3 ms·

You're saying every pilot whose flown a small Cessna where a passenger writing an article for a magazine took a photo or two was commercially certified? " In g

by hurin 12y ago

You're saying every pilot whose flown a small Cessna where a passenger writing an article for a magazine took a photo or two was commercially certified? " In general, whenever we receive a complaint about an unauthorized UAS operation, we contact the operator and educate them about the regulations so they can comply," It seems to me that the above is more orientated towards repeat offenders than for a couple one-time pictures.

FireBeyond 12y ago
Technically and absolutely they should have been (and in this instance, I agree) - the magazine and/or photographer likely compensated the pilot for their time, fuel and use of the aircraft which is very precisely the definition of a commercial air operation.
- hurin 12y ago
  Is it a question of whether they were compensated or whether the art was used commercially? i.e. if a private pilot takes a friend along and the friend later sells said pictures to a magazine.
  - FireBeyond 12y ago
    My feeling is that a coincidental situation like that should be acceptable (the FAA may well disagree). In terms of sharing costs (or accepting compensation) for rides, there is often a straight face test - is it genuinely and sincerely a shared interest in undertaking a flight, with a goal (outside the flight itself) for both the pilot and passenger. If not, then it's considered commercial. The FAA rightly or wrongly tends to view "nudge nudge wink wink" stuff on the conservative side.
cmurf 12y ago
Yes. Most people don't know this, but there's two certifications for "getting paid as a pilot" one is the commercial certificate, the other is the airline transport pilot (pilot vernacular is to say "she/he's an ATP"). So when you think of "commercial air carriers" those are ATPs. People who fly cargo, certified flight instructors, many charter pilots, etc have commercial certificates.

by hurin 12y ago

FireBeyond 12y ago

Technically and absolutely they should have been (and in this instance, I agree) - the magazine and/or photographer likely compensated the pilot for their time, fuel and use of the aircraft which is very precisely the definition of a commercial air operation.

hurin 12y ago
Is it a question of whether they were compensated or whether the art was used commercially? i.e. if a private pilot takes a friend along and the friend later sells said pictures to a magazine.
- FireBeyond 12y ago
  My feeling is that a coincidental situation like that should be acceptable (the FAA may well disagree). In terms of sharing costs (or accepting compensation) for rides, there is often a straight face test - is it genuinely and sincerely a shared interest in undertaking a flight, with a goal (outside the flight itself) for both the pilot and passenger. If not, then it's considered commercial. The FAA rightly or wrongly tends to view "nudge nudge wink wink" stuff on the conservative side.

cmurf 12y ago

Yes. Most people don't know this, but there's two certifications for "getting paid as a pilot" one is the commercial certificate, the other is the airline transport pilot (pilot vernacular is to say "she/he's an ATP"). So when you think of "commercial air carriers" those are ATPs. People who fly cargo, certified flight instructors, many charter pilots, etc have commercial certificates.