Flying for compensation?

N519AT

N519AT

Ahh! This is how I change this!
Hello,

It's been a long time since I've posted here at JC but I'm back now. I've started on my PPL at KDUH and I should have it completed by Mid-summer.

My question is this:

My dad owns a car dealership in town, and he would like me to fly him (once I get my license) from Toledo Suburban to Owosso Community which is about 79 nm away. I have a feeling he'll be wanting to pay me for this, however I know that there are certain sections in the FAR/AIM that prohibit this. If I let him pay for the plane rental and gas would it be a violation of a FAR?

-Dan
 
you may only accept the pro rata share of expenses (rental, fuel, oil) from your passengers. Part 61 will outline the privledges of a private pilot, and the pt 61 FAQ (faa website) can shed more light on the regs.

Also be very careful with how you word what you are doing. If person A wants to go somewhere and you agree to take him there (and you are providing the airplane to do so), you look a lot like a charter. If you are going somewhere and person A just happens to ride along, it looks nicer.
 
Would the purpose of the trip be business or pleasure? Would you be interested in making the trip even if you weren't paid? Also, I noticed from your profile that you're fairly young...are you still a dependent of your dad?

Questions like that help determine the legality of the trip.

The reason I say this is because I flew my dad around after I got my PPL. He and a buddy wanted to go golfing across the state, so I flew them over and back one Sunday and my dad paid for the plane. I don't see anything wrong with a deal like that. I was 19, still financially dependent on my parents, and my parents had paid for all my flight training. I was building XC time for the instrument rating (which they were willing to pay for) and my dad thought it would be fun to take a trip and go golfing. Maybe technically I was supposed to pay my share, but I would have no fear of telling this story to the FAA. It's quite obvious that I wasn't running a charter. It was more like a gift, or part of my education, or something along those lines.

What you need to stay away from is if your dad comes to you and says, "Hey, I need to deliver this paperwork across the state tonight. I'll give you $50 if you can fly me there." That's a commercial operation and would be illegal as a private pilot.
 
Fer cryin' out loud. It's his =dad=!

Is this going to be a one-shot deal of a regular thing?

BTW, Casey, the Part 61 FAQ is gone.
 
What if your Dad "hired" you. In your job description, one of your "duties" requires you to frequently travel. Now, you just happen to be flying for a business trip.

:)
 
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