The pilot receiving payment for flying does not constitue 'public transport'. A large number of aircraft on foreign registers are operated for corporate aviation in the UK - the pilots have to be correctly licenced in accordance with the regulations in the State of Registration and most are remunerated - it is still 'private'.
However, what applies in the UK may not be so in other States of Europe where there exsists a hotch potch of rules which are not harmonised - but that's another story.
Jim
Last edited by JimL; 26th April 2005 at 12:53.