Compensation for Private Pilot

[FlyingBuckner]

I have a private pilot certificate ASEL, not commercial.

If I take a position with a company that owns an aircraft, such as a Piper Archer, can I fly that aircraft at the company’s expense? It would be a salary position, so yes they basically would be paying me while I fly. The company supplies vehicles and pays all travel expenses.

The way I understand it, it would be legal, even if someone else from the company went with me, as long as both of us were doing the same type of work where we went. I could not Fly the CEO somewhere if he/she was meeting with the directors and I was making a sales call.

Can the company pay my expenses in getting my IFR or Commercial rating; plane cost, fuel, etc.?

[Dantilla]

No.

The best you can do is share expenses. If you are flying another employee, you both must pay 50% of the costs. If you are flying with three other employees, each must cover 25% of the costs.

The company can pay for your training, just as plenty of young students have their parent's financial help, but you are allowed no compensation.

If the company is paying you while you fly on company business, you must have a commercial rating.

Please don't try to "bend" these rules. The FAA is not very flexible.

[FlyingBuckner]

here is the answer I received from the KC FSDO office

"This is not a legal opinion, which may only be issued by the Chief Counsel's Office in Washington, D.C.

As a general guideline, you may fly the airplane as long as it is incidental to your employment, and not the reason for it. As simply as possible, your position and duties should not be those of "company pilot."

Operation of the aircraft should merely assist you in your primary job as a tool and equipment rep. A fellow employee may accompany you, as long as the purpose of the trip is not just to provide transportation to your associate.

The funding source for your training is not a regulatory issue for the FAA.

Feel free to contact our office if you have any further questions.

Regards,

Richard W. Carlson
Manager
Kansas City FSDO
(816) 329-4001 Office
(816) 329-4010 Fax
richard.w.carlson@faa.gov"

[wjgesq]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

No.

The best you can do is share expenses. If you are flying another employee, you both must pay 50% of the costs. If you are flying with three other employees, each must cover 25% of the costs.

The company can pay for your training, just as plenty of young students have their parent's financial help, but you are allowed no compensation.

If the company is paying you while you fly on company business, you must have a commercial rating.

Please don't try to "bend" these rules. The FAA is not very flexible.

\

The above could not be correct. The fact pattern indicates the flying is simply an occasional part of the job. The fact pattern does not indicate that he has been hired as a pilot or that his job description included piloting as a primary job function. Its not that he is getting paid to fly so much as he is getting paid to do a job that occasionally calls for the piloting of an aircraft. I think there is a substantial difference between the two.