PA.I.A.K2· K

Privileges and limitations

A private pilot can carry passengers and cargo for personal use. What you can't do is be paid to fly people or property — that's the default rule , with a small set of narrow exceptions. The exceptions are what most checkride questions are really testing.

What "compensation" means

The FAA reads it broadly — not just cash. Anything of value can count:

Free flight time or aircraft use
Accumulated flight hours toward a rating
Goodwill, favors, business advantage
Meals, lodging, or similar in some contexts

When in doubt, the FAA's interpretation runs broader, not narrower.

The seven narrow exceptions

Compensation paths permitted under :

Incidental to your business — § 61.113(b)

Flying yourself to a meeting, where the flight is incidental to the actual business
No passengers or property for compensation or hire on the flight itself
Flying a client to a sales call is Part 135 territory, not this exception

Pro-rata expense sharing — § 61.113(c)

Split direct operating expenses across all occupants, including yourself
Pilot pays no less than the pilot's share
Requires a common purpose — you need an independent reason to fly

Other narrow paths

Charity event flights under § 91.146 — § 61.113(d)
Search and rescue reimbursement — § 61.113(e)
Aircraft sales demonstration if you're a salesperson with at least 200 hours — § 61.113(f)
Glider or unpowered ultralight towing with endorsement per § 61.69 — § 61.113(g)
Light-sport production flight tests under specific conditions — § 61.113(h)

Pro-rata means split equally across all occupants, including the pilot. For four occupants and $400 in fuel, the pilot pays at least $100 and can collect no more than $300 from the others.

Eligible to share

Fuel
Oil
Airport expenditures
Rental fees

Not eligible

Maintenance reserves
Hangar, insurance, training time
Anything that isn't a direct operating cost of this flight

The common purpose test means the pilot and the passengers must share a reason for the flight — the pilot needs an independent reason to be going. Without it, you're a de facto air taxi and you're operating under Part 135 without the certificate.

Common DPE questions

Ideal answer
Almost nothing for carrying passengers or property. The narrow exceptions in 14 CFR 61.113 cover pro-rata expense sharing, business flights incidental to your job, charity events under §91.146, search and rescue, aircraft demonstration as a 200+ hour salesperson, glider towing, and light-sport production flight tests.
Key points to mention
- Default rule: no compensation or hire for passengers or property (61.113(a))
- Pro-rata operating-expense share with passengers (fuel, oil, airport, rental) — 61.113(c)
- Business flights incidental to your job, no passengers/property for hire — 61.113(b)
- Charity event flights under §91.146 — 61.113(d)
- Search and rescue reimbursement — 61.113(e)
- Aircraft sales demonstration: ≥200 hours and you're an aircraft salesperson — 61.113(f)
- Glider or unpowered ultralight towing per 61.69 — 61.113(g)
REF: 14 CFR 61.113
Ideal answer
Yes, but only on a pro-rata basis, only for direct operating expenses (fuel, oil, airport fees, rental), and only when there's a common purpose for the flight. You must pay no less than your share.
Key points to mention
- Pro-rata = split equally across all occupants including the pilot
- Example: 4 occupants, $400 fuel — pilot pays at least $100, can collect at most $300
- Eligible expenses: fuel, oil, airport expenditures, rental fees only
- Maintenance reserves, hangar, insurance, and instructor time are NOT shareable
- Pilot and passengers must share a 'common purpose' — pilot needs an independent reason to fly
- Without common purpose it's a de facto air taxi (Part 135)
REF: 14 CFR 61.113(c)
Ideal answer
Yes, under 61.113(b), provided the flight is only incidental to the business or employment and the airplane carries no passengers or property for compensation or hire. If transporting people IS the business purpose of the flight, the exception doesn't apply.
Key points to mention
- 61.113(b) 'incidental to business' exception
- The flight must be incidental to your business or employment
- You cannot carry passengers or property for compensation or hire
- If transporting the boss IS the business purpose, exception fails — that's Part 135
- Reimbursement for direct operating expenses is fine; payment for piloting is not
REF: 14 CFR 61.113(b)
Ideal answer
61.113(a) is the default rule — no compensation or hire for carrying passengers or property as a private pilot. Subsections (b) through (h) carve narrow exceptions: incidental-to-business, pro-rata cost sharing, charity events, search-and-rescue, aircraft sales demos, glider towing, and LSA production tests.
Key points to mention
- (a) Default: no compensation or hire for passengers/property
- (b) Incidental to business — no pax/property for hire
- (c) Pro-rata share of direct operating expenses with common purpose
- (d) Charity event flights under §91.146
- (e) Search and rescue reimbursement
- (f) Aircraft sales demonstration if ≥200 hrs and salesperson
- (g) Glider or unpowered ultralight towing per 61.69
- (h) LSA production flight tests under specific conditions
REF: 14 CFR 61.113
Ideal answer
The FAA reads 'compensation' broadly — anything of value, not just cash. Goodwill, free flight time, accumulated flight hours toward a rating, and even meals or lodging in some contexts have been treated as compensation by the Chief Counsel.
Key points to mention
- Not limited to cash payments
- Includes goodwill, favors, or business advantage
- Free flight time or aircraft use can count
- Accumulated flight hours toward a rating may count
- When in doubt, the FAA's interpretation runs broader, not narrower
REF: FAA Chief Counsel interpretations of 61.113; AC 61-142

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Scenario

Your CEO asks you to fly her in the company-owned Cirrus to a quarterly board meeting two states away. The company will pay for fuel, oil, and your hotel for the trip. You don't otherwise need to attend the meeting.

Is this legal under 14 CFR 61.113(b)?

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PA.I.A.K3 · Medical certificates

To exercise pilot privileges you need either a current FAA medical certificate appropriate to the operation, or qualification under BasicMed <CFR id="61.23" …

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Privileges and limitations

What "compensation" means

The seven narrow exceptions

Sharing expenses, in detail

Common DPE questions

PA.I.A.K3 · Medical certificates