Q: I expect to be getting my sport pilot certificate in the next few months and I will be purchasing a light sport aircraft. I’m just starting my own business that necessitates that I visit clients in my state, and now I’m thinking that it would be helpful to be able to fly to visit some of my clients and then charge back my business expenses to my company. Can I do this?
A: It sounds like you want to use your sport pilot priviliges to further your business—unfortunately you can't. The FAA’s intent in drafting the sport pilot rule was to limit the exercise of sport pilot privileges to sport and recreational flying only. The FAA documented this intent in FAR 61.315(c) by specifically prohibiting, among other things, the exercise of sport pilot privileges “in furtherance of a business.” The FAA maintains that if the flight is business-related in order to provide transportation, even if also for sport and recreation, the flight may not be conducted using the privileges of a sport pilot certificate. However, as the holder of a private pilot certificate, FAR 61.113(b) allows you to act as pilot in command of an aircraft and be compensated by your company for the flight, but only if the flight is incidental to your business or employment and you do not carry passengers or property for compensation or hire.
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