READ BEFORE FLIGHT

Cost-shared flights are covered by a derogation5 contained in the Air OPS Regulation. This derogation ensures that the less stringent Part-NCO rules can apply to flights by private individuals with passengers on board under the condition that the direct costs of the flight are shared by all occupants of the aircraft, pilot included. In addition, the number of persons on board of a cost-shared flight is limited to maximum six occupants (pilot included). There is no element of profit.

A number of European web-based cost-sharing platforms are making use of internet technology to promote cost-shared flights to a wider audience. In order to address any safety concerns linked to cost-shared flights, EASA set up a group of experts from na- tional authorities, general aviation stakeholders and web-based platforms. The group explored the idea of working together with web-based platforms to disseminate impor- tant safety information to GA pilots and their passengers. To improve GA safety, EASA proposes that this tripartite dialogue between EASA, national authorities and the GA community will lead to a Charter of best practices, to be signed by all platform.

The Charter inform passengers and pilots not only on different safety levels of a GA flight as compared to a commercial air transport (CAT) flight, but also includes a safe- ty-relevant tool box with a checklist for pilots on how to deal with passengers prior and during the flight, as well as an online training module on passenger handling. As part of the Charter, web-based platforms commit themselves to share safety-related data with EASA and national authorities.

It is planned that web-based platforms, EASA and national authorities will jointly assess the data gathered and monitor implementation of the Charter on a yearly basis.