Gas, hotels & FAR 61.113

[Fast Pilot]

Greetings

I was trying to read up a little on FAR 61.113 and a Google search brought me to this forum.

I was wondering if you could offer an opinion. I am a private pilot with about 2,000 hours. I have signed up for a reality show air race that is being conducted by a small Hollywood film company. My wife, who is not a pilot, will accompany me.

The race is slated to last 14 days and we will go around the circumference of the country. Different non-flying "contests" will be held at each stop. Baseball games, jet skiing, things like that.

The production company will be picking up all our gas, meals and hotels. Also, every team will be issued a Garmin 496 for tracking purposes. If we finish the race we get to keep the Garmin.

I would say that better than half of the 50 pilots do not have commercial ratings. What do you think the chances are of the FAA saying that this is okay?

By the way, this comment was posted on the pilots area of the web site:


"Some of you have questions about the production company paying for your fuel and expenses. Here is your answer. You are not a pilot for hire, nor are you renting your airplane to us, nor are you a paid actor that will be filling out W-4 forms and receiving W-2s or 1099s for tax purposes. You have signed up to participate in this race. This you are doing on your own time with your own airplane. The production company is not taking care of any maintenance or upkeep for your aircraft, we are only covering the cost of lodging, meals, and fuel. This will not break any FAA regulations. I have called and confirmed this with my local FSDO.

If you have any questions concerning the race, please do not hesitate to send me an email….as Dxxxx posted earlier…" I do not bite".

Have a wonderful day,

Lxxxx Bxxxxx

Chief of Flight Operations"

I would be interested to know what you all think.

Fast Pilot

[Denny of Oakland]

I think we have spoken about this off line. And I do believe it requires a commercial pilot certificate. Also if they pay for the fuel, hotel, meals, and etc.sure sounds like for hire.