EASA regulation
Flight sharing is legal in the European Union according to the Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012. Private pilots can share their flights and direct costs (e.g. rental fee for an aircraft, fuel, airport charges) with passengers in aircraft carrying maximum 6 persons including the pilot, and are allowed to advertise and promote these flights. Pilots make these flights without profit, however they can share the direct costs of the flight.
Flight safety
Flight safety is our priority. We have signed a Safety Charter with the EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) in order to promote the safety of our flights. By signing the Charter, we commit to adhering to its principles, responsibilities and values. Pilots on cost-sharing flights do not have any financial gain. They fly to maintain or improve their pilot proficiency. At the same time, they make sightseeing flights available to the general public at affordable prices.
Charter to promote the safety of non-commercial General Aviation flights with light aircraft is available on the EASA web site.
A code of conduct for pilots
The captain (Pilot, PIC – Pilot In Command) is the only decision maker and responsible for safety:
The pilot (PIC) is the only one who has the authority to make decisions concerning the flight and the aircraft. The presence of passengers on board should not make the pilot (PIC) feel pressured to manage the flight in a certain way, because he is the only one who knows how to safely control and fly the aircraft. The passenger will have been advised about the possibility of the cancellation of the flight at any time for any reasons and without providing any justification.
The captain (PIC) shall adapt his flight to the weather forecast and cancel if needed:
Bad weather conditions are a major cause for incidents and accidents in non-commercial General Aviation (GA) flights with light aircraft. Meteorological conditions can rapidly change, as a consequence the pilot (PIC) may cancel the flight. The day before the flight, the pilot (PIC) should update the passenger of the weather forecast in relation to the flight. The presence of the passenger and their expectations shall not make the pilot (PIC) reluctant to delay or cancel a flight.
The captain (PIC) can accept and refuse passenger without justifications:
The pilot (PIC) can refuse to board a passenger for any reason (operational or safety), at any time and without providing any justification.
The captain (PIC) shall never share more than the direct costs of the flight:
EU safety regulations (EU No 965/2012) allow cost-shared flights by private persons, if the direct cost (i.e. cost directly related to the flight, e.g. rental fee for an aircraft, fuel, airport charges) are shared between everyone involved, including the pilot. Cost-shared flights shall not have an element of profit – making by the pilot. If a flight is not a cost-shared flight in compliance with EU safety regulations (EU No 965/2012), the flight will be qualified as a commercial flight – commercial air operation rules will apply.
The captain (PIC) shall only fly on the aircraft declared for the flight:
Prior to the flight, the pilot (PIC) shall always specify the type of aircraft used for the cost-shared flight. Whenever, the aircraft type or model changes, the pilot (PIC) will inform the passenger of such a change.
The captain (PIC) shall follow the cost-shared and insurance regulations:
The cost-shared flight will be conducted under the sole responsibility of the pilot (PIC) in compliance with the applicable regulation for non-commercial flights with light aircraft by private pilots. It is the pilot’s (PIC) responsibility to ensure the flight is insured for flights with passengers.
The pilot (PIC) should inform the passenger that toilets are not available on board.
A code of conduct for passengers
Respect the pilot’s (PIC) instructions:
It is important to understand that the pilot (PIC) is the only decision maker on the aircraft as he/she is the pilot in command (PIC). Before departure, the pilot (PIC) can decide at any time to delay or cancel the flight. During the flight passengers must refrain from making any comments on the decisions of the pilot (PIC), to avoid distracting the pilot (PIC) from safely flying the aircraft.
Respect the pilot (PIC) decision regarding weather hazards:
As part of their pilot licence (PPL, CPL, ATPL), pilots have received education and training on meteorological conditions and the consequences of deteriorating meteorological conditions. Most pilots will be permitted to fly in visual meteorological conditions (VMC). Some pilots have an IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) qualification and are permitted to fly in IMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions) – under non-visual meteorological conditions. VFR (Visual Flight Rules) and IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) pilot’s (PIC) decision on flying, diversion during flight or decision not to fly shall be respected. A passenger should never try to persuade a pilot (PIC) to fly if the pilot (PIC) has decided not to fly.
Respect the maximum luggage weight:
The light aircraft in which you will be flying is sensitive to weight changes. The pilot (PIC) takes into consideration the weight that passengers have declared for themselves and their luggage to check the plane’s gravity centre. Passengers must respect the maximum weight approved by the pilot (PIC) on this aircraft and not move their luggage during the flight. Passengers shall indicate the weight accurately before departure and inform the pilot (PIC) if it were to change.
Dangerous and illegal goods are forbidden:
The passenger should never take dangerous and illegal goods on board. If the passenger has any questions or doubts about the dangerous nature of a specific item, the passenger shall inform the pilot (PIC) and check if transportation is possible. The pilot (PIC) can check your bags at any time and refuse to take you on board.
Always be on time:
When planning the flight, the pilot (PIC) takes into account the expected time of departure and arrival and the expected meteorological conditions at those times. It is important that the pilot (PIC) is able to take-off at the expected time.
Cancellation by the passenger:
The passenger may cancel a flight at any time before departure.
Safety rules:
The passengers shall respect the following basic safety principles:
– no smoking during the flight,
– passengers are never allowed to touch the instruments and controls,
– passengers shall not speak during take-off and landing and when the pilot (PIC) is using the radio.
Article 1 of Annex to Safety Charter non-commercial General Aviation
“You are about to book a cost-shared flight on a light aircraft. You should be aware of the fact that safety rules for cost-shared flights are not as strict as they are for commercial air transport flights. This means that there is more risk involved in taking a cost-shared flight than buying a ticket from a commercial airline operator, where much stricter safety rules apply and where the aircraft, pilots (PIC) and the operator are subject to continuous checks and strict oversight rules from the authority.”
“As opposed to commercial airline passenger flights, the risk levels involved in General Aviation (GA) flights can be compared with risk levels found in road transportation.”
Source:
Annex to the Safety Charter
Charter to promote the safety of non-commercial General Aviation