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FAA Bans 'Uber for Planes' Startups

posted by janrinok on Monday August 18 2014, @03:25AM   Printer-friendly
from the are-pilots-allowed-to-accept-'gifts'? dept.

AnonTechie writes about a TechCrunch story::

There will be no "ZimRide for airplanes", according to an FAA ruling released today that prohibits private pilots from publicly offering seats on their planes in exchange for gas money, including via startups like AirPooler and Flytenow.

The decision strikes a blow to the sharing economy, and comes in response to AirPooler formally requesting a clarification of the gray area it was operating in. Banning this form of planesharing (like ridesharing for aircraft) could keep people safe by preventing them from hopping in with rookie pilots. However, it will also make it more expensive for pilots to fly since they can't share costs, reduce travel options for passengers, and kill off an entire category of startups.

 
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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 18 2014, @04:47AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 18 2014, @04:47AM (#82479)

    Isn't it somewhat common for private pilots to get a commercial ATP license for discounts on their life insurance? Can they fly people for remuneration then?

  • (Score: 1) by morpheus on Monday August 18 2014, @05:21AM

    by morpheus (1989) on Monday August 18 2014, @05:21AM (#82484)

    One does not need ATP (a very difficult to get certificate), only a commercial certificate (a lower level of certificate) to be able to fly for hire. However, (with few exceptions) he/she would only be able to do this (legally) for an air carrier (an important exception is somebody hiring such a pilot to fly that somebody's airplane). In this case, being able to accept compensation is not enough as such a pilot would also be required (since now he/she is flying his own airplane) an air carrier certificate (which are not totally easy to get, somewhat easier for helicopter operators).