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privileges and limitations

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FAA Regulations, General Aviation, Private Pilot, Student Pilot

Can a private pilot get paid if they are an aircraft salesman  ? 

The regulations says that a PPL person may demonstrate an aircraft in flight to a perspective buyer if the private pilot is an aircraft salesman and has at least 200 hours of logged flight time. 

It also says that a private pilot  may act as a PIC of an aircraft towing a glider and unpowered ultralight vehicle.

Does this mean that Private pilot without having a Commercial license start building hours and make some cash?

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1 Answers



  1. LTCTerry on Aug 21, 2019

    You asked, “Can a private pilot get paid if they are an aircraft salesman ?” Then you stated, “The regulations says that a PPL person may demonstrate an aircraft in flight to a perspective buyer if the private pilot is an aircraft salesman and has at least 200 hours of logged flight time.”

    Haven’t you answered your own question? An airplane salesman is paid to sell airplanes. He’s not paid to be a pilot. Income comes from selling, not flying.

    Then you say “It also says that a private pilot may act as a PIC of an aircraft towing a glider and unpowered ultralight vehicle.” A private pilot may be PIC of a 747 if properly rated…

    You ask, “Does this mean that Private pilot without having a Commercial license start building hours and make some cash?”

    The FAA has traditionally said that free flight time is itself “compensation.” Private pilots generally may not be compensated for flying. The Soaring Society of America made the case to the FAA that private pilots as tow pilots are essential to soaring as a sport/activity and w/o the ability to compensate them for expenses would not be able to get tow pilots for competitions/etc.

    A private pilot may be paid to tow gliders. My club pays the tow pilots $5/flight. Most clubs don’t pay tow pilots at all. The most common tow plane in the US is the Piper Pawnee crop duster. It requires endorsements for tailwheel and high performance. My club’s insurance requirements are pretty low, but do include 25 hours of taildragger time.

    The US Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol requires 500 hours total time with at least 250 ASEL to become a tow pilot. (I think this is crazy high!)

    Go to the Soaring Society’s website at http://www.ssa.org and click on “where to fly.” Look at your part of the map. If there’s a nearby club or school you could contact them.

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