The FAA's definition of "for compensation or hire" as regards to flying is much stricter than that used in any other instances I'm aware of. This story sounds p

The FAA's definition of "for compensation or hire" as regards to flying is much stricter than that used in any other instances I'm aware of. This story sounds pretty much in line with how it works for aircraft carrying their pilots. 14 CFR 61.113 says "no person who holds a private pilot certificate may act as pilot in command of an aircraft that is carrying passengers or property for compensation or hire; nor may that person, for compensation or hire, act as pilot in command of an aircraft." Pretty much the only exception that applies widely is the next part, which says "A private pilot may, for compensation or hire, act as pilot in command of an aircraft in connection with any business or employment if: (1) The flight is only incidental to that business or employment; and (2) The aircraft does not carry passengers or property for compensation or hire." This basically means that if you are a pilot that works for a non-aviation related company, you may fly around as part of your job, for example for you and some coworkers to get to a meeting. If the company or individual makes money directly off the flight, then I'm pretty sure it will never be considered incidental. See my other posts for some things that the FAA does not allow private pilots to do. As asinine as these regs are, they are long-standing and I don't really see why having the pilot on the ground should make a fundamental difference to whether they're allowed to stand or not.