135.243 (a) (1)
 

Can anyone clarify for me the whole " Of a turbojet airplane, of an airplane having a passenger-seat configuration, excluding each crewmember seat, of 10 seats or more". Is that actual seats or max seating according to TCDS? I tried searching but couldnt come up with anything. Thanks for the help.

What part needs clarification? Or what is your specific question?

Is the "10 seats or more" defined by the actual number of seats in the airplane or the max number of seats according to the type certificate data sheet. Example. A Hawker 900 usually is configured with 8-10 seats. The type certificate data sheet says the max seating is 24 (which is insane). So is the 10 or more number based on actual seats installed or seats the aircraft is capable of?

To me it reads as "configured." So essentially you could operate said hawker with 10 or less seats installed, without an ATP, if that is what you're asking. Insurance requirements would be another story haha.

It is the actual seating configuration which counts for this particular reg. Same wording that allows Great Lakes to pull 10 seats from the 1900 and operate under 135.

The Kelly interpretation indirectly addresses your question. The petitioner enquires whether time in an aircraft certificated or more than 10 seats, but which is not configured with those seats (eg, cargo) may credit time in that aircraft toward 121 requirements; the Administrator (via assistant chief legal counsel) states that the answer is "no."

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...rpretation.pdf

The Kelly interpretation included a wrong reference and unfortunately required additional clarification. Fortunately, the Administrator did clarify that with a memorandum, which does directly address your question regarding installed (configured) seating:

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...rpretation.pdf