Originally Posted by
EXDAC
Thanks for the reference. It includes " In addition, this pro-rata sharing of expenses is further limited by the FAA's "common-purpose" test, which requires the private pilot and all expense sharing passengers share a bona fide common purpose for their travel." . However, I don't see any indication as to where that common purpose test is defined. Perhaps there is additional information in the referenced FAA letter of interpretation but that letter is not disclosed.
I did find a reference to "common purpose" in 91.501 but that reg is specific to "the operation of large airplanes of U.S. registry, turbojet-powered multiengine civil airplanes of U.S. registry, and fractional ownership program aircraft of U.S. registry........"
With cost sharing being quite common it would be good to have a clear reference to a specific regulation, advisory circular, or publicly available FAA letter of interpretation. Not trying to be awkward. I have a genuine interest in the subject both as an owner of an N reg aircraft and as a CFI.
This is the place to search:
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...bSubmit=Search
and check this one out, and this guy had an ATP. And he
still needed common purpose with his passengers for the operation ey ran (which the FAA determined he did not have).:
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...rpretation.pdf