Private Pilots Want Money for Charity Work

Friday, March 01, 2013
Last Update: 4:41 AM PT
   
By PHILIP A. JANQUART 
Courthouse News Service
       
WASHINGTON (CN) - Private pilots who transport people and organs for medical purposes recently petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration for exemption from federal rules that state they cannot accept payment for their services.

The pilots say they want the ability to accept reimbursement for some or all of their expenses while making "charity flights" involving people in need of non-emergency medical treatment.

In response, the FAA explained that a private pilot license is considered to be an "entry level"  license and that federal law prohibits those carrying private pilot licenses from being in command of an aircraft for hire. It means people can't pay a private pilot to transport passengers. In order to do that, the FAA said, a pilot must obtain a commercial license.

"To allow compensation for expenses for the transportation of individuals, these private pilots are participating in an activity that would otherwise be prohibited,"  the FAA said.

The agency added, however, that, "The FAA has determined this activity can be conducted safely with limits applied to the (charity) organizations, pilots and aircraft. Beginning in 2010, the FAA issued several exemptions to charitable medical flight organizations granting relief from the requirements of [federal law].  The exemptions contain conditions and limitations that are intended to raise the level of safety for these flights."

Some of the requirements issued for exemptions include developing a pilot qualification and training program, flight release documentation, filing of an instrument flight plan for each flight and higher aircraft airworthiness requirements.

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