10 Questions For Your Private Pilot

By Roger Mola

Choosing private over commercial can save you time and preserve your mental health, but make sure you know what to ask the person who will hold your life in his hands.

1. Who has “operational control” of the aircraft? It sounds simple, but it isn’t. Federal Aviation Regulations define operational control as the exercise of authority over initiating, conducting or terminating a flight. But the FAA, insurance carriers and the IRS often disagree on its interpretation. Following the wrong nuance, especially if you make your pilot available to others, could inadvertently convert you from a passenger to a management company with the consequent legal and regulatory liability.

2. What would you do if a fellow pilot smelled of alcohol? This question tests a pilot’s willingness to challenge a violation of safety, record-keeping or ethics, whether in flight by the crew or if faced with insufficient maintenance before takeoff.

 

3. What experience do you have? Pilots for most types of charter flights or for fractional jet owners need a minimum of 1,000 hours experience. Your pilot’s raw number of hours should be recent, involve the aircraft you’re flying and be relevant to the flight you’ve planned.

4. Can I see your PASS? That’s the Pilot & Aircraft Safety Survey generated by Wyvern, an industry consultant (wyvernltd.com), which lists your pilot’s ratings, flight hours and medical and training records. You can also check out your pilot’s CHEQ, a report from Aviation Research Group International (aviationresearch.com) that rates your pilot’s background and that of his charter company.

5. Has the FAA taken an enforcement action against you? An FAA action may arise from accidents, incidents (potential hazards to safety) or episodes that range from unauthorized flight maneuvers to exceeding the noise limit at a small airport, and may lead to suspensions of the pilot’s certificate or a civil fine. Review the enforcement action database online at faa.gov.

6. When did you last sleep? Ask your pilot and crew if they meet the minimum rest time and maximum time on duty for the type of flight you’ve hired, whether by an FAA regulation or their company standard.

7. Can you get me home tonight no matter what? The correct answer is “no.” You want a pilot who’ll strictly adhere to flight rules despite passenger or financial pressure, and has the confidence to speak candidly about when your aircraft is better off parked.

8. Can we load this airplane a little more to fit my extra stuff? For any answer but “no way,” find another pilot. Your pilot cannot exceed the maximum takeoff weight for your aircraft including its full tank of fuel and must carefully place this load relative to the airplane’s center of gravity.

9. Do I need to listen to safety briefings? Common sense might compel you to pay attention, but for a passenger there are no requirements to look up from your Worth. By law, though, your pilot or crew must give you a safety briefing before takeoff.

10. Can I play Angry Birds during flight? The FAA and the Federal Communications Commission both say yes to portable electronic devices, if you meet three conditions: your pilot gives permission, you’re cruising along in “visual flight rules” and your content was downloaded before you left the ground. Neither the FAA nor the FCC allow a cell phone or let you activate a smartphone to download data in flight. You’re limited to your hardware or onboard signal, which is pre-installed and pre-approved.

For more information, contact Charlie Priester, Priester Aviation, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 888.323.7887; Dennis Keith, Jet Solutions, dkeith@ jetsolutions.com, 214.570.4100; or Mike Nichols, National Business Aviation Association, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 202.783.9254.

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