Ride-sharing, wherever you want it
October 3, 2012 by Thomas A. Horne, Editor At Large
Let’s say a pilot is flying a cross-country, but has an empty seat or two. Doesn’t it seem a waste not to fill a seat or two with someone needing a lift? Now, Edouard Kohler of AOPA-France, has come up with a way to match pilots with potential passengers–or other pilots wanting the experience. Kohler’s website gives you a way to see which willing pilots are going where, and lets prospective pilot/passengers sign up. It’s a new program, just launched a month ago, and Kohler is hopeful that more pilots and passengers will sign up for ride-sharing.
Sounds like a great way to spread the word about GA. We’ll see how the concept evolves over the coming year. And remember, this ride-sharing program is intended to be available in both the United States and Europe.
October 3rd, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Just wondering if the FAA has weighed in on considering these ‘passengers’?
October 4th, 2012 at 9:04 am
finally someone did it, it was was needed.
October 5th, 2012 at 11:27 am
Now this sounds like a great idea. Does this mean one can just go along for the ride, and if one is a perspective pilot sign on as co-pilot.
October 5th, 2012 at 11:55 am
I think we are going to need a very specific interpretation from the feds, or more preferrably a long overdue regs change, to make sure they don’t pull stunts like claiming the pilot is being compensated if only for the flight time. Don’t forget the case where a guy was busted for flying to a biz convention and taking his CEO, etc. only to be busted, because he would not have otherwise been going. At the moment, unless the pilot very clearly meets that criteria (they were going anyway), the feds have, in some cases, considered any sharing of costs as compensation for hire, and you can’t be caught advertising the fact, because that can also be construed as solicitation for compensation. Stupid, but that’s the way it is.
Having just come back from flying in the UK, I can say that, In Europe, even before EASA, the rules are very explicit that a pilot is allowed to solicit and accept cost-sharing, whether as a way of building time or not, without fear of prosecution. In the UK, there is a similar program already in place using a website (can’t remember the link now)
October 5th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
This is hadly a new idea, even if it is a great idea. Baldy has been running a websilt for htis exact same purpose for several years now. http://www.pilotsharetheride.com/
October 5th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
No. This just mean, that the person is along for the ride from A to B. Search the web site, it is all explained.
October 6th, 2012 at 11:11 am
How is this different from PilotShareTheRide.com?
It’s a great idea, but it already exists.
October 6th, 2012 at 4:00 pm
@eduard – So as i understand, I am a plane owner I register (which I did – was easy) and the I can post my plane info then use it to tell about my trip, so others can join me? I am just bad with technology
October 7th, 2012 at 9:31 pm
Wish I’d have known about this before I flew to Dallas.