Nothing regulatory would prevent the company from operating a flight under FAR 91 as long as there is no revenue onboard. They could fill it with non-revs and launch (but not any non-revs that might have paid a service fee of any kind, i.e. companion pass riders, ZED fare riders, etc.) No revenue allowed in the cargo holds, either.
Typically, though, all flights are dispatched under FAR 121 simply because the system is setup to do it that way, everybody involved is familiar with the rules and it is jus easier to get it moving rather than trying to fit a round peg in a square hole.
Typically, though, all flights are dispatched under FAR 121 simply because the system is setup to do it that way, everybody involved is familiar with the rules and it is jus easier to get it moving rather than trying to fit a round peg in a square hole.
