When x/c time falls into your lap...

L

Leilani_flt

New Member
Thank-you, guys, for your perspectives! I appreciate your input. We are talking about a plane owner taking you along just out of the goodness of their heart, so no harm, no foul!
 
Leilani_flt said:
e.g. you (as a private pilot) happen to be in the right place at the right time when someone needs a pair of hands to help them ferry a plane out of town. You get to log that time for free. What's a good/customary way to thank them? Offer to pay for some of the avgas, etc.? Hope this doesn't sound silly. I know that a commercial pilot/CFI would be getting paid for his/her time, but as private pilot needing more x/c time badly, I'm just very happy to come along.
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If you're tagging along then offer to buy them lunch. I built a lot of XC time just that way, probably about 350 hours.
 
You do not get to log anything for free. You are required to pay for half of the operating costs. A review of 61.113 is in order.
 
My entire private pilot was free, someone come and arrest me.

On a side note this is definitely a "don't ask don't tell" policy, log the time, enjoy the lunch, and have some fun!
 
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (g) of this section, no person who holds a private pilot certificate may act as pilot in command of an aircraft that is carrying passengers or property for compensation or hire; nor may that person, for compensation or hire, act as pilot in command of an aircraft.
(b) A private pilot may, for compensation or hire, act as pilot in command of an aircraft in connection with any business or employment if:
(1) The flight is only incidental to that business or employment; and
(2) The aircraft does not carry passengers or property for compensation or hire.
(c) A private pilot may not pay less than the pro rata share of the operating expenses of a flight with passengers*, provided the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees.
(d) A private pilot may act as pilot in command of an aircraft used in a passenger-carrying airlift sponsored by a charitable organization described in paragraph (d)(7) of this section, and for which the passengers make a donation to the organization, when the following requirements are met:
(1) The sponsor of the airlift notifies the FAA Flight Standards District Office with jurisdiction over the area concerned at least 7 days before the event and furnishes --
(i) A signed letter from the sponsor that shows the name of the sponsor, the purpose of the charitable event, the date and time of the event, and the location of the event; and
(ii) A photocopy of each pilot in command's pilot certificate, medical certificate, and logbook entries that show the pilot is current in accordance with §§61.56 and 61.57 of this part and has logged at least 200 hours of flight time.
(2) The flight is conducted from a public airport that is adequate for the aircraft to be used, or from another airport that has been approved by the FAA for the operation.
(3) No aerobatic or formation flights are conducted.
(4) Each aircraft used for the charitable event holds a standard airworthiness certificate.
(5) Each aircraft used for the charitable event is airworthy and complies with the applicable requirements of subpart E of part 91 of this chapter.
(6) Each flight for the charitable event is made during day VFR conditions.
(7) The charitable organization is an organization identified as such by the U.S. Department of Treasury.
(e) A private pilot may be reimbursed for aircraft operating expenses that are directly related to search and location operations, provided the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees, and the operation is sanctioned and under the direction and control of:
(1) A local, State, or Federal agency; or
(2) An organization that conducts search and location operations.
(f) A private pilot who is an aircraft salesman and who has at least 200 hours of logged flight time may demonstrate an aircraft in flight to a prospective buyer.
(g) A private pilot who meets the requirements of §61.69 of this part may act as pilot in command of an aircraft towing a glider.
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If a buddy asks you to fly his plane to a MX shop you don't need to pay him for the gas, you can log the time and there is nothing illegal about that. If it were, then a private pilot wouldn't be allowed to be a safety pilot for an aircraft owner. Besides, if you buy the other party lunch then that could be justification for covering his fuel expense. Instead of money changing hands you are bartering.

*A person with a pilot certificate in the eyes of the FAA is not a passenger. Consult the FAA decisions on CFI's flying at night or in IMC with student pilots when the CFI is not current for further clarification.
 
Brian Z said:
You do not get to log anything for free. You are required to pay for half of the operating costs. A review of 61.113 is in order.
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Respectfully I'd have to disagree. I'm assuming the other pilot is a commercial/CFI etc...but if they are being paid to ferry an aircraft and you are invited to tag along, while you're "sole manipulator of the controls" or "safety pilot" you're a welcome to log PIC. As has been firmly established in another thread, there is also a large disparity between ACTing as PIC and logging PIC. Buy them lunch or dinner.
 
Hasn't the FAA ruled that free flight time is, in fact, 'compensation'? It's definitely a stretch and probably outside the original intent of the reg, but an FAA inspector could make a case out of it. I'd keep your pie hold closed about it.
 
Here is my .02. My perspective is as an aircraft owner that has taken many people flying. This may or may not make sense but if somebody doesn't have much dough and I was going flying anyway I am glad to give them an experience. Where I get a little ticked is in a scenario like this one that happened to me.... I post on another forum that I am timebuilding and would be glad to give somebody a ride for free if they are interested in flight. No strings, just a nice gesture. Bear in mind I have a wife, two kids, a dog etc.. and no job. My wife an I are both full time students so we are not rich aircraft owners. Anyway, guy calls and says he would like to go for a ride, sure I say, meet me at the ramp at 10:00. He drives up in a brand new Porsche wearing Polo everything and wearing $500 sunglasses. We pull from the ramp to the pumps and I put in 40 gallons.. not a word. We fly for 3 hours, over his house, everywhere he wants to see etc... the whole time he is telling me about his private hunting ranch and what a bigshot he is. Turn the plane off and out he goes, thanks for the ride..... not even a sandwich. I have to admit I was a little pissed as I felt that he could certainly afford to buy me lunch. Had he offered to pay for fuel I would have most likely declined but I think lunch would have been a nice gesture. On the other side of the coin, I have taken many people less fortunate than me and have been happy to buy them lunch. As for the rest, log the time and let it be.
 
Depends, is this a commercial pilot getting paid to ferry the plane? If its just the owner, then Yes a nice gesture would be to buy lunch along the way.

I would not however be posting publicly about receiving free PIC flight time as a Private Pilot, because as a private pilot you can only share pro rata the expenses of the flight. Free flight time is compensation (with the exception of being Safety pilot) according to the FAA, and of course you cannot be compensated!

Keep in mind you can only be safety pilot when the other pilot is
"under the hood".
 
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