900 hour rule - ppl instruction

[adamlouis]

Simply put, does LAPL/PPL instruction and charging for this count towards the 900 hour limit imposed on U.K. / EASA carriers ?

[Fl1ingfrog]

No, instruction is not Public Transport.

[adamlouis]

What if the instructor charged for instruction?
Would it not be considered commercial operation of some sort?

[Fl1ingfrog]

No, instructors are exceptionally allowed to be paid but this is not public transport, which is the issue with the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) restrictions to which you refer. The law otherwise does not limit the hours a pilot may fly.

[BEagle]

When we discussed this at EASA, the conclusion was that there was nothing to restrict a suitably qualified CAT pilot from LAPL/PPL instruction, the 900 hour limit does not apply to such flying. However, it was down to the employer to decide any limit within their company terms and conditions of employment.

[enzino]

And indeed, some operators have a different take on this if their pilots give flight instruction.

[rarelyathome]

No matter what the regulations are, is it sensible both from the instructor’s and the student’s perspective?