Sat, Aug 17, 2013
Sport And Recreational Pilots May Not Seek Compensation For Fuel Costs On Volunteer Flights
This week the FAA responded to an EAA petition, filed in April 2012, which would allow volunteer private pilots flying Young Eagles to be reimbursed for fuel consumed during sanctioned Young Eagles events.
In its response, the FAA said "a partial grant of exemption would be in the public interest. The FAA has previously determined that it is in the public interest to allow a volunteer pilot who holds at least a private pilot certificate to accept limited compensation for providing orientation flights to participants in the EAA Young Eagles program. The FAA finds that the EF/YE flights are similar to sightseeing operations offered by commercial entities on a for-hire basis. However, we acknowledge that the EF/YE program is unique and designed strictly as a tool to familiarize the non-flying public with general aviation operations. For that reason, we find it is worthwhile to assist EAA’s cause, and to place conditions and limitations that provide an equivalent level of safety and meet the general public’s expectations."
However, the agency said that "the minimum level of pilot certification to operate under the terms of an exemption for the EF/YE program is at least a private pilot certificate. The inherent limitations of the recreational pilot and sport pilot certificate do not lend themselves to quasi-commercial flying of this nature."
The EAA said in a news release that the Young Eagles and Advocacy/Safety departments are reviewing the exemption to determine what, if any, benefit it provides to the EAA-member volunteer pilots who fly Young Eagles.
"We need to carefully analyze the FAA's response to our request and this exemption," said Brian O'Lena, manager of the Young Eagles program. "We need to be sure that the exemption, as written, provides clear benefits to all participants in the Young Eagles program."
EAA will provide additional information to EAA chapters and Young Eagles pilots as it completes its analysis.
More News
Instrument Runway A runway equipped with electronic and visual navigation aids for which a precision or nonprecision approach procedure having straight-in landing minimums has been>[...]
Aero Linx: Alaska Airmen's Association The Alaska Airmen's Association includes over 2,000 members—we are one of the largest General Aviation communities in the country. We s>[...]
Also: Flt School Security, G600 Steep-Approach, Honduran Aid, PW545D Cert Two aircraft performing at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show clipped wings during a routine last Sunday, spooki>[...]
Also: SkyReach Parts Support, Piper Service Ctr, Airliner Near-Miss, Airshow London The Judge overseeing Icon's convoluted Chapter 11 process has approved $9 million in Chapter 11 >[...]
Also: Paramotor Champ's, Electric Ultralight, ICON BK Update, Burt Rutan at Oshkosh! The Popular Rotorcraft Association is reaching out for help in rebuilding their private runway >[...]