FAR 91.1049 — Fractional Program Personnel
FAR 91.1049 covers personnel rules for fractional ownership programs: pilot qualifications, staffing, duty schedules, two-pilot crews, and flight release.
In Plain English
FAR 91.1049 sets the personnel rules for fractional ownership programs under Subpart K. The program manager and each fractional owner must use flight crews that meet the qualification standards in § 91.1053 and are qualified under the applicable regulations. The program manager is responsible for oversight of those crews.
Key staffing requirements:
- The program manager must employ enough pilots per program aircraft (directly or by contract), considering:
- Number of program aircraft
- Flight, duty, and rest limits in §§ 91.1057–91.1061
- Vacations
- Operational efficiencies
- Training
- Single-pilot operations (only if authorized by deviation)
- Pilot and flight attendant duty schedules must be published far enough in advance to comply with the flight/duty/rest limits.
- Whenever a program aircraft flies with passengers onboard, the crew must include at least two qualified pilots employed or contracted by the program manager or fractional owner — unless the Administrator authorizes otherwise.
- Trained scheduling and flight release personnel must be on duty whenever program aircraft are available for operations.
This matters operationally because fractional programs blend Part 91 flexibility with airline-style oversight, ensuring crews are rested, qualified, and properly dispatched.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 91.1049§ 91.1049 Personnel.
(a) Each program manager and each fractional owner must use in program operations on program aircraft flight crews meeting § 91.1053 criteria and qualified under the appropriate regulations. The program manager must provide oversight of those crews.
(b) Each program manager must employ (either directly or by contract) an adequate number of pilots per program aircraft. Flight crew staffing must be determined based on the following factors, at a minimum:
(1) Number of program aircraft.
(2) Program manager flight, duty, and rest time considerations, and in all cases within the limits set forth in §§ 91.1057 through 91.1061.
(3) Vacations.
(4) Operational efficiencies.
(5) Training.
(6) Single pilot operations, if authorized by deviation under paragraph (d) of this section.
(c) Each program manager must publish pilot and flight attendant duty schedules sufficiently in advance to follow the flight, duty, and rest time limits in §§ 91.1057 through 91.1061 in program operations.
(d) Unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator, when any program aircraft is flown in program operations with passengers onboard, the crew must consist of at least two qualified pilots employed or contracted by the program manager or the fractional owner.
(e) The program manager must ensure that trained and qualified scheduling or flight release personnel are on duty to schedule and release program aircraft during all hours that such aircraft are available for program operations.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1Under a fractional ownership program, how many pilots are required when passengers are onboard a program aircraft?
Per FAR 91.1049(d), the crew must consist of at least two qualified pilots employed or contracted by the program manager or fractional owner, unless the Administrator authorizes otherwise.
Q2What factors must a fractional program manager consider when determining flight crew staffing levels?
FAR 91.1049(b) requires considering, at a minimum, the number of program aircraft, flight/duty/rest limits in §§ 91.1057–91.1061, vacations, operational efficiencies, training, and any authorized single-pilot operations.
Q3Who is responsible for releasing program aircraft for flight, and when must they be available?
FAR 91.1049(e) requires the program manager to ensure trained and qualified scheduling or flight release personnel are on duty during all hours the aircraft are available for program operations.
Studying for a checkride?
Related Sections in Part 91