
respond to me. Give me some ahh's and uhh's and you wait.

That's been my observation, which is why I asked. I have heard amateur
pilots who sound and respond like seasoned professionals, and I have heard
professionals who sound and respond like amateurs.


--
Peter

Capt.Doug wrote:

*****
The 'T' signifies that the flight is a commercial operator. Prior to
Sept. 11, few pilots bothered to read the AIM to know this. Immediately
following Sept. 11, it was mandatory. Now it is optional, but ATC will
handle the commercial operator with confidence knowing the flight is
flown by professionals.
*****


Capt. D is exactly right on the resurrection of the Tango prefix post
9-11. We still see it regularly, but I'd estimate that fewer than 5%
of qualifying flights use it.

In my experience, a pilot using the Tango prefix doesn't warrant any
special consideration or presumption of a higher level of skill. Most
of my colleagues are vaguely familiar with the use of the prefix, at
best. Many pilots filing it don't even use it when identifying
themselves on the radio. It is generally irrelevant to ATC.


Chad Speer
PP-ASEL, IA
ATCS, Kansas City ARTCC

When the controllers went of strike 25 years ago, the Tango
November go you an IFR clearance. But Lifeguard is even
better.



"Chad Speer" wrote in message
oups.com...
| Capt.Doug wrote:
|
| *****
| The 'T' signifies that the flight is a commercial
operator. Prior to
| Sept. 11, few pilots bothered to read the AIM to know
this. Immediately
| following Sept. 11, it was mandatory. Now it is optional,
but ATC will
| handle the commercial operator with confidence knowing the
flight is
| flown by professionals.
| *****
|
|
| Capt. D is exactly right on the resurrection of the Tango
prefix post
| 9-11. We still see it regularly, but I'd estimate that
fewer than 5%
| of qualifying flights use it.
|
| In my experience, a pilot using the Tango prefix doesn't
warrant any
| special consideration or presumption of a higher level of
skill. Most
| of my colleagues are vaguely familiar with the use of the
prefix, at
| best. Many pilots filing it don't even use it when
identifying
| themselves on the radio. It is generally irrelevant to
ATC.
|
|
| Chad Speer
| PP-ASEL, IA
| ATCS, Kansas City ARTCC
|

"Chad Speer" wrote in message
oups.com...
| Capt.Doug wrote:
|
| *****
| The 'T' signifies that the flight is a commercial
operator.


It signifies the flight is not Part 91. It says nothing about the operator.




Prior to
| Sept. 11, few pilots bothered to read the AIM to know
this. Immediately
| following Sept. 11, it was mandatory. Now it is optional,
but ATC will
| handle the commercial operator with confidence knowing the
flight is
| flown by professionals.

Using the T indicates no such thing with ATC. Any kid with a couple
hundred hours could be the pilot. He would be a professional in name only.