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6 Answers

Carrying a rated pilot while endorsed to act as pilot in command of an aircraft in solo operations when the pilot does not hold an appropriate category/class rating

Asked by: 2048 views Commercial Pilot, Private Pilot

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If a person was endorsed to act as pilot in command of an aircraft in solo operations when the pilot does not hold an appropriate category/class rating, is it possible to carry another person who is already rated for this category/class but doesn't have a flight instructor certificate?

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6 Answers



  1. Russ Roslewski on Sep 20, 2021

    U.S. rules here:

    Depends what you mean by “carry”.

    If you mean they’re sitting in the back, or otherwise acting as a passenger, then the answer is a simple “no”.

    If they are sitting at a control position, then the answer is “maybe”.
    – If they are willing and able to act as the PIC, then you can fly all you want whether you’re endorsed for solo or not or are even a pilot or not. They’re responsible for the flight and can fly the aircraft from their seat. This is done all the time.
    – If they are unwilling or unable to act as PIC, then they are a passenger and no, you cannot carry passengers.

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  2. John D Collins on Sep 20, 2021

    I think the answer to your question is no. Since you are not rated for the aircraft category and class, you can’t log any time as PIC or solo unless you are in a training program and performing “the duties of pilot in command while under the supervision of a qualified pilot in command”. The qualifications of the supervising pilot in command is specified in 61.51(e)(1)(iv)(c):

    The supervising pilot in command holds –
    (1) A commercial pilot certificate and flight instructor certificate, and aircraft rating that is appropriate to the category, class, and type of aircraft being flown, if a class or type rating is required; or
    (2) An airline transport pilot certificate and aircraft rating that is appropriate to the category, class, and type of aircraft being flown, if a class or type rating is required

    You could log solo if you were the only one in the aircraft, but that is not the case either.

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  3. Russ Roslewski on Sep 21, 2021

    John, I think you may be reading into his question here.

    He doesn’t ask about logging time, just whether he can “carry” a rated pilot aboard.

    He doesn’t say what he means by “carry”, which is the key to the question really.

    There is nothing wrong with him inviting a friend who is a rated pilot along. The rated pilot must of course be willing and able to act as PIC, and since the rated pilot is not a CFI in this scenario, the OP is a passenger. The OP could do all the flying that the rated pilot is willing to let him do, just like any passenger. He could even sit in the left seat if the rated pilot is comfortable with that. He can’t log anything, but depending on the purpose of the flight this may not be a consideration (we don’t know what the purpose of the flight is).

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  4. John D Collins on Sep 21, 2021

    All true, but in this instance the pilot is simply a passenger and can’t use the time towards logging or meeting any training requirements. The same could be said about any passenger.

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  5. Kris Kortokrax on Sep 22, 2021

    The 61.31(d)(2) endorsement has no relevance to his question. It authorizes him to conduct “solo flight” in the aircraft. As we all know, that means he must be the only occupant of the aircraft.

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  6. Mark Kolber on Sep 22, 2021

    I agree with Russ – what do you mean by “carry?” If the other pilot is rated in category and class and agrees to be in command, then *you* are the one being “carried” as a passenger who the other pilot is allowing to do the flying.

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