After starting their business, Flytenow, Inc.
contacted the FAA to request a legal
interpretation of their business model to see if
they were in legal compliance with FAA
regulations.
On Flytenow's website under FAQ's - "Can I use
Flytenow as a private pilot? - Yes. Flytenow’s
service complies with 14 CFR 61.113(a)-(d),
which allows a private pilot to receive pro rata
reimbursement from his passengers for fuel, oil,
airport expenditures, or rental fees, so long as
the pilot and his passengers share a bona fide
common purpose for conducting the flight.
Flytenow facilitates common purpose because
pilots, rather than enthusiasts, unilaterally
dictate the destination (and purpose) of an
adventure, and enthusiasts express shared
interest in the specific date, points of
operation, and adventure."
The FAA responded to Flytenow's request through
a Letter of Interpretation. In essence the
letter indicated expense sharing is
compensation, a commercial activity. Hence,
Flytenow activities were in violation of FAA
regulations.
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