Please Answer a Few Stupid Questions
 

What is a supplemental air carrier and would American Eagle be an example?

What is a domestic air carrier and who would be an example?

Am I correct in thinking a US flag carrier is American and American Eagle is their supplemental air carrier?

Im going to take a stab at this but I may be wrong....my airline does supplemental ops like sport team charters and such. These flights are operated based on different rules than our normal ops. For example, an alternate is always required on these flights, no matter what the weather. Domestic carriers are just that, domestic, like Southwest Airlines (I think) And a flag is more like American, or Delta, who fly both domestic and int'l.

Again, this is just my understanding.....

Start over. You're correct about flag, but supplementals are basically unscheduled operators. Typically freight outfits like Kalitta, Atlas, Evergreen, etc. Some regs differ, also no dispatchers-flight followers instead.

What type of air carrier would American Eagle be considered?

Domestic.....i think

American Eagle
 

This is just my interpretation:
American Eagle is a Major airline (because as per definition we annually gross more than a Billion $ a year, not treated like one though). We are the "Feeder airline" exclusively to American but we also fly international "Flag" rules to Canada, Mexico, Caribbean. We also do "Unscheduled Charters" or private flights(Cuba), which puts us under yet another set of rules and regulations (although only minor). I hope this confuses you more as it does me....Good luck. Wes :rolleyes:

I think a supplemental carrier would be someone like Business Express Airlines (gone but not forgotten) They would fly feed for Delta, Northwest, and American.

Thanks for the replies. I greatly appreciate it.

I believe BizEx was still a 121 domestic carrier, as is American, American Eagle, Delta, SkyWest, et al. I believe a supplemental carrier is kind of a grey area between 121 and 135 and I am not all to familiar with it. Don't fool yourself; even though a regional (which may itself be considered a major) may feed a major, it is still governed by the same rules (assuming it operates under 121).

You can go to the FAA's website and look it up under part 121, should have the definitions in there for you.

Part 119.3: Definitions
 

Go here:

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text....1.9.2&idno=14

Use the CTRL+F function of your computer and type in "Supplemental Operation", then "Flag Operation", etc. This is Part 119.3: Definitions.

The "major airline" criteria of $1B in annual revenues has nothing to do with flag, domestic, or supplemental ops. These ops are all defined in part 121, and a 121 airline may be certified for one or more.

Domestic: Exactly what it sounds like, except I am 99% certain that Canada and Mexico qualify as Domestic (vice Flag) for the purposes of part 121 classification. Warning: Canada & Mexico are DEFINATELY international destinations as far as passports, radio licenses, ICAO rules, and all that other stuff.

Flag: International flying over lots of water.

Supplemental: As was mentioned, a 121 airline certified for supplemental ops may perform unscheduled charter-like flying, but the operating rules are different than for domestic or flag. They are also different from 135.

My experience is that most US airlines are certified for at least domestic (obviously) and supplemental ops (to support military charters if nothing else). This includes regionals of any real size. The big legacy carriers are obviously flag carriers also.