It does not say as a passenger it just states they are carried on the flight, which means as pilot or passenger. I think they have been too prescriptive in what a registered operator is in regard to calling it a non passenger transport ops. Therefore to even legally be a non passenger transport on a flight carrying only yourself you would have to be assigned as the registered operator, or be under an AOC for airwork or air transport operations or own and operate the aircraft yourself. This more highlights how badly written this section is. Its using the words 'registered operator' that makes all the difference, so if you hire an aircraft for private use you would have to be assigned the registered operator or arrange a 'cost sharing' operation, I've read through a few hire agreements available online, and none of them specify the transfer of 'registered operator'. Some refer to the registered operator being the the one providing the aircraft.
That being said even if the operation is a Passenger Transport Operation it still may not be an Air Transport Operation if it's not for hire or reward, just to complicate things.
Last edited by 43Inches; 19th February 2023 at 02:27.