(a) An aircraft operator, other than one operating an aircraft under the rules of part 121, 125, or 135 of this chapter, may receive payment for the carriage of a candidate in a Federal election, an agent of the candidate, or a person traveling on behalf of the candidate, if --

(1) That operator's primary business is not as an air carrier or commercial operator;

(2) The carriage is conducted under the rules of this part 91; and

(3) The payment for the carriage is required, and does not exceed the amount required to be paid, by regulations of the Federal Election Commission (11 CFR et seq.).

(b) For the purposes of this section, the terms candidate and election have the same meaning as that set forth in the regulations of the Federal Election Commission.