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posted by
janrinok
on Monday August 18 2014, @03:25AM
from the are-pilots-allowed-to-accept-'gifts'? dept.
from the are-pilots-allowed-to-accept-'gifts'? dept.
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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FAA Bans 'Uber for Planes' Startups
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Now KEN and BARBIE are PERMANENTLY ADDICTED to MIND-ALTERING DRUGS ...
(Score: 3, Insightful) by NCommander on Monday August 18 2014, @06:56AM
A few years ago, in a different life, I was working on getting on my Private Pilots License (PPL) when I lived in Oregon; in the United States, there are four major types of pilot's license: Sports, PPL (most common), Commerical, Airline Transport Pilot, with various hour requirements and medical requirements. I don't have a copy of the FAR|AIM here to look up the exact text, but it is/was legal at least in 2011 for PPL pilots to charge for costs relating to actual operation of an airplane, such as fuel, landing fees, etc; as well as a small minority of exceptions beyond that.
That being said, I do get why the FAA banhammered this. The requirements for a PPL are pretty low, so you get a lot of folks who get to 40 hours and graduate on a Cessna 152 (or similiar), and then get into trouble because they drastically underestimate their abilities, or skud run, etc. At minimium, to take folks who aren't experienced w/ flying should require a minimium of commerical license + IFR certification, combined with at least 10-20 hours of IMC time vs. just using foggles :-/. A big limiter of folks flying is costs, so I can see folks accepting to do rides for passengers covering 50-70% of the costs, and perhaps flying in conditions against their better judgment. A passenger who doesn't have a pilot's license will not know what is or isn't safe to fly in.
Still always moving
(Score: 2, Informative) by ghost on Monday August 18 2014, @02:38PM
1. a PPL cannot accept compensation
2. expense sharing is a form of compensation
3. as an exception, a PPL can share expenses with the passengers under certain narrow conditions. (There are also a couple other exceptions like charity rides or airplane salesman giving demonstration rides not relevant here.)
You and your friend fly out of town to see a baseball game? Acceptable to split expenses. Advertising flights to the general public on the internet? Not so much.