§ 5500 Commercial Air Operator Definition

• •A 'commercial air operator' is someone who uses planes or other aircraft to make money, like flying people or cargo for pay.
• •This does not include people who use hot air balloons just for fun, sports, or entertainment—those are not considered commercial operators.
• •If you fly a plane for business (like delivering packages or giving flying lessons for money), you are a commercial air operator.

A company that offers sightseeing flights in a small plane for tourists.

This company is a commercial air operator because they charge money for flying people around, even if it's just for fun sightseeing.