What is a Part 139 certificate and when is it required?

• A. FAA certification for airports with scheduled airline service; required to perform certain operations and inspections and to be open to the public.
• B. Certification for security screening; required for cargo operations.
• C. Certification for wildlife management; required for all airports.
• D. Certification for noise modeling; required for new construction.

Answer: (A)

Part 139 certification is the FAA authorization that allows an airport to operate as a commercial service facility. It establishes the required standards for airport operations, inspections, maintenance, emergency planning, firefighting capabilities, and general safety practices, and it ensures the airport remains open to the public for airline service. The certificate is required for airports that serve scheduled air carrier operations or those with a sufficient level of commercial passenger enplanements per year, ensuring they can handle those operations safely and reliably. It’s not about security screening, wildlife management, or noise modeling, which are separate regulatory topics.