[wxwatcher]

Jim,

Called a friend at FSDO. Here's the take from the folk who enforce the regs..

A four-place aircraft cannot be modified to handle five pax, even if they are children, without going through the whole flight test regeime again, including stress loading, weight/balance, and crash testing. Even the option of installing a third set of seat belts to insure everyone has their own belt as required by Part 91 requires all of the above. Reason, a five or six place aircraft is in a different "catagory" or "classification" of aircraft than a four place. They're covered by different certification requirements and you'd have to meet those requirements and tests before the aircraft was legal to fly with five on board.

Here's something else to keep in mind. Some FSDO's like to pull unannounced spot checks of arriving aircraft. They drive out to an airport, wait for a plane to arrive, drive up and ask for the paperwork, log books, pilot's log, license, insurance, etc. If they see five people getting out of a four place aircraft, you can bet they'll give some serious consideration to yanking a pilot license on the spot and they see what they can do in the violation and sanctions department.

Another area is the state aeronautics people. Some states give inspection authority to the local law enforcement officials (police, sheriff, etc) in specific areas relating to the safe operations of aircraft. If you're in one of those states and the local smokey sees five in a four-place, he's liable to introduce you to the amenities at the local cross-bar hotel.

Either one of these possibilities while on the outbound leg would really put a crimp in the travel plans.

Best bet.. Check around and see if there's any interest in the area for a larger aircraft. Maybe you can partner with someone to purchase one and do a lease back to the local FBO or flying club.

Good luck.

Jerry