Legal Matters and Regulations

Generally no, unless your organization has an FAA exemption and you and your organization fully comply with its requirements. See legal materials below for more information about fuel reimbursements and flying a groups’ aircraft as a volunteer.

No. An aircraft owned by a volunteer pilot organization cannot be flown by volunteer pilots under Part 91. The pilot is getting compensated with free flying time, so it’s an illegal charter flight. The only exception is if the volunteer pilot organization holds a Part 135 air taxi certificate and the pilot is on the volunteer pilot organization’s Part 135 certificate. See legal materials below for more information.

Yes. FAA still considers it to be compensation, but has stated that it supports “truly humanitarian efforts” and will generally not treat charitable deductions related to public benefit flights as compensation or hire for the purposes of enforcing FAR 61.113 or Part 135. Additional information can be found here.

Volunteer flights are conducted under Part 91 of the FARs. Therefore, your liability as a volunteer pilot is no different than if you were flying a friend or family member.

 

Additionally, the passage of The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, included a provision that volunteer pilots who conduct flights to help those in need on behalf of nonprofit organizations no longer have to worry about liability in excess of the limits of their insurance coverage. Non-pilot volunteers have long enjoyed the same protection under the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997.

See Volunteer Pilot Liability Amendment and Talking Points.

Article: Volunteer Pilots & Liability

Yes, it is legal to bring an oxygen bottle on board but it is at the pilot’s discretion.

Legal Materials

Additional Resources

A Message From the President of ACA

I have always felt that an organization’s vision is the driving force behind what is accomplished and what needs to be accomplished, whether that organization is large or small, for profit or not for profit. In recent years, our vision at Air Care Alliance has been to “maximize charitable aviation through organizations and pilots flying […]
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Reaching the Next Generation of Volunteer Pilots: Meet Mia Anderson

The Air Care Alliance is constantly seeking ways to promote public benefit flying and recruit more pilots. As our industry is faced with an aging volunteer pilot population and an increased need for services, raising awareness for public benefit flying is more important now than ever. One solution is to plant the seed of service […]
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ACA and NAA Recognize the Best in Humanitarian Flying

The Air Care Alliance (ACA) and the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) are honored to announce the 2023 Public Benefit Flying Awards recipients. Uniting their love of flying and selfless devotion to humankind, pilots and other volunteers engaged in Public Benefit Flying combine their talent and time with the desire to help others. Types of Public […]
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2023 Awards

The Air Care Alliance (ACA) and the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) are honored to announce the 2023 Public Benefit Flying Awards recipients. Uniting their love of flying and selfless devotion to humankind, pilots and other volunteers engaged in Public Benefit Flying combine their talent and time with the desire to help others. Types of Public […]
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Legislative Update

With the support of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and many Volunteer Pilot Organizations and aviation industry groups, ACA has been working for a legislative solution to the Federal Aviation Administration’s restrictive policies that deny most volunteer pilots the possibility to receive fuel reimbursement for their charitable flights. (See related information here) Senator […]
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Air Care Alliance Welcomes Two New Directors

The Air Care Alliance is pleased to announce the election of two new Members to its Board of Directors: Mark Rogers and JJ Suarez. “Our Board of Directors is composed of a dedicated team of leaders committed to fostering and enhancing charitable aviation,” said Jim Hesseman, President of Air Care Alliance. “We are excited to […]
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