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Let me jump in here and also get into some specifics from the side of a warbird owner, operator, and airshow performer . . . as it is a sensative topic for many of us who would like to give more rides. I know I for one would. But as you'll see below, there are many impediments.
Insurance: there are many folks who can not carry enough liability insurance to justify taking the risk. The basic policy is $1.0 mil of liability and getting more on a warbird is very difficult now. Obviously a serious accident with a fatality would wipe an estate out unless other blanket coverage was there (and may not be available to some of us). A signature on a waiver sheet by the passenger does not necessarily help much . . . expecially if he/she is the fatality and the estate or other interested parties sue.
As such, I know of some folks who don't do rides, period, because of this.
Test Flights: we don't fly our warbirds much because as LadyO2Pilot (Hi girl) said it just costs too much. I too concur it costs a lot (about $500/hr for our T6 movie Zero's) and many of us are broke right now.
But we do sometimes need to do test flights at our local aerodrome . . . but if it is really a true test flight taking along a passenger is maybe just a dumb idea? You might want the mechanic/technical person along (if they won't go, maybe a sign), or another pilot to help. Passengers . . . well, you can see the issue here. So it all . . . depends.
At the Airshow: almost all of the warbirds at an airshow are being paid by the show to be there. At minimum in fuel, rooms, oils, a car . . . in some of our cases we are lucky to get cold hard greenies on top. That said, we are at the show . . . . for them, and on [i]their[/i] behalf.
We'll do briefings in the early AM, static display before and after we fly, of course the airshow flying itself, VIP parties they want us to attend in the evenings . . . and that also makes for a busy and tiring day. Sometimes after a show we just . . . and as we all get older . . . want and need to relax.
We can do rides for the show for their Press and VIP's . . . under an specific interpretation for this by the FAA (you'll ee below why I just said this). And it is real tacky if I tell the show who hired and is paying me good money . . . no I can't take for a ride the VIP who donated $50,000 to put on the show because I am taking a friend up . . . as much as I may really want to.
Compensation: so you say to me . . . and what might appear logically . . . take me flying on Monday before I go home from the show and since it is expensive, you'll throw in some gas, or money . . . or even just buy me a nice dinner.
Well, we cannot do that in most cases . . . I didn't make the rules up nor necessarily agree with them . . . but this is a huge issue and one that puts our pilot licenses on the line.
Here's why: with all Experimental/Exhibition certified aircraft (like TORA 101, most other piston warbirds, all of your jet warbirds), as well as those in the limited category (such as the P51) . . . to note in these two certification categories is the bulk of the warbirds . . . one cannot take passengers flying for compensation. This is per the FAR's, and per our Operations Specifications. Period.
And . . . compensation is quite broadly intepreted by the FAA as not just money. Gas, or dinner, or a car for the weekend counts too in their eyes. There are only a handful (and very hard to get) exemptions to this, such as with a few of the CAF aircraft, Collings Foundation planes, EAA B17, to note a couple.
Even with Standard Category certified aircraft (certain AT6's, some Stearman's, for example) . . . in which passenger taking could be compensated for . . . the aircraft must be maintained under a more restrictive maintenance program (under a 100 hour, with some time life items done, et al). Plus . . . the ride giver pilot must be enrolled and be in an approved (for that operation) random drug testing program.
The penalty if the FAA finds out you are taking any compensation (again, could just be a dinner) well could be a violation and license revocation. And the word does get out.
So please do not take it personal if you ask, hint, wink, or whatever for a ride . . . many times it just cannot be done.
But at least in my case (and many others) I know if I can arrange it, in the right circumstances and timing, with folks whom have helped and certainly deserve it, I will.
Doug Jackson
Owner-Pilot, TORA 101
Ps--now in the case with Howard most likely you would have had to sit on his lap to get a ride . . . given most of his planes are single seat. Howard's a real super guy . . . but [i]not that [/i]super at least for me (well maybe for Carolyn).
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Frankly, regardless of the risk, I wish the FAA would create some sort of loophole in between the "sightseeing" rules and private flying. If someone wants to risk their own neck, they should be allowed to do so!
yea that's the line.......
