Legal Matters and Regulations

Generally no, unless your organization has an FAA exemption and you and your organization fully comply with its requirements. 

The articles below provide details on the rules and regulations as they apply to volunteer pilot operations:

https://www.aircarealliance.org/volunteer-pilot-flight-or-illegal-part-135-where-is-the-line/

https://www.aircarealliance.org/understanding-pilot-privileges/

See additional legal materials below for more information.

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.

This article provides details on this matter:

https://www.aircarealliance.org/volunteer-pilot-flight-or-illegal-part-135-where-is-the-line/

For FAA Analysis of Organization-Owned Aircraft, see:

https://www.aircarealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DenialofPALSVPOuseofaircraft.pdf

See additional 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

2024 Public Benefit Flying Award Recipients Announced

  The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has announced the names of the 2024 Public Benefit Flying Awards recipients. Created in partnership with the Air Care Alliance (ACA), a nationwide league of humanitarian flying organizations, the NAA’s Public Benefit Flying Awards recognizes individual volunteers and volunteer organizations who utilize aviation for humanitarian actions. “Aviation can help […]
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How the FAA Reauthorization Act Affects VPOs

The FAA Reauthorization has finally passed and been signed into law by President Biden on May 16, 2024. The Bill contains provisions in sections 830 and 831 that cover fuel reimbursement and enhanced safety requirements by Volunteer Pilot Organizations. To start a positive note, Section 830(b) is a provision that ACA advocated for quite a […]
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2024 Air Care Conference Takes Place in Fort Lauderdale

Those involved with public benefit flying gathered once more at the Air Care Alliance’s annual AIR CARE Conference held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida this April. The 32nd iteration of the conference was hosted by ACA member group, Vital Flight. Representatives from 20 different public benefit flying groups from all across the country attended and discussed […]
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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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